Under the Headset : Surviving Dispatcher Stress
As dispatchers, we make a difference in peoples lives everyday. We make decisions that affect people in ways that, sometimes, they don't realize, let alone us making that realization. We take peoples stress and grief and carry it around with us with little or no outlet for release. The purpose of this book is to let you know that you don't have to carry around that burden. We give you some ways to cope with stress, some techniques to help alleviate stress and some guidelines to help you help yourself. If it were possible to wave the magic wand and make the stresses of the job go away, our lives would be much more simple. The information given is a compilation of several sources. Put it in your "dispatcher toolbox" and use your tools often. Not every tool is going to work for every person and situation. It's up to you to utilize whatever tools gets the job done for you. Find out what works and what doesn't; search for other tools to use or invent your own tools. We may not be in control of the events that occur in our lives, but we can be in control of our reactions to those events. World renown author on the stress and grieving process, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, has a wonderful quote that I think applies to dispatchers; "People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the light is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." We make a difference every day in other people's lives. Make a difference in yours and take care of you and keep that light within you bright when the outside appears dark.