Paramedic and Firefighter is a big deal, a really big deal and you guys don't get nearly the praise and credit that you should.

I don't know if many people outside the military know this but a very large percentage of service members are in non-combat support roles and barely know how to shoot a rifle and certainly don't ever have a chance to see anything remotely close to combat. This isn't too dismiss them, they play a vital role in keeping everything running for the front line people to do what they need to without worrying about supplies, pay, family back home, medical treatment etc. They are absolutely critical and deserve recognition but so do you! You have seen more awfulness than the average service member!

I thank you for your service! Paramedics have saved my bacon more than once.

I don't talk to many people at the VA, but I listen. A lot of great stories and characters. Conversing with human beings in the real world seems a bridge to far right now.

Even in the military, I was relatively passive. Lot's of alpha males in the Army, which I definitely am not. Probably the most laid back guy in my artillery battalion, but stress and conflict didn't bother me in the slightest. Everything just slid off my back. Oddly, when I switched to the coast guard, I was regarded as somewhat aggressive and hyper-focused, I was not different in both of them, I kept my military bearing that was pounded into me by the Army, but that was a culture shock for Coasties. That might give you an idea of the differences between services.

Somehow, stress does affect me now. I probably need to be more assertive, but somehow I struggle with that these days. Old age? Collecting MH diagnoses like comics? I don't know.

I feel so freaking stressed, my ex-pdoc who was supposed to make sure I had meds to last until my next appointment completely cancelled the mirtazipine rx. I called his nurse and he thought I was off it when I told him I wanted to stop at 15mg and was going to take my time. She said she would get back to me and it has been days and no word and it is not listed online under my prescriptions. So I have to taper off before I run out which means a miserable xmas for me when I was hoping it would be nice.

Oh well, that gives me motivation to stay out of the psych ward and away from him.