Finding Peace in Chaos
I live for the adrenaline in helping others, fighting for those without a voice. This can be a thankless job that honestly never sleeps. It is chaotic, emotional and an ever changing world that makes you adapt quick!
Being a First Responder or EMS worker already makes you a bit of an odd breed. We have in a lot of cases a warped view on what fun things are. We haven’t had a full night of sleep in years and our diet consist primarily of jet fuel like coffee and snacks.
It is hard for us to have conventional relationships, finding someone who really understands why we don’t have a schedule, so active and have a hard time relaxing.. not to mention, almost never home. We are typically divorced, Single or in a state of frustration. I know personally I can’t fit the mold of a nuclear family and or societial norm, don’t really want to.
A lot of us seem to be loners when not on call or in the station. We really enjoy to have our peace and quiet when we can get it. Oddly I say that as I write this and listen to a lecture on pharmacology for emergency medicine.
The only way for me to unplug is to head out to the woods and enjoy everything nature. Self assess, regroup and digest life for a couple of days. It seems a little all or nothing and it could very well be. It makes me happy and keeps me grounded… I am certain I am not alone.
Is it healthy to have an off switch that is a bit stuck? Probably not overly but, we all have our vices.
So if you are a friend or spouse of one us, just remember that we aren’t broken we are just a different breed and you can’t tie us in the yard.