Bank Teller Recently Experienced Robbery

[TigerPride]

Don't know where to start, but my bank was recently robbed, I am scared, afraid, & do not understand why it happened.

I didn't see the gun, my other teller did and was the one who actually got robbed. So why am I so scared. I saw the guy was looking at him almost the whole time, because something just seemed off.

I have been in banking over 12 years, yet have only been with this bank less then a year. Have been through countless training sessions and have seen numerous videos of other robbers, but all the training in the world does not teach you how to handle the after effects, there are certain noises that occured during and after the robbery that when I hear them again, brings back the whole incident again & I panic.

I don't know how to handle this, I don't understand why it happened. and I just don't know why I am so messed up over it when I was not the one who was robbed, I was just the other Teller that stood there watching the guy, knowing something didn't seem right, when will all these fellings go away, I don't want to be scared forever.

<Paragraph breaks inserted for ease of reading by Amethist>

 

[Froggie]

Welcome to the forum TigerPride. This is a very hard situation to deal with. The first things you need is to seek professional help : doctor and psychologist. The sooner you get help and are able to vent out with the guidance of a psy the sooner you get some control over your life. Does the bank offer psych support to their employees ? I don't know which country you are from so depends on laws and regulations.

 

[ms spock]

It didn't happen because of anything you did or didn't do. Banks get robbed by robbers and I am so sad for you that you were in this situation.
ms spock

 

[TigerPride]

Welcome to the forum TigerPride. This is a very hard situation to deal with. The first things you need is to seek professional help : doctor and psychologist. The sooner you get help and are able to vent out with the guidance of a psy the sooner you get some control over your life. Does the bank offer psych support to their employees ? I don't know which country you are from so depends on laws and regulations.

at this point no "help" has been offered...never being through this before I don't know if that comes from the FBI, or if bank personel is suppose to offer...I guess since they think it was not a "hostile takeover" we're all suppose to resume life as normal, which is a whole lot easier said then done.

 

[TigerPride]

It didn't happen because of anything you did or didn't do. Banks get robbed by robbers and I am so sad for you that you were in this situation.
ms spock

just keep thinking maybe I could have stopped it, since I could tell something was off the whole time he was in there, yet if he had of been approached he could have killed us all...see he had a helmet on the whole time, I was wanting to ask him to take it off, but couldn't move. Maybe if I had off been strong enough to ask him to take it off, he would have just left, then again if I had of, he might of killed us.

 

[ms spock]

That is a situation were doing nothing is so wise.

When we are faced with a trauma - to try and retain some sense of having some type of power - in a way to reassure ourselves that we have agency - we blame ourselves - but you had no power, you had no choice and being quiet was the correct and sensible thing to do.

There was nothing you could have done.

This is hard.
ms spock

 

[Sazza]

Sorry to hear about your recent experience with the robbery. In these kind of situations it is natural for us to beat ourselves up and to think there was something that could of been done. In reality we have no control of other peoples actions you are in no way responsbile for what happened and there was nothing you could of done. Sometimes there is no explanation or reason as to why these things happen, often we want a reason to help us process events and it is not having these answers that drives us mad thinking of what if etc and why.

All i can reallt say is get some help with dealing with your feelings sooner rather than later to help you process things. Hope you find the forum useful and supportive.

 

[ms spock]

There was nothing you could have done in a situation is one of the most difficult to process and accept. I, myself, have tremendous trouble with this one. I can see why it is so hard for you to grapple with TigerPride.

ms spock

 

[Doc4art]

TigerPride, I know what you are going through. I was the victim of a bank robbery in May of this year and was told I have PTSD. I thought is was something Vets went through but now I have it. I feel the same way too. My mind races on how I would have handle the situation better. It goes over my mind on a daily basis. My company did not care about my needs or feelings. I wasn't sleeping, having nightmares and the anxiety is terrible. All they cared if I was going to work the next morning after the incident. I did and the day after the robbery, they gave me a test to see if I knew the procedures of a bank robbery. Nice way to handle a person who just went through a traumatic experience. I was getting worse until someone from the bank, outside from the branch I've work, gave me some assistance for help. I am seeing a therapist. Though getting some help my symptoms was getting worse. Instead my manager called me and ask me to resign. This wasn't my fault. I did not resign and still fighting this battle. I living by my means and today I found out the name of the robber. I'm writing this this with tears rolling down my eyes. I'm trying to handle this but it's very hard. It just brings back the moment. Stay strong, seek help and I'm glad I found this forum today because I realize I am not alone.

 

[Go Hungry]

You didn't do a thing wrong in this situation you described. Looks like your Fight or Flight response did it's exact job. It kept you alive. You can't know what another person's intentions are, and you certainly can't control their actions. Alot of people have these odd fantasies about how they would have handled (X) better, but it's all crap. Until you're in the middle of something you can't know what it's like. I'm sorry this has hurt you, and every sorrier for the response of others.

It's really really common for people to blame themselves after an incident, wondering what they could have done differently to change the outcome. Chances are, nothing. You did not rob that bank, he did. He's the only one who had the luxury of forethought, the only one with the element of surprise; the only one who was able to practice his moves, survey the bank for cameras, all that. For him it was a planned event. For you it was Tuesday. How could you be expected to counter that kind of advantage?

What the other folks said here is totally the right thing to go with, go see a therapist or get a recommendation from your MD if you haven't. They will be able to help with the process alot.