EMS Anger Management Issue

[AtlantaLifeSaver]

I am a female EMT at a VERY busy ambulance service in Atlanta. I have been an EMT for 3 years now. In the last couple of months I have been noticing a change in me. I am angry all the time on the truck. We have one dispatcher on the weekends that her voice absolutely puts me into a rage. I don't know what to do. Ive always loved my job and I want to go to paramedic school but I don't know what to do now. We have the drivecam system and I know if they were able to record us the whole shift and watch me they would take me off the truck. Everyone I talk to doesn't really understand and I'm told to "just deal with it", "your really good at your job and you have always loved this job". Does anyone have any suggestions for me. I really used to love my job now I'm wanting to be as far away from healthcare as I can get.

[firecoins]

might want to see a psychologist. This is not say anything bad but seeing a professional about your anger issues is most likely a good thing to do.

You might be burnt out. Time away from EMS may be in order. Once refreashed you may come back in. Stress is a killer.

[usafmedic45]

I was going to say it sounds like burn out.

[RuralEMT]

I too have to throw forward the idea of burn out

[firetender]

Conceptually, it's rather simple, and thanks for checking in!.

Three years of not dealing with, suppressing, or denying all the little angers accumulated WNL in the work coalesce into a big knot in your belly.

You are simply backed up with ca-ca and it's coming out sideways. My money's on you had some soul-rockers in the last three years that you've not faced.

How wrong am I to guess this anger thing bleeds out in all aspects of your life? You're experiencing anger as a human being, and you know what? In this business most of it is justifiable. It affects each of us differently. You're faced with choices; act it out and torture yourself and others, suppress it in the field and have it smear your home, or deal with it. It's not at all too late and you are SAVING yourself from burnout, not burning out!

You may have to take a little time to sort this out, even do a little screaming and crying to loosen that knot. Find someone you trust to work with. Naturally, rely on the advice of a paid professional, but don't miss out on utilizing a fellow medic with some experience in this stuff. They are out there.

The idea of you being on camera all the time is abhorrent to me! It pisses me off! You're not in a GD Zoo.

You have a right to find a safe space for you to be a human being so you can be an efficient technician; even AS you're being an efficient tech.

PM if I can help further.

[imurphy]

What you most likely have is CSR or Cumiliative Stress Reaction. The books will tell you to talk to someone. Mayby this will work for you, mayby it won't. Find what YOU need to handle how this is effecting YOU.

When I had CSR, I took a few days off, hardcore worked out in the gym and in a few weeks I was a new man. It worked for me, because I'm the type that believes that talking does nothing, action is what you need.

[Kaisu]

Late this spring I was angry with a patient. The patient did not see it (too focused on getting her drugs), but I was lucky enough to realize that this was not my norm. I do not get angry with patients. I took two sets off. I had the PTO time and I went up north and visited family and friends. I came back a new woman.

A month ago, we had a shift where the angel of death rode with us. 3 crews with 6 dead patients between us. Mine was a DOA at a roll over crash. A week before, I had been on a similar scene with a dead 16 year old. I was ranting. I felt enraged. My supervisor suggested I needed some debriefing.

I talked to my closest co-workers at the station (and talked and talked and talked.) I wrote about it and processed it. By the next shift, I was my usual easygoing good natured self.

I echo what the others said. Stress builds up. You are lucky enough to realize it. Take care of it and learn what works for you.

Good luck.

[ZVNEMT]

I seem to be having similar issues. every conversation w/ the supervisor gets louder and louder w/ more severe consequences, I'm sure i'm no far from the chopping block. Not starting my shift on time, and not really caring about it. I'm usually very reserved and relaxed, very hard to provoke and upset, but i came incredibly close to strangling one co-worker for being generally annoying, and almost punched another for being an . and apparently i've come across as rude to a few ER/ECF nurses... but i'm sure they probably deserved it...

[imurphy]

http://www.mindtools.com/stress/Brn/CopeWithBurnout.htm

May be a good resource

[Chelle]

I hope you are able to find the help you need to be able to get back to loving your job again.