I recently admitted at a party, when asked directly, that I found my job stressful. I think I am supposed to imbue confidence, and I certainly couldn't admit it at work, but I find my job hard most days.
I have driven in to work with a full on panic attack. I have reacted out of proportion when the stress starts to get to me. I had to tell a colleague to wait because I couldn't process the 4 things I had just been asked to dc, and he was giving me another one (Where is your patient? he asked calmly when I had written down my list. Really? There was no one else to ask? Thankfully he shrugged it off, charming me to calm by saying, I like talking to you, when I thanked him for his patience.)
But when things get really stressful, my life is not threatened. I worry constantly about making a mistake, and my professional happiness and success feels in the balance, knowing that I want no patient to suffer less than ideal care. But my personal safety and health is not often a concern.
A pilot, on the other hand, when faced with an emergency would have to deal with his own mortality, while trying to do the right thing for all mortals on board. A rare event I am sure, but a much tougher job than I have. ( I pondered this during a short flight to Toronto, with a spectacular view of the island, turning first to the east north of downtown and the mountain before winging around back to the west). Fortunately, most flights are easy, and today was no exception. We quickly moved above any turbulence and had a beautiful soft landing. I was glad for everyone involved that I was not the nervous pilot today!
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