PTSD for Medical and First Responders

[A_Tech]

Hi,

Well obviously this my situation.

I was hoping to find others here that might have a similar background to chat with, it can be so hard to talk about this stuff with non-med people (and I mean no disrespect, it's just often graffic or upsetting to others).

Im a 40 year old female that has spent the last 10years in the State Trauma Hospital as an Anaesthetic Technician. My PTSD was brought about after years of exposure to shocking traumas, deaths, and no support from management.

I would love to hear from anyone that has a similar story, or just wants to chat.

Cheers ✌️

[Croix]

Dear Recuperandi~

I read your other post I which you talked abut the wisdom of declaring your illness. All I can say is I did not, ended up not able to continue (froze in witness box, went to wrong places, drove terribly, mood swings etc) and gradually closed down. I was caught in the trap of not having treatment when needed. As a result many years later my illness and I have reached a stalemate, though my life is pretty OK.

Yes it would have been very brave of you to announce your illness, and I'm sorry VicPol is not as understanding as it might be. Hopefully you have caught matters in time to make a decent recovery. I'm sure as PamelR says the more publicity it gets the better the institutional attitudes and outcomes. Other members will reap the benefits of your bravery.

Sing out anytime, you'll be welcome

Croix

I found out there is life after the police, though that took a long time too.

[The_dude]

Hi all

just looking for advice from others.

i was a firefighter for 17 years finishing up in 2016 with no ill effects.

while road crashes were part of what I did they were outnumbered by fires by a large amount. Over the last few months I started having dreams about crashes.

I also somewhat irrationally fear the worst straight away in the event my wife is late coming home.

News reports of crashes and roadside memorials rattle me a little but no too badly.

on the plus side I’m a careful driver copping 1 speeding fine in 20 years!

if this is as bad as it gets I reckon I would have gotten off lightly based on others experiences but I would be grateful for advice on whether things deteriorate from here or whether help is a good idea given it is not so bad and further direct exposure to this type of trauma is unlikely

cheers

[Guest_1055]

Hi The dude

Welcome. I cannot offer any advice or anything. Hopefully someone else can. But wanted to write to you and personally thankyou for the work that you would have done.

[Croix]

Dear The Dude~

I'd like to join Shelley Anne in welcoming you here. I think it was a good move to come to see how others have got on, better than my performance anyway:) I'll mention at the start I'm no doctor, just an ex-policeman who was not a first responded as such so all I can say is my own experience.

My reactions started whilst still in the job and went untreated, this is rather different from yourself. When I did get round to being properly treated, which was after I became unable to function I had left matters far too long and not only had my condition badly deteriorated but was also a lot harder to treat. Although you have left the job it looks like you are now having a reaction to at least part of it though at this time the symptoms are bearable.

It may well be that with fire there is some avenue for you to help control the situation, but with crashes you do not and are attempting recoveries. Frankly here I'm guessing.

Even many years after I was retired new instances of remembering or reacting to old matters started. My psychiatrist said this was because I'd reached the stage where I was more able to cope with them; which with assistance I've done/am doing. As far as I know symptoms do not necessarily occur at once.

Nightmares and catastrophising are two of the symptoms I have too. So knowing what I know now if I was in your position I'd seek medical advice and go from there. It may well be there is something in your current lifestyle that is increasing your stress levels - I've no idea.

I am not saying you can expect things to get either better or worse, just suggesting having proper information is good.

If you had a physical symptom, maybe unexplained pain as an example, you would go and get it checked out. This situation is realy no different. Apart from that your symptoms are not pleasant and life would be better if they were addressed.

Please feel you can talk here as much as you'd like, others may have different experiences

Croix

[The_dude]

Thanks for the help.

I’ll make myself an aappointment.

[bear53]

So heres my story, in a nutshell: I work out in the community as a nurse, 2 years ago I was a first responder to a near fatal accident, which I saw my GP and got some psychology sessions for,( also more sessions last year.) Only took a few days off work initially, when it happened.

Fast forward to later last year,where I had a separate unrelated incident at work. Made a workcover claim (to ease myself back to work, ) which was accepted. relatively short time off work. I am now gradually increasing my hours, with the support of my GP and psychologist. But there is always the pressure at my workcover meetings to increase my hours more, I always feel stressed because of this at these meetings. At my most recent one the other day, again I was feeling the pressure to increase, said I would speak to my GP before increasing. Out driving on my shift after this I got a trigger out of the blue, which had not happened in that manner for a long time ( flashing ambulance lights caused it) I get why its happened, and I know what to do, but it just left me feeling flat. ( I didnt tell anyone at work afterwards). I have a psych.appt coming up, will talk about it then.

