I remember the first time I realised that life was happening around me and that to get out of bed each day was a major effort. All my life I had been a high achiever, living life full on. Each day was a new challenge to see how much I could jam into the day. I am the ‘timeline’.
My upbringing involved the idea that we as individuals should live a balanced, giving lifestyle. This was not a problem for me because I had a high work ethic, loved physical exercise and sport, loved church and Pathfinders and enjoyed studying and learning new things. So it was not a surprise to anyone when I found myself working full time, studying part time, Director of a Pathfinder club, Teen Sabbath School Leader and playing competitive Basketball and Squash each week.
Being a young person, wrongly I believed that endless energy was abounding. Meals were skipped, sleep was short (catch up on that later), alone time was minimal. God gives us guidelines for a reason. I figured I’d be okay, my job was at a SDA school, my study was to make me a more effective senior school teacher, Pathfinders and Sabbath School was for others and God. The exercise was for my own health’s sake, so I could do all these other things for other people. In my head I was doing all this for right motives.
During this time several negative incidences between other employees bullying and Church office holders abuse drained whatever energy I had left. Tears for no reason, anxiety attacks, and sleepless nights became the norm. What happened next changed my life forever.
My Principal acknowledged my plight and granted my request for leave. Then began the constant barrage of phone calls from the Deputy Principal about how I was letting everyone down. I returned to work to escape the guilt he made me feel. Ultimately resulting in me leaving school teaching and the place I lived.
The good news is that my next boss understood mental health and in a short time I had my life back with an exciting new career, wish I enjoy to this day. Thank God for his health principles and for granting me an understanding boss.
The following article inspired this response and is highly recommended reading:
“Senior managers need to speak up about mental health if they want their workers to thrive.” By Thea O’Connor In the Black 8th Oct 2015. Read Here >>