Our Online Support Team is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It could be a straightforward question or a bigger issue that's troubling you where we can give you some extra support.

It's easy to take the first step. Fill in some simple details including what's on your mind and send it off to one of our trained advisors for a personal email response. Click here to try it out today.

Here are some of the questions we've been asked this week:

Answer: You're experience is not unusual. You're working in a pressurised environment with a heavy workload and it can be difficult to develop a good relationship with all members of staff. Nevertheless, there are strategies you can use to help avoid potentially confrontational and difficult situations.

I would encourage you to think if there's one particular issue that is causing difficulty that you could resolve and hopefully move forward from. You could try talking one to one with the managers in question; tell them how you feel with confidence. Give them an opportunity to say their piece and try to understand from their point of view.

If you've tried to resolve these difficulties but feel that nothing has changed, you may decide to take more formal action. Keep a record of your attempts to deal with the situation and take this to a senior member of staff (obviously not those that you are having difficulty with) and explain how you are feeling. Many schools have an anti-harassment policy to help in conflict situations so you could also ask to see this.

Don't forget that our trained advisors are here to support you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us for free and in confidence on 08000 562 561 (England), 0800 564 2270 (Scotland) or 08000 855 088 (Wales).

These factsheets from our InfoCentre may also be helpful:

• Resolving a dispute with a colleague
• Difficult relationships at work - case study
• Dealing with difficult people - conflict in the workplace

Question: I have just been signed off work for two weeks with stress and I'm feeling very guilty about the children I've left behind. I don't know what to do next to resolve the problems I'm having. Can you help me?

Answer: First of all it's important that you don't feel guilty about being off work with stress. It's important that you are feeling at your best for you to deliver your best to the children you teach.

Sometimes you will know intuitively what's making you stressed; other times it may seem like everything is going wrong and you are unable to identify the cause of your stress. Remember that stress is rarely caused by an event in itself, and more often by doubts about your ability to cope with that event. You need to be very honest with yourself and face up to issues that could cause some distress.

If you are experiencing physical symptoms you should certainly visit your GP for advice. It sounds like you've already been to see them for you to be signed off work but it may be worth a second visit.

From what you've said I think you may benefit from talking directly to one of our trained advisors here. The service is free and you can talk in total confidence. There is someone here to answer your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call our Support Line on 08000 562 561 (England), 0800 564 2270 (Scotland) or 0800 085 5088 (Wales).

You may also find these factsheets from our InfoCentre useful:

• Stress - understanding stress and dealing with it
• Your top tips for dealing with stress
• How do you cope with stress?