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Emotions in the field of EMS>?
I was just wondering how all of you deal with the emotions and stress from your career? From people dieing and dealing with death? That is the only obstical i forsee in my path of becoming an EMT/Paramedic? I can be very emotional sometimes?
Thanks,
Bobbie Jo
Thanks,
Bobbie Jo
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Russell D. Henry on
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In adults it's easier to deal with your emotions. You realize, either, they have lived a long life, or they somehow contributed to their own demise. Death is natural to all living things. Everything dies, from people to plants. It is hard for some people, at first, but it gets easier. If it doesn't, then you realize that maybe this job isn't for you.
Kids are a different ballgame all together. They never ask for bad things to happen to them. It is hard to imagine, sometimes, that these happen in the world, but they do.
As far as dealing with them; thats up to you. I hope that you have some people in your life to talk to about your day. Otherwise, you could pick up some bad habits to help you cope.
Good luck! I hope you find out sooner, rather than later.
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Permalink Reply by Rick on
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The hardest ones to deal with in my eyes are the children. That just breaks your heart. Sometimes its hard to deal with but thats where ur co-workers come and partner come in. As for the adults well out there on the streets we deal with adults alot more than we do children. As for trauma patch load and go. Everyone deals with their emotions differently I talk to my partner about the call. Hope this helps
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Permalink Reply by medic69 on
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some people say that you never get use to people dying and some say you do. i have gotten use to the older people dying but i still cant handle the children. i had my first full arrest soon after i started and it was on a 8 yr old and it was extremely hard on me and what made it even worse is after almost an hour of cpr,he didnt make it and i had to go in our ems room and have a good long cry and we had to be debriefed after it. as it was said before,if its in you,you will know it.i hope you join this crazy world of ours.
mandy~~
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Permalink Reply by ILDisasterEMT on
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Always feeling like I could have done more. There's always that feeling like I should have asked one more question, done one more diagnostic or advocated for my patient just a little more insistently. And of course dealing with children and the elderly or victims of any kind of intentional violence. I also have a very hard time with nursing homes. Not because the concept bothers me, but because so many of them are just so horrible. We treat our elders as if they were disposable. Ive been known to lose my cool with nursing home staff members. Of course, they are not all bad. But the ones who are, really are and I have absolutely no patience for it. I also tend to be an emotional person. Its very easy for me to get caught up in what's happening to my patient. There are two expressions that I use to keep myself on track: "This is my job. This is not my emergency" and an expression I learned from a friend who is a medical specialist in United States Coast Guard: "Lock it in!" I say that one to myself a lot and it snaps me back to what I need to focus on.
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Permalink Reply by Meghan on
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#1....You need to have someone to talk to, when stuff goes bad, or when you feel overwhelmed!
Emotions will get to you. You will have moments where you are happy, sad, shocked, pissed off, and every other emotion in between. You must learn as an EMT/ or medic WHEN it is OK to let your emotions flow out. (IE do not cry on scene in front of relatives, cry in the rig when everything is over!).
I've been on an ambulance for 7 months now, and i have seen some REALLY screwed up things. Luckily I have a partner who is great and we always talk about our calls after the fact, regardless if they are good or bad. We put everything out there. It is really good, and it helps us both keep our heads. I also have a good family support system, and have siblings in EMS, so we can always talk about whatever is bugging us.
There are other things you can do to keep yourself in check- Try finding hobbies that will take your mind off things. I go jogging with my dog, journal, etc.
People die. Learn that now. You can't work miracles, and you can't save everyone. Don't think you can, you just set yourself up for dissapointment.
That's all i got for now.
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Permalink Reply by Ryan on
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After a bad call or any call for that matter, if you can look back and say to yourself i did everything i could do for this person. then you did good no matter what happens to the patient. Some people live and some people will die but if you do your best for them, then thats all that matters, thats what EMS is about. doing your best for every patient you meet. you are going to get those calls that will really get to you, and i know for alot of people that happens when you're patient is a child. What my partner and i do at work is after we get a bad call, we'll talk about it and just try to do somthing that will bring our moods back up. somthing just like joking around helps us out most of the time. There are stress debriefing teams you can call in, and this is also what chaplains are out there for, no one should be afraid to call them if you need someone to talk to. even if you just sit down with somoene and talk about it that helps also.
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Permalink Reply by david barclay on
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bobbie joe youve picked a great profession, dealing with youre emotions is the toughest part of the job dont be one of these cowboy tuffguys out here who dont show or talk about there feelings. keeping it in side of youre self is hard on you mentally and hard on youre loved ones. youre area should have a peer group for these incidents use them find a firend you can trust in the same proffession to talk to people who dont do this work dont understand us .i believe if you do every thing in youre ability to do youre job right some people just dont make it. dont ever blame youre self if you did make a mistake always admit it .............dave b.
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Permalink Reply by Terri on
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Gets easier? Not really. Especially when you live in the town you grew up in, and seem to know everyone in town. Work a full cardiac arrest on your own father in law, a major heart attack on your own partner (my partner had to work on me), the little girl you watched from birth to 3 years of age, with her crying and asking you to please take her shoes off, they hurt...and her little patent leather Mary Janes are melted to her feet from the fire that burned over 90% of her body. But to cry in front of a patient? Nope, not going to happen. I get "tunnel vision" and only see the injuries or illness, not the person. Afterwards you can go out to the truck or the station, your car...or even home...and let those tears fall. Throw things, curse and rail against fate. So long as you don't hold it in. Make sure you have a good support system in place, someone you can call at 4 am and just unload on. Me...I'm one of the lucky ones, my husband is a former paramedic, and listens really well. The WORST thing you can do is not let it out. Believe me, it builds up over the years. Burnout? Oh...a very real problem with us. We have the highest divorce rate, alcohol/drug abuse rate among just about any profession. And with very good reason. If nothing else...bring it here, we'll talk til the cows come home. Whatever it takes.
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Permalink Reply by Deanna on
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Bobbie Jo, after being in this field for 6 years I still have calls that get to me. No matter what you will always be human and there will always be calls that get to you. The key is the reward you get outa the good calls. The calls where you truely know in your heart that you made a difference in someones life. Good luck to you and I wish you the best of luck, just remember the field your entering is not just a job, it becomes a part of your life and you will inherit a very close knit family!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Andy Marsh on
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I was noticing the date when you posted this question. I am now wondering... How is it going for you? Have you had to apply any advice given here to any situations you faced since? Are you with a busy service? I have read most of the replies and don't think I could add much more. I just hope that you are dealing and healing with no major difficulties. Don't be afraid to ask questions, seek help or vent.
TCSS.
Andy
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