Experiencing burnout as an employee in the Special Education Sector

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Hi Let’s Talk Community,

As a befriender, I rarely make my own topics, but here goes!

I’ve been working in the Special Education (SPED) sector for close to a year now. While I find the task of running educational programmes to be meaningful, it’s also incredibly challenging.

Having to manage approximately 20 students at a time (all with different behavioural challenges) is also very draining, and can push us to the edge of burnout if emotional regulation isn’t practiced. On top of that, having to deal with students who experience meltdowns can also be stressful.

I’m starting to look forward to my off days a lot more, as compared to when I started work.

Might there be anyone here who has similar experiences or thoughts to share? It’ll be much appreciated, thank you! :folded_hands:

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hi, thank you for opening up and supporting others :smiley: I understand that it can be quite challenging, while I am not in the sped sector myself, but having relatives that are in the sector, I can see the dedication you all out into the work and I admire that! Looking forward to the weekend is not necessarily a bad thing and perhaps you can treat yourself to an “off day” by blocking 2 days in the month and enjoy. Rooting for you!

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Hi! Wow managing just my specially abled sister itself, is tiring. You people deal with much more so I salute special educators like you.

Yes,it’s tiring to manage people with special needs, especially when they are in their holidays :joy:. My family members and I have to constantly keep my sister engaged, by doing some kind of activity with her. The thing is this, is all at the cost of our regular work. My father wfh on alternate weeks, so when he works from home, he will bring my sis for walks in the morning and evening. I’m a full time student, so amidst my academic commitments, I would engage her by doing some educational activities. My mom is a home maker, so she’s the most burnt out during my sister’s holidays. She too will engage my sister in educational activities occasionally, when she has time to spare or when the need arises. My gran doesn’t usually deal with my sister anymore.

How we deal with her meltdowns… honestly, we just go with the flow. My mom, is rather explosive, whereas my father and I are rather chill about things. My father however, gives in to my sister’s requests, but my mom and I are more strict about things. Well, that’s at least how we maintain our boundaries. My father has been “reaping” for his actions, cos my sis is asking for his time whenever he is at home, even when he is supposed to be working :woman_facepalming:. So there it goes, now he is lamenting about how my sis is controlling him.

This routine lasts throughout the holiday season, as long as we don’t go overseas.

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hats off to you @Obi_Wan_Kenobi :clap: being in SPED really takes passion, heart, and grit. i used to be in the early childhood sector and i eventually left to pursue other interests but i do admit it was alot to do with my own burnout. so i can totally imagine how exhausting it is to manage a group of 20 unique individuals.

i hear experiences from my peers that are still within the ECE sector and it’s very normal for the off days to be more enticing. a very clear sign of your mind and body needing some deloading. i’m quite curious also, do you manage the grp of students by yourself? cause in ECE, there’s a ratio that needs to be met to supposedly make classroom management more “manageable” haha

i also learnt in my previous years of teaching, it was very important to have a hobby/after-work activity to keep myself engaged in non-work related matters. for example, i took up gymming where i was able to have a break and still feed my well-being goals. it was also a great opportunity for me to reconnect with friends and spend time together with non-work friends too haha do you have something similar?