Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.
Yesterday my primary doctor referred me to an orthopedic surgeon and I went to him yesterday. He was really nice; his wife's from Colombia so he cared about my Spanish language background, that I teach Spanish at my college, and where I grew up in South America. He gave me a big strong ankle brace to wear at night to sleep in because when I roll my body over with neuropathy numbness I twist my ankle in my sleep and re-injure it. It was nice to have a specialist doctor address that problem so directly so this ankle sprain can heal. I had an ankle sprain on my other ankle in May that put me on crutches. This one on my right ankle has taken longer to heal; it's lasted since July 19th.
The doctor's office was backed up, though, so though I had a 10am appointment the doctor didn't even see me until noon, and it took time to him to examine me and so on. I made it back to school at 1:30pm before my 2pm class. I got intercepted outside my classroom door by my boss who let me know she was upset with me there in the hall yesterday after getting back from the doctor. I don't think she meant to, but it really added stress to a bad week.
I had that student blow up at me on Tuesday for calling on them in class to repeat after me in Spanish for pronunciation. Now my boss told me that 4 students had questions about setting up their online Lab accounts, kind of like setting up Daily Strength accounts. While I was at the doctor's office they called my boss's telephone number because she is Chair of the Humanities Division in the college phone book. I stayed late and hour and a half after work emailing those 4 students with reassuring instructions to help them set up their accounts.
My boss was really upset about their calling her. I don't see it as a crisis, but it was reported higher up to the Dean me as one. Reporting me like that worries me as to whether it could lead to a pattern of complaints made about me that could lead to attempting to dismiss me for being "incapable" of doing my job even though I have tenure. I am so glad I went to HR in 2016 when I got tenure and had the VP and the HR head meet with me to go on record with my PTSD so I could be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act against dismissal like that.
Sorry to vent, it all stresses me out just going in to work every day. Maybe I should never have come here to this poor public community college when I could have gotten hired at a better four year private college way back when. I wanted to be of service to poorer students, but I'm finding the situation to be stressful with my PTSD. Now I just want to hold on until early retirement in 2 years.
I'm asking for your opinions, y'all, as to how safe my job security really is. Do you all think I can do that? I'm really pedaling hard, but I had to go to the doctor, and while I was away it seemed my job situation got precarious again like something that keeps creeping up on me day after day lately. I'm frightened to go to work again today, so that's why I ask: what do you think? I had tenure in 2000, but a new president closed my departmend and got away with firing 6 tenure instructors. So I wonder. Is my job safe?
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Hey All...I hope that you have a lovely, peaceful beginning of your weekI have a bunch of chores that need doing but may put them off til tomorrow and just hang out with my landlord/roomie todayWhat about you?...Anything special going on?Have a great day and take good care of you!!..Xo
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Once again I've had a fever today. I'm not going to the hospital because that's a huge waste of time but I did schedule a dr appointment for Wednesday afternoon.
Puma purrs and power. Let me khnow if anyone needs a puma slap upside the head!
I read your post the other day. I thought you worked in a high school, not a college. A kid did that in a college class? Idk what kind of college you work at but when you are at the college level, there is no reason for a teacher to get blown up at and have stupid students go above them because they don't know the steps to set up a profile on a website.
Do you want to try and work at another school? I don't know anything about tenure so I think you would want to talk to a lawyer about what they can and cannot do.
I think you're safe, you've been here, maybe not on this scale so early in the game, but working with so many other humans, there's going to be bumps...mostly theirs-that affect you, but aren't your bumps. Im assuming you have tenure so your boss being frustrated some kids, who are probably naive to protocol and wanted answers now, is her stuff. She could simply explain where they can go if she wasn't able to. Again, her stuff. Next week is a new week, take the weekend to decompress and recharge your batteries.
From what you've said about the school, students are encouraged to call for help when needed...and they did that. The department head shouldn't get worked up over such a small issue. (And it wouldn't be a bad thing for him/her to take 15 minutes and help a kid or two through this.)
Since professor access seems to be such a big issue, perhaps you can change your voicemail to reflect that you're unavailable for personal reasons and the approximate time that you expect to be back?
I know in Canada, with tenure, you don't even have to show up to class. I remember my daughter going to an Ivy league top school and the professor came a week late and stated he didn't know class had started??
It is difficult to fire someone with a disability and you were at the doctor's. If they do fire you and you have consulted a lawyer ahead of time, bonus, more money and early retirement
Personally, I think you got you're CPTSD triggered and have gone into fear. You have got lots of compliments over the years and many many students you think you are awesome...remember that too
She is a piece of work and always seems to be looking for problems and if she can find any problem she creates a dramatic event
You just have to get through this year and next and you're free of her IF this goes anywhere and I doubt very much it will I agree to see someone re labour law...…
I'm sorry that once again you're having to deal with nonsense from her.... All she had to tell the students that you were off for the am and that you'd respond to their request for some help later in the day....
A lot of BS IMHO..... Another hug......xo
But on the peer support level. . .
Steadying support while you sort. Sounds like a rough ride.
I think you are doing your work with courage, compassion, and grit. from the experiences (positive) you have shared here about helping some students says it all for me. To stand strong and keep a clear heart and head to help teach students (poor) is a gift that I hope in a time when your sipping margaritas by the sea and soaking up the sunshine.retired and rested. you will remember.
I think your job is safe muji. Vent away. that's what friends are for. giving and receiving. ☼
It would be more trouble than its worth to the college to get rid of you in my way of thinking. You're an experienced and competent teacher and replacing you would be a major upheaval for them.
Sometimes when people are unfair to me I try to realise its often more about what's going on with them than something I did. Maybe that's what's happening here? Warm hugs while you sort and heal.
Then another point was that maybe my boss is trying to get me to quit. I think it's a possibility, and that's where it becomes less personal to me. Enrollment has dropped to 1/2 of what it was when I started in 2011, so last year administration, rather than cut its staff, turned to cutting down on faculty by pushing folks into retirement. I would GLADLY leave like many of those folks did last year if I were 62 and eligible for early retirement under Social Security guidelines, but that's where the 2 years left comes in.
I wonder if my boss is trying to get me to quit to go on disability instead of retiring. No offense to anyone on disability. That's not going to happen when I've come this close to claiming my pension after 38 years of teaching and just 2 more left. In any event, even if the source of the pressure is less personal, it's insulting to be treated this way whether because of age or disability. Those who retired under pressure last year felt insulted about it how they were herded out, anyway. I'm in lots of good company about feeling that way.
I enjoy my subject--Spanish--immensely, always have, and I'm lucky I can look forward to retiring in Spanish speaking Mexico! Thanks for the offer of support for me to get through the next 2 years to get there. I'm going to call on it from time to time. I really appreciate it.