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 ✌️

[Backtheblue91]

Yeah some days are better than others. It does get better. I’m currently going through numerous setbacks so I kind of feel dead already inside but what else can you do? Just keep going in this brutal world I guess ...

[Backtheblue91]

I don’t really see much value in life anymore but there is still good material out there to keep you going - look up William Hollis on YouTube he’s pretty good ..

[blondguy]

Dear Backtheblue91

we are here for you...the forums are a rock solid safe and non judgmental place for you to post !

Im Paul...a volunteer on the forums since 2016

Thankyou for mentioning William Hollis

[geoff]

Hello Backtheblue, welcome to the forums.

No matter what condition you're in or how you are feeling, you're still a person who is capable of loving because 'as you long as you have air in your lungs, life in your body you can be anybody you want to be', you do have a belief, whether it's hidden away or not, or suppressed by a condition you never wanted, deep down it's something you do want to overcome and need that push to once again benefit by those who have been down that track themselves, then help show you the right way to at last see the light that we all endeavour to seek.

This can be done with determination and willpower, you just need to hold your hand out, so we can hold it and guide you in the right direction.

There will be hurdles to jump, but perhaps that's exactly what we need because life served on a golden plate won't teach us the rights or the wrongs that we need to learn in life.

We hope you can get back to us so we can help you.

Geoff.

[Rs9911]

Hi Donna I too served with the police, seeing some horrific things, child ,murder suicides. These things will never leave us but the further a long the journey i become the more I am able to cope. Change your thinking change your behaviour change your life.

[JordanM]

I’m a Registered Nurse, my PTSD came from an incident at work, i lost a year of doing the job i love and the slow return is killing me. Helping is my passion, I want to volunteer for Beyond Blue after the pandemic. I’ve been suicidal in the past multiple times only tried once. I’m not done helping yet i’ll die at work giving my all to help the sick.

[Croix]

Dear JordanM~

Welcome here, a good place to come to as you can see many others have had similar paths (not just in this thread).

I too have job-induced PTSD, bouts of depression and an anxiety condition as well as suicidal, and lost my job as a result. I wanted very much for things to back as they were and if given the opportunity I'd have headed straight back into the situation that made me ill in the first place.

You are a person worth preserving, not only for your humanitarian and giving outlook, but also for you skills and experience as a registered nurse, and are sensible enough to seek other's advice.

May I suggest there is no hurry, your condition - if it is like mine - does take time to heal to a point where you can function again wihtout risk to yourself. A year is not long in the scheme of things. It is also worth considering if the precise position you occupied before is still suitable, or if, at least for a while, a less stressful set of nursing duties might be best.

Taking things to extremes and being prepared to sacrifice yourself for your work is not a good idea. It is precisely becuse you are worthwhile and qualified person that unhurried care should be take so you are able continue to function to the benefit of your charges and yourself in the long-term.

As for volunteering with Beyond Blue, if you wish to seek out something then we do have portal that gives you an idea of what people can do:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-involved/volunteer-with-us

There is another alternative too, your experience with PTSD -and possibly related illnesses too, would give you insight into the conditon of others and you may be able to offer advice or understanding in this Forum.

I'll mention in passing, in case you start to become overwhelmed or fearful of what you might do that the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) is an excellent place to call, they exist for you, and are qualified, experienced, caring and sensible.

What do you think?

Croix

[Madz2020]

Hi Everyone,

I’ve been reading through some of these posts and I am an awe of the support people are showing each other and the people who have put their mental health on the line to help others. I also am saddened to hear about some of the experiences people have faced.

My husband is a police officer. Over time I have slowly seen a change in him, his positivity is slowly leaving, his kind caring nature is now hidden behind so many walls, I will often find him crying for no reason, he has a constant feeling of guilt for everything, talks about some of his experiences in the police force to me and the list goes on.

I have suggested he seek help. To which he ‘tried’ through telephone counselling. He said they let him down. He was put in a waiting list for psychology, a year ago now and now believes he doesn’t need it. He worries about seeking help within the police force because of a range of reasons, mostly of others thoughts

I worry he could be developing PTSD?

I know people need to help themselves and can not be forced. But any suggestions on how to support him would be greatly appreciated?

Thanks in advance

[Croix]

Dear Madz2020~

Welcome here, as you can see many others have been in similar situations - as was my wife. I was invalided out of the police many years ago at a time when there was no internal support I was aware of, and consequently I left things until I simply was unable to function. I felt trapped.

A lot of it would have been the same reasons as your husband, both the illness and the reluctance to open up to anyone or seek medical help.

Looking back the two most important things were getting that informed and competent medical help - even if one has to go though the job. A year is not-on, he needs something now, probably together with a change of duties if that is at all practical.

I think it was a major victory for him to seek help at all, now he needs to put his investigative powers into finding experienced help he can access straight away. Does he have a freind or someone he regards highly to help him see it is needed now?

The second thing was the unstinting and constant care and love of my wife. To start off wiht she blamed herself for the gradual decline in my behavior, and the handicapped what she did, however after it was explained my anger, isolation, resentfulness, wanting to be alone, crying, blaming myself etc etc were not her fault but well recognized symptoms she tried to make my life better.

She took on a trumentous load, not only her own employment, but just about all domestic duties and looking after our offspring -plus me, and I was very hard to live with..

Importantly she has the full backing of her mum, both emotionally, but also practically wiht looking after offspring, helping cook and so on. It made a huge difference to my wife.

Can I ask if you have support yourself, it is needed? The burden alone is terribly hard.

I ended up having to deal not only with my illness, but the loss of my vocation. I was told I'd never work in anything again. Your husband still has tme not to end up in the same position

Please let me know how you both get on

Croix

[TimboE]

Hi I'm Tim

A paramedic of 23 years. The hardest thing about coping with the job for me was finding someone to listen to our "crap" to decompress and being overworked. Some jobs are upsetting and the expectation is to get on with it. If I could give one bit of advice, after every bad job you will need to be stood down and talk with a peer support person. Managers will not support us so we need to look after each other.