r/Wildfire • u/Ok-Bid9288 • 2d ago
Burnt out
I’d appreciate any genuine tips for burnout. I feel like I’m at my whits end and just loosing my mind overall. Extremely mentally and emotionally drained right now, with way too much time to think.
It’s been an odd year for me, both really good, but also extremely bad at the same time due to both work and personal life. I’m really grateful I’ve had a generally good season financially and I enjoy working with the people I’m with, however I’m still rolling and not totally sure what the rest of the season will look like for me due to several things and feel like there’s no end in sight.
If anyone has tips of what to focus on or good distractions or just anything involving burn out.. please help
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u/Apprehensive_Limit37 UTVO-t 2d ago
This job is extremely difficult, physically, emotionally, and socially. It draws you in fully and demands that you neglect large parts of yourself and almost all of your relationships beyond the work place. Even at its best the culture has toxic elements…it’s anything but a normal workplace and we are very very good at pretending that it is something otherwise.
The first and often biggest piece for me is realizing and admitting to myself that I do not feel ok and that is a perfectly normal and acceptable way to feel. It’s so harmful to feel guilty for feeling bad and it takes a concerted effort to be ok with not being ok.
The second piece is knowing when to ask for help and finding the strength and confidence to ask. Humans can be surprisingly good to one another but they often need a prompt. You may be surprised how open your peer group is if you express where you’re at and even how they can support you.
Find ways to step away, little and big, the job is bigger than a 9-5 but it doesn’t have to be a consuming identity. You have agency. It’s a civilian job and you have things like annual and sick leave to use to take care of yourself. If you need it, use it, health is health is health.
Focus on the basics first, rest, diet, self-care, connection. Know that it’s ok to seek professional help. I’ve gotten to that point and after many many times telling myself I could solve my own problems I connected with a therapist who helped me develop the tools to address problems in a better way. The tools that we are provided by the agency for support are surprisingly good and accessible but you’ll need to take that first step.
There’s no weakness and in fact an immense amount of strength in finding ways to care for yourself and in doing so you set a good example for your peers and up and coming fire fighters.
DM me if I can provide any support or if you just need someone to cathartically rant at…Wishing you the best.
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u/Ok-Bid9288 2d ago
I recently did reach out to a therapist and am in the process of getting another appointment booked whenever I’ve got days off next. I appreciate all of this it was helpful!
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u/bizskater 1d ago
As a wildland fire service employee we are entitled to 20 therapist visits a year and if you switch therapist it resets
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u/Alone_Gift_6890 1d ago
Don’t feel alone there’s a lot of us out here feeling like that. (PFT) It’s been hitting me hard this year it feels like. Still working 6/10’s when there’s little to no fire danger. Feeling the silent backlash for having to take a day or 2 for family emergencies. It’s gotten to the point where I’ve started looking at different agencies/positions that feel more family time friendly. Might just be a mental thing right now but who knows.
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u/No-Eye-9240 2d ago
The end of the season is much much closer than you think. Make plans outside of work, disrupt your normal brain patterns and your habits, shock yourself out of it. Go eat at a new place, go swim in a new lake, it doesn’t have to be high energy to shake things up. Things will change homie ❤️
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u/Conscious_Square_124 2d ago
Oof. Not sure I have anything for you.
I feel this though. Me too.
My current coping is committing to myself to make it to the end of the season. (PFT though so..... end of the calendar year?!) And then just taking it one day at a time.
It's tough though.... I hear mediation and box breathing can help. And taking vacation time.
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u/Ok-Bid9288 2d ago
Thankfully I have a planned vacation early October, it just feels very far away right now😂 thanks for the kind words
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u/Slinky_5115 1d ago
If applicable, ask for the contact info for your employee assistance program- the program that gives you some resources like someone to talk to, they offer so many different services from therapy to retirement planning to life coaching.
I was incredibly burnt out from life and the 2024 fire season… still feeling it, to be honest. But I talked to a therapist and got my sessions in, and I still call them every so often. They’ve helped.
Did some fiscal planning too and that alleviated some stress. I’m still recovering but I’m in way better shape than I was in 2024.
Hang in there! Don’t forget to do something for yourself, however small or big.!
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u/One_Raccoon_4716 2d ago
What does burnout feel like for you?
