Mrs. Potter's Room

          For my friends and family who don’t know yet.           Two and a half months ago, I was diagnosed with OCD and clinical depression, but I’m going to be okay.           Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a commonly misunderstood anxiety disorder that affects about 2% of the population. We all experience something called “intrusive thoughts”. These are ideas that enter our consciousness that we don’t invite and usually don’t like. When they occur, most of us just dismiss them and move on. People with OCD have a glitch in their brain that makes processing these thoughts rather difficult. Rather than moving on, OCD-sufferers will internalize the thought and then use compulsions to try to get rid of it. However, the compulsions just make the thought stronger. These intrusive thoughts are ego-dystonic, meaning they are opposed to our natural personality or character. Some of them can be rather mild ...

In My Arms When I am in the front of my classroom, I am holding so many things. I am thinking about the lesson itself. I am making sure, as best as I can, that all my students are paying attention, that they are getting it, that they are awake. I am evaluating myself: is the lesson working, what do I need to change to be more effective right in this moment, what do I need to do tomorrow? Today I am thinking about a student who has some serious health issues and has returned to school. Is she okay? How can I make sure she is comfortable and happy? Will she be here tomorrow? Today I am thinking about a student whose grandfather is in the hospital. He is very sick. My student is troubled and hurting. Today I am thinking about a student who gets discouraged so easily, but during class today she is smiling and excited. I am delighted and wonder what I can do to make sure the smile is there tomorrow. Today I am thinking about a student who is exhausted, who can barely stay a...