Teachers, I’ve found in the course of my career, are a rather fascinating lot, who are full of endearing quirks. There is the ever-delightful compulsion to shush noisy crowds, or overexplain concepts and ideas to long-suffering partners. An unhealthy attraction towards stationery and caffeine addictions feature prominently, too.

The trait that really stands out to me, however, is a reluctance among teachers to ask for help. Whether it’s due to an innate stoicism, a sense of pride or a fear of judgement, many of us struggle gamely alone against a tide of workload, exhaustion and poor student behaviour. Teachers just get on with it, until they can’t any more. Burnout strikes, anxiety and depression become serious issues.

This is an experience I have undergone first-hand. In January this year, I experienced a fairly catastrophic breakdown, brought about, largely, by my teaching role. For the next six months, I was forced to work hard to regain my mental health, to reassemble the parts of me scattered around the place. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

Understandably, it is extremely difficult for us to go about asking for help when we’re under pressure. However, the alternative can be infinitely more costly. Therefore, it is vital that we are able to understand the signs indicating a potential crisis. It is important, too, that we understand how to ask for help. Most crucially, we need to know how to deal with hitting the wall.

The warning signs

While stress is inextricably linked with the teaching profession, the sort of stress indicating a crisis can and does distinguish itself from the ordinary, everyday stress we feel. Physical symptoms alert us to the fact that we are under the sort of pressure that can’t be sustained - things like sleeplessness, nausea, sudden waves of panic and sweating. You may suddenly become forgetful, or find it incredibly difficult to concentrate on the task at hand. If such symptoms persist over a prolonged period of time, like a fortnight, it could mean a significant mental health crisis is approaching.

If symptoms occur at specific locations, or at specific times of the day (say, first thing in the morning), this may be an indication that the cause is work-related. If you find yourself nodding along with these descriptions, it may be worth devoting some time to consider how your work is affecting you.

Once you have identified that you may be approaching burnout or a mental health crisis, it is essential to get help. At this point, those who have been through a breakdown experience the unenviable situation of questioning just how ill they are. It is all too easy to dismiss what would be to onlookers very significant warning signs amid a veritable cacophony of other pressing concerns.

For this reason, it is an excellent idea to visit your GP and talk about your specific experiences. Your doctor will be able to give a clearer, more objective sense of where you are in terms of your mental health. They will be able to suggest strategies to help you regain some control over anxiety and depression and, if needed, give you the time off that you need to recuperate and get well again. Going to see your GP also removes the additional fear and anxiety you might have about approaching the leadership team at your school.

If you are reluctant to visit your GP, other support avenues are available (see box, below).

‘I hit the wall’

Unfortunately, I missed the signs. I didn’t ask for help. I hit the wall.

When I did, I had no idea what to do. I was incapable of even the smallest tasks. I could barely speak. This, I’ve learned, is the mechanism of a breakdown - the shutdown of many regular cognitive functions, almost a protective measure as the brain deals with an overwhelming amount of stress and anxiety.

In these cases, it is absolutely essential to concentrate on the moment and take things one step at a time. It is vital to understand that, when you are ill, your team, workplace and colleagues will be able to function without you there. Your recovery is much more important. Call in, send any work that you can and, if you haven’t done so, call your GP. And make sure that a trusted family member or friend knows about what you are going through. Above all, realise that what you are experiencing isn’t the end of the world, but a physical and mental reaction to stress. You will come out the other end.

I’ve learned much over the past six months since I experienced my breakdown. I have learned that I am capable of dealing with more than I ever thought I could. I have learned just how valuable the support of friends and family is. I have fundamentally changed as a person and it may be some years before I am back in the classroom.

Most of all, I have realised just how important it is that we teachers manage our stress levels and mental health. You don’t need to follow the same path that I did - understand the signs, know how to ask for help and have a plan for what to do when it all becomes too much.

Mike Stuchbery is a teacher and blogger. He tweets at @MrMStuchbery