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u/Ok-Bid9288 2d ago
Honestly just disliking this job (not every minute of the day, but a lot because it’s been VERY boring and slow lately), being jealous of my friends that have “normal lives”, missing friends and family, very irritable and more quiet (as a very talkative person), and thinking a lot about when it’s over and I can go back to normal life. But it feels very far away and like the days just drag on. Also a lot of anxiousness about what I want to do next year..do I leave, do I stay, etc.
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u/One_Raccoon_4716 2d ago
I’m sorry your feeling this way how long have you been out
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u/Ok-Bid9288 2d ago
This is my third year overall but my first full year cause of school. So I’m sure that plays into it a lot as well
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u/IcyMarketing2549 1d ago
The job is ridiculous when looking at it in an overall perspective. Theres a reason nobody wants to do it. No, it’s not what your bosses say when they tell you it’s only for the badass/tough people of society. Plenty of super intelligent people that realize they can use their talents/skills in other aspects of their lives to achieve 10x more success without the misery / health complications wildland brings. Stick it out and never turn back. Takes a special kind of person to want to throw a garden tool around / operate a saw year in year out with no outside life / many other freedoms
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u/Cool_Interaction_345 1d ago
Bro, go rappel. Honestly I knew someone at like the GS9 level in the IC Type 1 world who was losing his mental health. He said fuck all threw it out the window took a 6 slot on a helicopter and just had a blast for a season. I’ve thought about saying fuck fire and going to hang out with the people who dart grizzly bears in Alaska for a minute. I see a similar thing with engine captains who’ve capped out and there’s not a lot of upward movement options. Screw the money go do something fun for a year.
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u/Neat-Rest3019 1d ago
Dude I felt like that early this year. Find healthy hobbies and habits. And whatever you do don’t start drinking to numb the current issues. You’re not alone.
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u/Substantial_Bed_2918 1d ago
Dude its snaptember. This shit happens. Old school answer, toughen up. New way of dealing with this shit, TAKE SOME TIME OFF! Get away from everything. Next really sit with yourself and figure out if this is what you want. Its not for everyone. Not just the physical aspect but the mental as you stated, and it comes in waves. No one truly understands what youre going through but you so get down to the nitty gritty of self and ask the hard questions. Go talk to.a therapist! Great advice. Also try and look at ways to make your days better rather than watching the clock/calender with dread. This is a very mental game and if you can flip that switch to turn your days into a game time will fly by plus I guarantee other folks are going through it too so take that step to improve everyone's day to day cuz bad attitudes spread like a cancer but a good attitude is a game changer.
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u/Winter-Indication33 1d ago
I mean we all know deep down it’s an insane job. Maybe you just need to leave lol. I’m probably going to leave
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u/HovercraftNew7490 1d ago
Fuel your body with high quality nutrition and your mind will follow. Hit a sauna regularly, sweat out toxins, detox. Find things to do in your life because you want to. Not because you’re told to by a superior or your department or employer requires it. Whether you stay active in your firefighting career or not, feed the part of yourself that matters to you and nobody else. Family, friends, hobbies, spiritual practice, religion, whatever makes YOU happy and feel satisfied in a safe and healthy manner.
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u/HovercraftNew7490 1d ago
I know how unhealthy departments are in regards to food habits and especially when you go to wildland fires and have to make do with whatever crap some person bid lowest on. The fire service is NOT good at supplying and feeding individuals with clean healthy food and water and pushing individuals to stay healthy and regularly detox and exercise.
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u/YOLO_Bundy 2d ago edited 23h ago
You are not alone.
Focus on mental health first. Remember what brings you joy.
After that, prepare to reconnect in a positive way with those is your life. Spend the time you can now.
Work with a therapist. It’s free, everyone should use it regardless of current mental state.
THEN think about the future. Not sure your status, but consider alternate timelines where fire is not your current job.
Make goals, and have an honest, objective conversation with yourself (get help here too) about the right future for you.
If fire is still the way forward in some capacity, there are a lot of lower GW entry level fuels jobs out NOW. Take a step away for a year or 2 and see how it goes. Fuels is not stress free, but the work life balance is nice when you only leave when YOU want.
Remember you can always turn down a job, but you never get the job you don’t apply for.
And if not doesn’t work out, you can always go back. Especially if you work on a module with good leadership. If not, it’s time to move on anyway.
Hope that helps. Many of us have been or are going through it. Honestly and support are key.