the way back - nervous breakdown and all that

These past few days have been particularly difficult for me from a mental health point of view. I won't go into any detail but I have had another breakdown.  However, here is more proof that even in the darkest of times, to quote the great Leonard Cohen, “There is a crack, a crack in everything... That's how the light gets in.” “I’m not sure if you remember me but I’m [an old student from my previous school]. I just wanted to let you know how much you impacted my primary school experience and that to this day i still remember and appreciate you. I’ll never forget how you managed to convince my mum to let me go to [the end of year residential trip]. You helped me gain confidence and always told me i would be able to achieve great things. I have now finished secondary school, got good grades in my GCSEs and i’m now in sixth form studying A level Biology, Chemistry and Psychology, in hopes of studying Medicine at university. Anyways i hope all is well with you and your family and ...

Sometimes, you have a really testing week at school. You work flat out and yet fail to keep on top of things. External circumstances act against you. You have to deal with incessant behaviour issues. You then have to deal with the fallout.  And then: bam - it hits you: you begin to feel a failure. You begin to think: what’s the point? You doubt yourself. You feel burnt out. You feel desperately alone. And it eats into your home life. And just when you’re feeling at your lowest, an ex-colleague gets in touch with you and casts a ray of sunshine on things. This is what I received one evening this week: “I've met a couple of parents of children that you taught at [your previous school] and they absolutely love you, they said their children's school experience was extra special thanks to you! My most recent was this weekend, I went on rugby tour with my daughter and her team mate (…) and parents said, “Do you know Mr G? He’s amazing!” I just think what a credit to you and all...