I’ve been teaching for six years and lost my last two jobs. I decided after losing my job this year (for a similar reason - fmla for extreme depression) I would quit the classroom altogether. However I have been unable to find a job doing anything else as all my experience is in education. So I have accepted a job as a substitute teacher In a school for children with intellectual disabilities. I too am very anxious. It’s much lower stress than being an actual teacher as I will not have to plan lessons or do grades or anything like that but I’m wondering if I can handle it. If not I’m pretty screwed.

As for what to do when you get anxious at work, I’m not sure. As a teacher I know you can’t simply take a break when things get to be too much. I used to go to my car during my prep period and do short meditations and breathing exercises using insight timer on my phone. Maybe that’s an option, assuming you get prep time.

I just wanted to offer support and commiserate on the difficulties of being a teacher. I hope you find it not as stressful as in the past. I don’t know if you can get a prn like klonopin or Ativan for anxiety. I had Ativan but unfortunately even just .5mg was too strong for me and I would feel stoned so I couldn’t take it.