Have you ever worked in a situation where you've been in close proximity to, or perhaps even worked with or on, critically ill or injured persons or persons who have died Do you feel that having had this experience has had any lasting impact on your personality in general or your mental health issues in particular

I worked my way through college as, what used to be called, an "Orderly". Nowadays I guess the term would be: "nursing assistant". Over the years, I worked at two major medical centers and one small town hospital. I worked primarily in the emergency departments and in surgery. So I had occasion to work with & around people who had been in serious auto accidents, people who had been burned, shot, etc. Many of them were in critical condition, but were still alive. Some of them came in dead. Some of them died at the hospital.

These experiences happened many years ago. As far as I can tell, this never had any significant effect on me. It was part of my job & I did it. On the other hand, I sometimes wonder if these experiences had more of an impact than I realize. So I'd be interested in hearing from other PC'ers who've had similar experiences. What do you think Do you think your experiences shaped your personality or contributed to your mental health struggles in any way

[MotownJohnny]

Hi, Skeezyks. Not in the way you have, but in my line of work (estate planning/probate is one of 2 major areas) I deal with a lot of people who are in the last stages of life, terminally ill or just elderly and in failing health. I've had a lot of clients I've come to know on some level who have subsequently died. Also a few people who come to us for help when a loved one is critically or injured.

I think it makes you think about things more, both in good and bad ways. I know it has made me appreciate the fragility of life, and to try to feel that it's important to "smell the roses" so to speak.

Like you, I don't think I ever had a major effect on me, I never became so involved that I felt personally affected other than to show a healthy respect for the situation, family, and dignity of the client. I do think often when I hear that an elderly client is in a nursing home, hospice, or died, about my mother, who is elderly herself and not in the best of health, and I am sad that our time together will draw to an end sooner or later, as she has been one of the few people who, for her faults, never treated me like I wasn't good enough for them.