What it can feel like
Going cold on calls that used to move you, cynicism about the public or the job, dreading the next tour, and feeling like the work no longer means anything. Detachment can feel like the only way to cope.
Why it happens
Relentless call volume, trauma exposure, staffing shortages, and little control over your schedule burn reserves faster than any days off can restore. This is occupational, not personal.
What can help
Peer support teams and clinicians who know the job can help you recover and reconnect to why you started. Real boundaries around overtime and off-time matter. Burnout is a signal to adjust the load, not to quit on yourself.