How To Succeed As A Teacher With Social Anxiety
Most people probably wouldn't think to recommend the profession of teaching to someone who is an introvert with social anxiety, depression, and who is occasionally misanthropic.
Yet, despite these challenges, I keep gravitating back to education in some form, and I absolutely love it. The key to not losing my mind, however, was figuring out the right combination of student age, teaching environment, subject matter, and teaching methodologies. Why? Because all teaching opportunities are not created equal.
I did two tours (years) teaching algebra and geometry in an inner city high school. I always liked math and did well as a student, but honestly, it wasn't my passion. I had colleagues who absolutely thrived with that age group and who loved their subject matter.
Me? It revived my previously dormant depression and led to me needing antidepressants for the first time. It just wasn't the right fit for me. Every day felt like wave after wave of a social tsunami threatened to carry me away. Even weekends weren't enough time to regain a steady footing because grading and planning occupied every spare moment. I just wanted to curl up and hibernate.
As an introvert with social anxiety, my aggravating factors are:
- being the center of attention
- not being feeling adequately prepared to discuss a topic or answer questions about it
- having to interact with lots of people for long periods of time
- being in the midst of noisy crowds
- not having enough quiet time to recuperate between bouts of socially stressful situations.
Perhaps your triggers are different, but despite what may seem like insurmountable limitations, you can find a ways that work for you to share your love of learning.
For me, that means I prefer older, more independent learners so that I don’t feel like I'm drowning in people clammoring amidst barely controlled chaos for my attention.
Also, there are multiple topics I’m qualified to teach, but what really gives me a thrill is teaching ethics to Computer Science majors because it combines my love of tech, history, politics, current events, writing, and reading. By focusing on a subject that excites me, I’m able to avoid feeling like I'm unprepared.
Finally, teaching all day every day just didn't work for me. It required too much social interaction with not enough rebound time. So, I'm a software engineer by day and also a part-time (adjunct) professor. I only teach twice a week for an hour and 15 minutes each session. It's a small enough dose of being in front of the class, that I'm not overwhelmed. Plus, I rely on more of a socratic method of questions and small group discussions so that I don't have to stand up front lecturing for the whole time.
Following what works for me might be a great fit for you. But if not, maybe younger students may be better so you get to spend the whole day with one group of kids rather than a rotating roster due to the multiple class periods that come with secondary education. Perhaps special education, gifted and talented programs, or library sciences will give you the opportunity to work with with smaller groups of kids or even one-on-one.
If education is your passion, there absolutely are ways to follow that calling despit social anxiety. Just know that it if one particularl situation isn't your cup of tea, it doesn't mean teaching isn't your calling. Trust me, once you find the right mix of variables, your desire to be there will shine past any anxiety, and students will sense your commitment and desire to be there.
