I'm a teacher. Apparently a good one - many people have told me so, even though I have a hard time believing them. But teaching has been making me anxious for years, and this week for whatever reason I've been unable to tuck the anxiety away and go to work. I was anxious on Sunday (I usually am leading up to the work week), then yesterday (Monday) I had a panic attack when I woke up and thought about going to work, and couldn't even get out of bed. I called in sick and cried most of the day. This morning I managed to get up and get dressed (even though I was having trouble breathing) and drive myself to work. I asked my husband to follow me because I was feeling really shaky and anxious, and once I got to work and parked my car I had another panic attack. So I left and came home again.

I feel like I'm letting down my students, my co-workers, and my family. I feel like a failure. Other people manage to go to work and do their job - what's wrong with me? I wonder if it's really the job, or just my inability to cope with stress.