@therapist.syd:

Kennedy Graff :

K sis, but how do we fix it cuz I just get upset and yell that my house isn’t clean and that’s why I can’t relax but honestly it’s probably that no where is safe in my brain.

No game :

Edgell_07 :

You wanna know what pisses me off about these posts? It’s that they make SO much sense, and everyone seems to know this is an issue, but there are NEVER posts on how to fix the god damn problem.

Jules_the_shit :

But I’m a dispatcher so I’m not allowed to feel these things (sarcasm)

MAC682 :

My fire captain told me his wife would wake up to him crawling through the house looking for people in the house. He’d be yelling “fire department, call out.” In his mind he was rescuing people from a burning building. In reality he was safe at home. Turns out he had been on several structural fires where people didn’t make it out and he has ptsd from it.

Bambi🥰🦌 :

So this is why I always pick up extra shifts on my off days cool cool

Ring Master :

My husband is the calmest in utter chaos (28 year combat medic in the National Guard and 23 year career FF/paramedic). At home…in the calm, he searches for the chaos or creates it himself. When he’s not satisfied with the level of chaos (dopamine hits) he’s not getting, he numbs himself with the alcohol….so sad how they have to pass all these mental evaluations to be hired but there is zero mandatory mental health care.

Dwstrother :

ya know wasn't looking to be called out today but its all fine.

Nicole :

Is this why i physically cannot sit down and relax at home. Ever.

BNF916 :

Been at it for 11 years. Lost friends in this job, in the middle of a divorce, had a handful of calls where I’m lucky to even be here typing this comment. This is exactly true. In my case, I began self destructing; making poor choices that assisted in ruining my marriage (I wasn’t alone in that, but absolutely made a large contribution to our issues), ruined my health, and ultimately, made me lose myself. I’m much better now, but dammit this job will swallow you whole if you let it. From a cop of over a decade, please hear me when I say: work your ass off when you’re at work…but when you’re off, you’re off. Even when you’re tired, force yourself to see family and friends. GO TO THERAPY. Talk shit out. Find hobbies. What we do and what we see is not normal. What makes it worse, is it all occurs in our community, so we are surrounded by physical memories even when we are off. When we are rookies, people preach “take your mental health seriously, take care of yourself” but you rarely understand what that means until you’re experiencing it first hand. Please, make sure you are addressing these issues and not burying them. It could cost you your life, sanity, marriage, and career. Stay safe🤙🏽

J :

No offense but no amount of therapy will fix me. Thank you for understanding

sydni_Dodd 📚 :

Okay but my wife is a first responder as well and hates leaving the house on her days off

Zaymmm :

The therapist I tried told me to keep a journal and find a hobby as the solution to my problems 🥴 I stopped going and started getting tatted instead it’s cheaper at this point

hashiriya5.0 :

Just worked 20 16's in a row, being home today has been one of the hardest things ive done this year. I feel so out of place, so useless.

Jordan :

I hate being in public with a lot of people. I only do my grocery shopping early in the am during the week day when almost no one is there. I hate crowded restaurants.

Clasey Lynn :

soooo as a baby emt already feeling this, what’s the fix

Carmen777 :

I dislike being in public stores or packed restaurants. I prefer quite places now. Im happy eating in my car.

Tay 😘 :

EMS has turned me into the most on point and attentive person at work, but either stir crazy or lazy/stuck in decision paralysis, at home. It always takes a day or two to “turn off” work me at home. Then, when I’m feeling my home version of functional again, it’s time to go back to work like the next day. I can snap back to it quickly in minutes after being off a few days and a call dropping, but trying to relax? Takes forever

HookerThief :

Some are not going to like this answer. 23 years- I started my career in 2003 as an emt-I in Fulton county ga. I’ve witnessed a lot of bad stuff. For years I thought I was un-effected by the toll but it turned out I talked about it in my sleep. My wife ignored it for a while and then she started asking questions about calls I didn’t tell anyone about. People would walk on eggshells around because of my unpredictable temper. I tried harder to bury those feelings so they wouldn’t e a problem. My temper didn’t get better I just stayed away from the triggers. Nothing changed until my daughter was born. I spoke to my pastor and he said something that I’ve heard several times but it never hit, “let Him worry”. The feeling of taking that first breath when you’ve been under water is closest to how I felt. Everyday I turn to Jesus and ask Him to take my doubts, pain, worry, anxiety, I ask for comfort and reassurance that I did a good job today. This is not simply a prayer it’s me speaking to Him as though He’s sitting right next to me and moments later I’m 50lbs lighter the terror has no teeth. Please turn to Him, He will always answer!

Presley :

My biggest challenge with my partner who’s a first responder for almost 7 years is battling their fear. When they get triggered / scared they’re first attack is asking me to leave / self sabotage because in there eyes I’m the only good that comes with their day. I get so scared sometimes if a small thing happens because I don’t know who I’m getting after.. I love them, I’m here for them, and i understand them. I just don’t know what I can say or do for them in that moment to let them know I’m not the one running. They are.

Nani 🔮 :

It would also help if therapists and psychologists weren’t $150 or more out of pocket 🤷🏻‍♀️

beccarountree :

Going from being military to now being an emt part time.. this explains a lot.

Kara :

I have a day off tomorrow and I literally don't know what I'm going to do with myself other than laundry and vacuuming. I have such a hard time "being lazy" or relaxing

pnw_s10 :

Resident at the fire department! No need to turn it off! 😀👍