Part of me wants to up my hours, and get back to ' normal',( and get off workcover, which can be a stress in itself) part of me wants to stay at my hours, increase slowly, as planned. Part of me wants to resign, just to be free from this, but I still like my job. So many mixed emotions atm, has anyone felt this way in this situation? Just thought I'd ' be over' triggers like this, hate them when it feels they come on out of the blue, when most times I am fine.As I said, I can understand why I triggered, but doesnt help much.

[Chick_in_a_guernsey]

Hi The Dude,

I spent 9 years in policing, most of that time in general duties (lots of first responses). I was about four years out of the job when incidents from about ten years ago started coming at me in a way they never had before. Sure, a job may come to mind every once in a while but things changed, intensified and anxiety also crept in. I totally get where you're coming from with assuming the worst. If I'm not in the car with my husband and kids, I feel anxious that something will happen and visualise the possibilities.

May I ask, what is the worst that can happen if you do go and seek support from a professional, even if you are unsure as to whether you need it or not? I was reluctant at first but knew I had to do something.

[geoff]

Hi Bear, thanks for posting your comment and to be in a situation you had to encounter must have been devastating to experience and realise what it would do to do, I'm really sorry.

You can't increase your hours or workload unless you, your doctor and psych all agree on when is the right time, and not to be forced by Workcover, because you have to remember the long term effect it may have on you, especially if you influenced by an article on the news, you have to take your time.

Emotional triggers can be almost anything and can be based on something you don’t want to happen again and to know what actually set you off would be helpful.

Instead of fighting them you can recognize what effect they have on you then try to minimize its hold on you and if it's possible let any physical symptoms like heavy breathing, sweating and shaking slowly be controlled and your psych can help you with this.

Please take your time and it would be great to hear back from you.

Geoff.

[Croix]

Dear Bear53~

I've read of your struggle in other threads and can see you are torn several ways, attempting to return to normal duties - as encouraged by your work and workcover, taking your time,and returning as and when you truly feel capable, and simply walking away.

If I look at the last option first, I had no choice and was invalided out, and very many years later miss the job, often things seem second best even though I've mapped out a different life. I'd point out it is not the job or your condition that is prompting this desire to leave - but the pressure and conflicting interests of your employer, who may not really have your individual best interests at heart. Plus they may be seeing just the latest incident and not taking the previous one into account.

Looking at returning to work now. True your employer wants this and may even promise a degree of consideration due to you circumstances, however it is not realy your desire, you do have reservations. Not the work which you like, but the results of returning too early. It could have the unfortunate consequence of making your recovery slower, or reverse progress made so far. I don't know. In my case it certainly would.

Taking your time, with the backup of GP and a psych would perhaps be the optimum course of action, though judging by my own experience it may come down to a balance of reduced but still present symptoms against what is workable. Not an easy judgment to make.

In an ideal world world one could move to a different sphere of employment and be where triggers are at a minimum and the pressures that induced the illness are rarely present, unfortunately one has be practical and both eat and maintain self-respect.

I'm not really trying to push you in any one direction, I know what was necessary for me, but by setting things out maybe this will help you arrive at the best decision you can under your circumstances.

Do you have family or freinds to support you and talk things over with? Often this can lead to surprising insights and even opportunities.

Croix

[Recuperandi]

Dear Bear53,

Thanks you for sharing your story. One of the benefits of these online forums is the huge amount of friendly, non judgmental advice you can get from other members who have lived experiences. I was medically retired from the police after 29 years. I battled with the Workcover system for a long time. Although my Workcover experience was ok, many people tell stories of constant pressure to return to work or increase hours. It is important to appreciate all the various roles and motivations in the Workcover system. Your employer and the Workcover insurer want to get you back to work or increase your hours for financial, productivity and for Workcover premium reasons. Your GP and psychiatrist/physiologist (your team) are there to make decisions, in consultation with you, for your best interest. From my experience you and your treating team are the best gauge on any decisions on a return to work or an increase or decrease of working hours. You and your treating team know all of the information and issues you are dealing with. I understand the pressure to increase your hours however do not cave in to the pressure and let your treating team absorb that pressure. Your priority is you, your health and your recovery. Good luck!