Fire Drill

[Renee123]

In 10 minutes, my teacher told me we are having a fire drill. They always tell us before now. They don't want to "surprise us". I feel like I'm going to panic and the other kids will laugh, wondering why I'm not over it yet. It makes me even more nervous because of that. What's the point of even doing a drill if they have to tell us beforehand now? Meh. Wish me luck I guess.

 

[Jnean]

how did you do? Drills put me on high alert for the rest of the day, even tho they were just practice, is there anything that you can do that can help you the rest of the day? Meditations, gym class maybe, or a favorite teacher you can talk to, or why not the school counselor? Good luck, hugs if you accept them!

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

I couldn't handle fire drills- known or unknown- and I was the teacher. I often had to let others take over my class and do a "different job" at the time. What job? Cower behind the shed so no on would see me until the drill was over. Do you have skills to calm yourself after it is over? That was always hard for me.

 

[EveHarrington]

Can you let your principal know you need to know in advance about these drills? Our always had those stupid alarms and today I know they'd set off my adrenaline. It's not an unreasonable accommodation for PTSD-----meaning you're entitled to it.

 

[Renee123]

how did you do? Drills put me on high alert for the rest of the day, even tho they were just practice, is...

Thank you. It was bad. It is always loudest in the art hallway (where I was). Only good part is that I didn't have to be in the wing where the trauma happened in. Still, I couldn't help but feel like kids were going to get hurt even though they said it was a drill.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

@Renee123 , I can only imagine how you must have been feeling. I always thing that fire drills mean danger, but I've never been through what you have. I haven't read all of your posts, but in one, you said you didn't have a counselor/therapist. It doesn't matter if you are the only one who remembers, you probably aren't, but a lot changed that effected your life directly that day. I would recommend finding a professional to help you through this.

 

[Renee123]

Update: I then went to my community college class (where I'm taking a class after high school so I can leave early) and an alarm was going off in the building next to it. I'm the youngest one, and I literally sat there wanting to cry. Afterwards, the teacher was taking about ethics in business (it's an introduction to business course), and showed a clip from the office where a guy pulls out weapons. It was suppose to be a joke but when I see that plus alarms, plus school today... ah. So overwhelming. I'm probably going to regret posting this on the internet but sigh....

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

Update: I then went to my community college class (where I'm taking a class after high school so I can...

Wow, what a hard and stressful day! Pat yourself on the back for making it through even if you think it was horrible, you made it through some tough stuff.