Anxiety and career

[Jords]

G'day, I was hoping to get a bit of advice.

I'm currently 20, and suffer/suffered from anxiety. It started around three years ago - it didn't affect my life much, and was here and there. I went and saw my doctor, and he could tell that it was only minor anxiety. So I went to see a psychiatrist to clear things up, and again he suggested that it's only minor anxiety and wouldn't interfere with my career.

The reason I bring this up, is that I'm currently studying towards being a paramedic in NSW. My original goal was to apply for the NSW Police but their restrictions are that you need to be 2 years clear of anxiety before applying, whereas paramedic you don't need to wait a particular amount of years. So I thought I'd use the 2 year wait time to study towards a course, which takes 2 years, and once completed decide between either careers. I'm still pretty focused on becoming a police officer, but it's frustrating to think that anxiety will stop me.

Both my GP and psychiatrist have said it won't affect me during the job, and would write a report that clears me from any issues.  I have no ambitions in studying for any other career, other than police or paramedic. While I understand they are stressful jobs, I'd like to think that I'd do well, they are both careers that I'd definitely enjoy.

I was hoping to get advice as to what I should do - should I continue studying and when I get to the point of applying, possibly be rejected because of my history in anxiety? Has anyone been in a similar scenario?

Cheers!

[AGrace]

Hi Jords,

If you can't join the police force for a couple of years, then why not continue studying to be a paramedic? You may find at the end of your studies, being a paramedic becomes your first preference.

You are still very young, and still have plenty of opportunities for career change in the future. Perhaps you will want to start out as a paramedic, see what happens with your anxiety, and if you still want to, and feel well enough then you could make the switch to the police force.

Are you working in any particular field at the moment?

I'll finish by saying choice is always a good thing.

AGrace

[Jords]

Hi AGrace, thanks for your response.

That is true, probably best to continue studying it, but there's also the possibility of studying a bachelor of policing degree for 2 years, then 3rd year is at the police academy, which if if it worked out, the 2 year restriction would expire and I'd get into the academy, without any hiccups.

Or I can continue with this degree, finish in 2 years then either apply for Paramedic NSW which is looking grim in terms of applicant intakes.. Or use that degree to help my competitiveness with applying for the police.. It's a tough call, all while trying to work around this 2 year restriction..

I definitely as you said, have plenty of opportunities for career change. At the moment I just want to get into my career, and to be honest it sucks to see other applicants my age being able to apply for the force but ah well, guess that's the issue of having had anxiety.

Uh, not necessarily, just working as a waiter whilst studying.

Any advice? Not sure what to do hah.

Thanks,

Jords

[Sea-n-sky]

Hi Jordy,

I am an old guy (68 yrs old) and I am not at all sure I am the best person to advise.

At your age, my generation was not exposed to the pressures and stresses that you guys seem to experience these days.

However I have lived my working life so can make some comment which you may care to consider.

When I left school I became a "career man", very much so, in fact. My career was everything and all my energies, earnings and everything else you can think of, were poured into progressing that career. Today, now long retired, I ask myself why did I do that ? The truth of the matter I suppose is because I liked what I was doing. It suited me, it was adventurous, demanding and all of those things which appeal. Boredom and routine seldom raised their heads, no two days were the same. Box ticking was unheard of. Some people described it as a career where you constantly moved from crisis to crisis . I preferred to call it just challenging.  Problem solving was a daily routine. I liked it and suppose I got an adrenalin rush out of it. In the fullness of time workmates became "family" in a way. That career became everything to me. Today I say, " It wish I had not let that happen, as all other things took second place." The required health standards were high, and when lost left me with no career at all. It was all downhill after that.

Would I make the same mistake again if the clock could be retarded and I could start over again? 

I just don't know. I would hope not to make the same mistake a second time around, but the chances are that I might.

In your case both career paths are commendable, but career is not everything. Some do not harmonise particularly well with the really important things in life, and many are positively detrimental.

If I were in your shoes, with life experiences to consult with, I think I would opt to proceed along the paramedic path first, providing it really appeals to you. At the end of the two years you will have choices open to you. The paramedic way, as I see it means you will not be tying yourself down so much at the beginning. You will be setting out along a path which should leave you more options, two years down the track.

That's the way I see it from here, with an elderly mind, perhaps slightly tarnished by age.

Life is short and fragile - so enjoy it whilst you can - that too, is HIGHLY important.

No one knows what tomorrow may bring.

Best of luck, young fella. 🙂  

[Jords]

Hey mate,

Thanks for responding to my post, any advice is good advice! 

I definitely understand where you're coming from, and I guess I'm sort of in your position where I'm just keen to get into the career that I want to do for the rest of my life. As you said, either job will be different each and every day.

Valid point though, that career is indeed not everything, but I guess it is a major part of everyone once you hit 20 and start to ease into a chosen career.

Mmm, I've been leaning towards paramedic, not because their anxiety restrictions aren't as strict, but because whether it was paramedic or police, it's something I'd enjoy doing for a long time. So I think I will stick with the degree, and see what happens at the end of the two years. As you said, the choices will be open if things go to plan at the end of the two years. And I am still young so there's no rush.

I greatly appreciate your advice and wisdom mate, definitely appreciate it.

[Sea-n-sky]

That's fantastic - glad to have been of help.

I'll be around for a while, but it seems to me that spending too much time on this website could have a definite detrimental effect.

