Will a breakdown on the job likely end in termination?

[Tnaemt94]

I psyched myself out really bad and my mind was in hyperdrive and I overwhelmed myself and as a result, I broke down. I pretty much went crazy. I started falling apart in front of everyone and was tweeking out and my supervisor sent me home. I explained to him about my thoughts manifesting in my head and me overwhelming myself and he said he can't have me behind the wheel of an ambulance in this state of mind and sent me home. This in return put a unit out of service. So does this mean I am pretty much done for?

If anyone can help me out ASAP I can really use it.

 

[Martyn]

PTSD....workers comp. Then you can get some help.

 

[Tnaemt94]

PTSD....workers comp. Then you can get some help.

I am part time tho and I work for a county service

 

[Carlos Danger]

I psyched myself out really bad and my mind was in hyperdrive and I overwhelmed myself and as a result, I broke down. I pretty much went crazy. I started falling apart in front of everyone and was tweeking out and my supervisor sent me home. I explained to him about my thoughts manifesting in my head and me overwhelming myself and he said he can't have me behind the wheel of an ambulance in this state of mind and sent me home. This in return put a unit out of service. So does this mean I am pretty much done for?

If anyone can help me out ASAP I can really use it.

Start looking for a different job, because even if they don't fire you, EMS is not for you. Good luck.

 

[Tnaemt94]

Start looking for a different job, because even if they don't fire you, EMS is not for you. Good luck.

It is not your job to determine if EMS is right for me or not. If I feel it is right for me, then I will pursue it.

 

[luke_31]

It is not your job to determine if EMS is right for me or not. If I feel it is right for me, then I will pursue it.

You asked for an opinion, just because you got one that doesn't agree with what you want is no reason to get snippy. A little more information on what happened would help get you a better answer.

 

[squirrel15]

It is not your job to determine if EMS is right for me or not. If I feel it is right for me, then I will pursue it.

You asked for opinions, you were given a straightforward one. And I agree with Remi for the simple fact, you're unable to see when you need help. Breaking down happens, stress can do that to you. But its a matter of recognizing you need help and getting that help prior to breaking down. Losing your **** in front of everyone and allowing your mind to be clouded and to think you can still work in that condition is unacceptable. You're a safety hazard at that point to yourself, your partner and your patient.

So a stressful work environment is not the place for you. Unless you come to terms with yourself and learn when to reach out.

 

[chaz90]

In your words, you "psyched yourself out really bad," "overwhelmed yourself," "broke down," "went crazy," and were "falling apart."

Clearly you were unable to function or work and likely should investigate other career paths. I could not have someone work for me as a solo healthcare provider, first responder, or operator of an emergency vehicle who may spontaneously "go crazy" as you said you did and become unable to function. If (and it's a big if) there was a readily defined and non reproducible reason this happened, a physician certifies that this was a single episode that is unlikely to happen again, that you are receiving treatment as needed, and an acceptable time has passed without any recurrences, I may consider allowing you to apply again.

If EMS (or any other job) causes this kind of breakdown in your mental state, why tie yourself to it? We need to be accountable for our own health and well being, and if something is causing an untoward and dangerous reaction like this, eliminate the source of the problem. To me, this is like saying "I really want to be a forest service ranger, but I'm allergic to trees." If stress, emergency calls, or medical decisions make you break down in this manner, this is not the career for you. No ifs, ands, or buts. If an EMS provider is afflicted with an unpredictable condition like this, they're no longer helping. They're a liability to everyone they work with, their patients, and the public in general.

 

[chaz90]

PTSD....workers comp. Then you can get some help.

How do you know this case is in any way appropriate for claims of PTSD or worker's comp? The OP just said he broke down at work. This could have been utterly unrelated to any past or current calls or situations.

I think we should try to save the PTSD label for those cases that actually meet the criteria.

 

[gotbeerz001]

Can I assume that you are an EMT? If so, either you are working IFT or you did not have primary care responsibility for the pt that caused you to break down. Also, based on your defensive reaction and the fact that you are here asking such a question, I would guess that you are young and have not been doing this very long...

I'll ask you, if the above is true, how do you expect to progress in this field when your current level is overwhelming despite having very little actual responsibility?

 

[chaz90]

Can I assume that you are an EMT? If so, either you are working IFT or you did not have primary care responsibility for the pt that caused you to break down. Also, based on your defensive reaction and the fact that you are here asking such a question, I would guess that you are young and have not been doing this very long...

I'll ask you, if the above is true, how do you expect to progress in this field when your current level is overwhelming despite having very little actual responsibility?

I'll hazard a guess from his username that he is likely an AEMT and is ~21 years old.

 

[gotbeerz001]

I'll hazard a guess from his username that he is likely an AEMT and is ~21 years old.

Either a 21 yo AEMT in Tenessee or a 21 yo EMT who likes TnA...

I was thinking EMT cuz supervisor "can't have (him) behind the wheel" even though treating patients seems like an even greater liability.

 

[Mufasa556]

It is not your job to determine if EMS is right for me or not. If I feel it is right for me, then I will pursue it.

What do you think caused this break down?

 

[mgr22]

Not much I can add to chaz90's advice -- only that I've seen others do what you did, then come back to work after taking some time off. Your "breakdown" doesn't necessarily mean you are done with EMS, but the one who should really be making that decision right now is you.

 

[Tnaemt94]

What do you think caused this break down?

Obsessing over something completely unrelateded with work

 

[Tigger]

If you can't separate your home life from work life (or vice versa), you're EMS tenure will be brief.

You are supposed to be a patient advocate. How do you plan on doing that when you can't advocate for yourself and get not bring such baggage to work?

 

[46Young]

If you can tie the nervous breakdown to a death in the family, your house just burned down, spouse just served you with divorce papers or was caught double dipping, you could probably survive the event. If it's something stupid like relationship drama, missing a social function because of a late job, not so much

 

[46Young]

I wouldn't want to work with someone prone to panic attacks or violent outbursts over things that are not life or death. I deal with them often enough as patients, and the trigger is usually something really, really minor.

 

[Tnaemt94]

If you can't separate your home life from work life (or vice versa), you're EMS tenure will be brief.

You are supposed to be a patient advocate. How do you plan on doing that when you can't advocate for yourself and get not bring such baggage to work?

I was analyzing the emotion love. I was thinking deeply about it and gaining feedback from articles written by psychologists and feedback from people online.

I am a deep thinker. If I get a topic on my mind my thoughts can consume my thinking process.

The job in itself does not bother me. I love my job and feel like it is my niche. It is the external crap in life that I get hooked on and it interferes with any job I have.

So to specifically target EMS and say that particular job is not right for me is a wrongful assumption. The issue is not job-related whatsoever

 

[Tnaemt94]

I wouldn't want to work with someone prone to panic attacks or violent outbursts over things that are not life or death. I deal with them often enough as patients, and the trigger is usually something really, really minor.

I am not violent at all. I have worked with co workers who have had aggressive outbursts and have been able to excel in their jobs as a EMT/medic. My "outbursts" are more like crawling into a ball and causing harm to myself than to anyone else.