Is it possible to teach yourself to be emotinally resiliant?

Question

I want to train to be a paramedic but am not sure as to wether I would let certain situations upset me too much.

Answer 1

It's possible to be experience less of a reaction, but it's the emotional reactions that make us human. At first, situations will get to you, but after some time, you will be less emotional affected. It's like that phrase, "The first cut is the deepest."

Answer 2

There are strategies that help to a degree, though a lot of this is simply experience over time.

Try this: Think of a scene that you find emotionally difficult. Usually a traumatic memory would work, but try for exciting instead. First be IN the memory. Notice how you feel.

Now try seeing it on a screen in your mind, as if you are a third person, watching it as a movie instead.

Often this gives a detached feeling to the whole thing. You can still empathise, but are no longer tied into it in quite the same way. Just a thought. It IS an NLP technique for the sharp eyed readers among you, but it's one that does tend to work.

Other methods could include getting used to a simple meditation method such as following the breath to clear the mind or similar. Again if you can clear you mind in any situation, not just in places of peace, you will build a certain amount of flexibility in your responses.

Answer 3

The training process is called Life - it is how we all learn to deal with situations that we find uncomfortable. Be warned though it is a painful process. If you were sincere in wanting to become a paramedic any difficulties you might encounter will be picked up at interview, if they decide to take you on you will get all the support you need from your work colleagues. It is a difficult job but I think that the good results you pick up such as saving a life will far outweigh the difficult times. Good luck with your application

Answer 4

Emotional resilience is not the same being emotionless. A paramedic certainly needs to be compassionate and caring. However it is necessary to be able to distance yourself enough from certain situations to able to do your job effectively and not suffer the effects of despair and depression that could occur with someone who constantly comes in contact with human suffering. I would think that the work be very rewarding and being able to help people would bring this balance into your life.

Answer 5

This depends on you,as for me no I couldnt because I would be running It up and down In my mind but a friend of mine does It and nobody thought that she could and she says she focuses on the saveing a life part and the others she dosent focus on deaths etc,I guess you rejoice that one more person has life rather then the people that die that you can do nothing for,she Is doing great and this method works for her.

The only time her job bothered her that I know of Is when a child remined her of her own,but again the situation worked out for good,she spent more time and quality time with her children and said life Is to short.

Answer 6

Yes, it takes practice but it can be done. Talk to professionals who already work in this field and others such as firefighters, nurses, etc. and see what advice they can offer. I'm sure they'll be glad to share what they've learned.
Emotional displacement is necessary in order to be able to help the suffering without burning at an emotional stake yourself; perhaps one of the greatest helps to this is knowing that they are depending on you to help them, and you need a clear head to do that.
But learning to "leave work at work" is also vital, so it doesn't affect your home life and relationships.

Answer 7

I think that emotional resilience is cultivated which means that first we have to dare to feel the feelings and then master them. Suppression is unhealthy it renders us vague to our true self. The bottom line is that suffering and pain is part of life, maybe we have to go deeper into the experiences in order to arrive at some kind of understanding. A clay pot has to be 'Fired' in order to be functional and useful

Answer 8

Yes .... i did when i was in the Army ( See profile ).... You have too "Switch off " ..don't get emotionally involved.....Keep your head and do the job you have been trained for....But the one thing you will never get over is the smell of a Burnt Body.... your cloths will stink of it cos body fat sticks to any porous surface...( Use Vic under your nose )....this will stop you from being sick..
Good luck .

Answer 9

you become resiliant by doing the job , things will not bother you for long ,if anything you have to fight to in order to still remain soft hearted

Answer 10

Yes, A good book the has some great techniques is called 'Hrpnothink'.