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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 Cody W. Nelson on
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I have been doing this for 11 years and I still can't hold it together when something bad happens to a kid. It's not that hard to let adrenaline take over during the call and then after, sob like a baby. There is no way to prepare or "get over" kids dying. You should lean on the folks you work with and your family. Family may not understand what you are going through, but they will love you enough to let you vent and listen to you when you have been part of a terrible event. I still remember the face of every child that has died on me, and I second guess myself all the time. I wonder if what I did was enough, or the right thing, and so on and so on. Just know that one day it will happen, and they may die, but you were trained to help and no matter what the outcome, you know you did what you could with what you were given.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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What happened to the good, old-fashioned way to handle stress - Sex, Drugs, and Rock-and-Roll?
Actually, two of the three are pretty good stress relief, and they can be very healthy. The middle one is not so healthy.
Humor is a good stress reliever as well.
You got some good advice from a lot of the posters.
The bottom line is that if you experience job-related stress that you can't handle, get help!
If the help doesn't fix the problem, get out!
It's better to be a non-firefighter or non-EMT and be mentally and emotionally healthy than to be a firefighter and/or EMT and be mentally and emotionally unhealthy.
Cumulative stress and acute stress are both part of the job. Some do a better job of handling it than others.
If you can't handle the stress you have right now, tomorrow's stress may put you over the edge. Don't risk it - your patients, your co-workers, and you all can't afford that.
Ben
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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Bobbie, when I started out I really had issues with feeling emotionally connected with my patients. Dang! I would have trouble with almost crying and being distracted by those feelings. Obviously I had to go to my happy place to come to the place of knowing what needed to be done and doing just that. I still have those feelings. We ARE human, I Think! :) I still go home or back to the station and struggle to deal with the emotions. Verbalizing that with my co-workers, my spouse and my support system is important. Putting the situation into perspective and realizing you have a job to do is the key. The call you were sent to needs mitigated and the patients cared for. You ARE their greatest help. You can do it, we all have.
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Permalink Reply by Fire Chick on
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i dont have this prob because stuff like that dont really bother me.. i mean if it is family it hurts, but i can still handle it.. but dont hold it in talk to someone about it
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Permalink Reply by Jason McDonald on
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Everyone feels the pain when a patient dies and when its a friend or a fellow Firefighter or EMT/Paramedic that dies you will feel a ton of pain and if someone tells you to "deal with it" then that is not the person you need to listen to. Everyone has their own way of dealing with the pain, some cry, some divert their attention to something else, some take a vacation. The truth is, if you feel any pain or stress related to a death or trauma then you need to talk about it and seek help from a friend. If that friend has has gone through the same thing as you then good, you will feel better about yourself but I hate to tell you that the pain will always be there but its up to you to see the good that you have done and also know that you have made a difference and its not your fault if a patient dies.
I also tend to get emotional more and more and its so hard to talk about things but when I do, I can sleep a little better at night.
Good luck and listen to what these people are saying in the past posts, they are good people that have been through so much.
-Jason
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Bobbie, I used to have a real problem with emotions as well. Felt empathy towards patients and this sometimes made it hard to do my job. Finally came to a place where I realized I wasnt doing them any good by feeling that way. Have to concentrate on the job to provide them the best care I can. I still am bothered at times. I get the job done and go back to my office and deal with my feelings. You are human. Its ok to have feelings and care. Just channel those feelings into doing your job. Its makes you a better medic. When you loose the ability to care you'd better get out of the business.
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Permalink Reply by Cory Deaton on
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When ever I deal with someone dieing I always like to talk to the senior members they have always helped me out. This job is hard to deal with sometimes my capt. once to me on a bad car wreck with a fatality this is your fight or flight and I have never forgotten that so ask yourself if this is what you want to do and just try to stick it out.
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Permalink Reply by paula beckham on
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bobbie jo i have only being in the service for a year and have attended several fatal mvas i find talking to the other members of our brigade the biggest help sure we have had counseling ect but the biggest comfort are my fellow brothers and sisters the key i feel is to let it out.
and on a more personal note i attended a multiple fatal mva the other week and there was carnage every where and in the middle of it was a cat that was also fatal to be honest this affected me more so than the people involved why this was im still trying to work out
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Permalink Reply by EngineLadder on
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easy bobbie go out for kegs and eggs in the morning with other medics or emts : )
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Permalink Reply by Paul on
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after a while you just dont see it any more. its easier to deal with the dead instead of the dieing. Its a part of the job. a paramedic gave good advice when I first got on. If they died in your care, they were going to die anyway. You just had the displeasure of seeing it. dont blame it on yourself. and if you do have a hard time with it. use a peer support group or CISD team.
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When I first started 28 years ago there were not systems set up like now. We had to deal with it on our own but now there are things like Critical Stress Debriefing that have get effects on the people that need the intervention. Things can add up over the years and it may not be one thing that triggers the effects. Remember not only for you but the rest of your department keep on eye out for things that are not normal actions and get the persons involved someone to talk to. even if it does not effect you everyone benefits from your participation in the process with the CISM Team. Stay safe and look out for your mental health.
Gus
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Permalink Reply by Michael J Burke on
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It is good to be emotional. That will make you a better EMT or Medic. The key is not to let it build up inside if you do have a bad call or a call does not go very well. Keeping open communications with your partners and also talking to your friends and family about things also will help alot. Doing things to destress when you are outside of work is also veery good. Going to the gym or just doing something that you enjoy and relaxes you will help make your life easier when those bad calls do happen.
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