I've looked at a lot of posts now, and it seems to me there is a lot of tragedy out there. Much more than I had thought.

You'll have to be tough to be a good paramedic - but I expect they will train you properly for that.

The ones (paramedics) that came to get me recently in their helicopter were simply marvellous, and the pilot was a doctor as well.

I fear they may not do it again. Last time they were available immediately, next time may be different if they are out on another call. A younger person must be given preference over an old guy like me. That's essential.

I think you will like being a paramedic providing they train you to look after yourself when faced with trauma, - which you will be.

Good bye.

[Jords]

Thanks again Sea-n-sky.

While I will definitely enjoy being a paramedic, I always tend to focus back onto police as it's something I've wanted to do as a little kid.

At this stage, I'm currently studying a degree which will throw me into second year of paramedic practice, but if I don't get in, I'm contemplating applying for the policing degree at Western Sydney, which takes two years, and third year is at Goulburn.

If my anxiety doesn't cause me any problems during those 2 years of study at Western Sydney, then I should be sweet for Goulburn in the 3rd year.

But in terms of paramedics, and after speaking with them today, they mentioned that anxiety history is approached on a case by case scenario, so if it's minor, like mine then it shouldn't impact my application process. Unfortunately, police have more strict conditions.

So I'm at a cross roads I guess - if I don't get accepted into the paramedic practice degree, then I think I'll study the bachelor of policing degree.

[Sea-n-sky]

Ok  Jords, - that sounds pretty good to me, you seem to have it all under control.

What has baffled me a bit is your apparent concern over a seemingly minor anxiety syndrome you believe you have.

I understood that your GP and a specialist had assured you it was only minor in nature.

To me that suggests (providing it is correct) that it should not be in any way detrimental to you. Completely the opposite in fact. A bit of fear, a bit of anxiety, is a good thing. It protects you.  It is really essential that you have that, because if you don't then you could be a hazard to yourself, and others working with you.

It should ensure that you do not rush into situations, "where angels fear to tread".

It should cause you to hold back a bit, consider the situations you are faced with, and then, and only then, act upon them.

That is important in that sort of work - it should keep you safe. That's what normal levels of fear and anxiety do. They are a safety valve - if you like.

They only become undesirable and/or detrimental to you when they become excessive.

Seems to me, from what you have said, that the fear and anxiety levels you possess, are actually very healthy, so I suggest you have nothing to worry about there.

If you had no fear and anxiety I believe you would be a danger to yourself and others.

Some fear and anxiety is good.  Absolutely necessary, in fact.

It should stop you becoming a "Rambo" or so called "hero".

The graveyards are full of them.

From what you have told me/us, I think your anxiety status is near perfect for what you want to do with your life.

Well that is my opinion anyway.

I certainly would not have wanted you on my team in the past, if you were completely devoid of fear and anxiety. It would have been too risky for me, and everyone else on board.

It strikes me that you are an almost perfectly balanced guy - ideally suited to that sort of work, - any sort of work in fact.

That's what I think.

I just hope it helps, or at least reassures you.

Best Rgds,

Sea-n-sky

[Jords]

Cheers mate for the kind words, unfortunately the NSW Police see it otherwise so I'll have to wait two years. Just not sure what to do I guess..

If I don't get into the paramedic degree then I'm not sure where to go from there. I found out today that they perform a health assessment as you get into the Bachelor of Policing at Western Sydney, which means my ''anxiety'' will affect my chance of being accepted into the degree.

So there's a lot of factors that are blocking me from where I want to go. Not a deterrent, just annoying.

[Sea-n-sky]

Hi again,

Well I certainly wouldn't be losing any sleep over it, at this time.

If, as I believe, your anxiety is minor, as your GP and specialist have said, then I suspect you may be surprised when it comes to that health assessment at Western Sydney. That it will, in fact, work very much in your favour and they will welcome you with open arms.

The impressions they may be giving you at this time, may just be designed to test you, to see if you really want to join them, designed to make you give up trying, if your heart is not truly in it. Don't fall for that trick - it's as old as the hills themselves.

hey create the impression they don't want you, when in fact they really do.

They just want to be sure you want them - that's all.

A sort of reverse psychology - if you like.

Anyhow what will be will be.

If you really want it, then you must go for it .

Things seem so difficult for you guys these days. "Batchelors of Policing" - good lord, - I wonder what they will think of next.

When I was a youngster it was so much easier . If you wanted to join the police then thats what you did, you just went and joined them . After that you  let them take care of the "Batchelor of Policing" sort of stuff. Let them worry about it, -  not you.

There's little doubt in my mind that there are more pressures on young people today than in my day. I believe also, that therein lies the reason for so much mental illness in young people these days.  If I am right, I feel it's somewhat unfair.

I still reckon the paramedic is a good alternative. Looking far into the future, the day will come when after the police force you'll have to "filter" back into "normal society" once again.

That could be, I reckon, much more so than from the world of the paramedic, I should think.

I may be wrong there, but it's something you should perhaps give some thought to.

The other thing you may not have thought about is the future wife and family. Every time a police officer goes out - the reality is these days that he may not come back. That 's a concern. It must put a hell of a strain on the "family situation". It's something else to consider - but not excessively so, - just keep it at the back of your mind. " Don't go overboard on it" - if you know what I mean.

All things in moderation, - as they say.

It's the best advice I can think of. The decisions, of course, are all yours.