Am I too unstable mentally to be a teacher?
Personal mental health struggles can make the heavy pressure and responsibility of teaching feel overwhelming. This lack of stamina and confidence makes it difficult to maintain faith in your ability to push through, leaving many hesitant to even sign a teaching contract.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- This comes up 13.3× more often in r/Accounting than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Using simpler lessons and streamlining work to fall back on when things get toughDid this help you?
- 2Targeting only entry-level positionsDid this help you?
- 3Humor or self-deprecation regarding professional expectationsDid this help you?
- 4reaching out to universities for advice and directionDid this help you?
- 5checking with governing bodies or unionsDid this help you?
- 6checking what support is available for disabled studentsDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I doubt it, that's far too high for this profession”source ↗
“Ouch. I uh...me need to dumb myself down.”source ↗
“Yes, I'm certain you could be a fine accountant at the entry level at least with a 90 IQ.”source ↗
“I am applying for initial teacher training in the UK and I have epilepsy and I was wondering if anyone is aware as to how this may impact me getting accepted onto a course?”source ↗
“I am worried that this may impact me getting accepted and whether or not I will be classed as fit to teach.”source ↗
“I struggle with the pressure and weight of responsibility when my mental health is worse.”source ↗
“I have not figured this out and have yet to commit to a teaching contract because I don’t have much faith in my stamina me ability to push through”source ↗
“Has anyone else questioned if they’re too fucked up to teach?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 19Is teaching still a realistic option for me?
- 9Is it normal to doubt yourself during your first year teaching?
- 4Imposter syndrome when changing jobs after working solo
- 4Why doesn't my family understand my career choice?
- 7How hard is it to switch careers after starting in a niche role?
- 13Should I quit my demanding job for a simpler, lower-paying one?