Feeling fatigued
 

One of the contracting companies I work with had an industrial accident today.

It was in a small town, far away from any major hospital.

The guy is okay, for now, but as I understand it he's in very bad shape.

Suffice to say it was one of the more horrible accidents I've heard about in a long while.

He'll probably lose his arm, hopefully it'll only be that.

So if I seem a little out of it tonight, that's the reason.

That's rough. Sorry to hear it. Hope your man pulls through o.k.

On line is not a good place to do stuff like this ... but depending on where you are I may be able to hook you up with your local critical incident stress management team ...

And make use of your company's EAP.

*Sends warm and caring wishes*

Or be thankful it wasn't you and accept it as something that happened that you had no control over?

Are you connected in some way to what happened or just freaked by it (e.g., "it could have been me", or "I just talked to him yesterday").

Whatever the case, that sort of thing can be very unsettling to say the least. Maybe send some tangible good wishes to the injured person or his family. Sometimes 'doing something' helps.

I have no tangible contact with the event, it's just unnerving.
I appreciate your help, wolf, but this is just part of the profession I'm in, it's happened before and it'll happen again. I'd say he needs the help more than I do ;)

Anyway, last night was particularly hard-hitting for various reasons, but I'm tip top now.

How fragile one's grip on the norm, eh?

Sometimes it's better to not have a grip I've found.

Much less frustrating.

Very, very true. Glad you're feeling better! :)

F.I.N.E.? (Fucked up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional) ... ;)

Critical Incident Stress are NORMAL reactions of a NORMAL person exposed to ABNORMAL circumstances or events.

Doesn't matter if it's "part of the profession" or not. Actually the fact that such incidents are part of the profession can lead to build up of cumulative stress that leads you down the same squirrelly path.

Sleeplessness, flashbacks, irritability, difficulty concentrating, increase in substance use (that includes more cigs and caffiene than usual as well as drugs and alcohol), avoidance, isolation, etc., etc., etc. are all potential effects of this stuff. AND can result from what we call "vicarious traumitization" ... which means seeing it on the news or hearing someone else describe the event.

Keep this kind of stuff in mind. Again, if you need more info/resources, I have 'em..

Glad to hear that bit passed. Take care of yourself.