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Robbed at work.
5 years ago
Here is what is going on with me...
A man came into my pharmacy with his hand in his shirt claiming to have a gun and told me I better go e her methadone and Percocet or he would blow us all away. I told the pharmacist to get me some Percocet because we were being robbed. I stayed calm as the man was yelling to not fuck with him, told him we didn't have methadone but I had the Percocet. I asked him if he wanted it in a bag and he said he did. After I bagged it and gave it to him the man left. We immediately shut down and called the cops. The man was caught later that day. I had to go to the cops car to identify the suspect, then to the back to identify the stolen goods. After that I had to write out my statement. I had to stay and hour and a half over when I was supposed to leave afterwards to help the pharmacy get caught up after the whole thing. That was Wednesday. I thought I was good to go today but upon arriving to work I began to shake and had a hard time focusing. I was so on edge. And EVERYTHING that was happening was very frustrating to me. I had to leave early. When I got home I basically just laid in the dark and cried. Apparently that whole incident affected me a lot more than I thought they had originally. I stayed calm through the robbery itself but damn I'm like...so on edge.
I would personally suggest you speak to someone at work about it all if you haven't because they are surely understanding how you feel.
You acted just like you should have at that moment and that's truly admirable.
Still feel sorry deep down that it happened to you and hope you feel better soon.
Take care.
YOU DID GREAT.
If nobody else has thanked you for saving their keister yet, then I will thank you for them. It's wonderful that it didn't end with anybody getting hurt. It's even better that you were able to help identify him. But most importantly
YOU DID GREAT.
Under pressure, you did what nobody is ever really sure they'd be able to do until they're put in that situation. And you handled it beautifully.
But it will effect you. Maybe for a month, maybe for as long as you have that job, maybe forever. Just being real, but if you've never been robbed before it really does pin your eyes open and it makes you very untrusting of some times the simplest things. Things you may have never noticed before will send you in to Fight or Flight.
And that is perfectly normal.
What's best right now is to talk about your company to maybe take a little time off, maybe switch a few schedules around, and see if they can help you talk to someone about Crisis Recovery. It won't solve your problems, but it will help you stop from internalizing them or demonizing yourself for having those feelings.
And I can't restate this enough: Thank you.
I agree that the trauma of the event most likely hit you later, well after it was all said and done, and no one can blame you for feeling that way. It could be possible you could even have PTSD from it. I would highly recommend seeing a therapist about the whole ordeal, especially if you keep having trouble when going back to work.
Wishing you the best <3
I got robbed at a gas station I worked nightshift at in the 90s. As with you, they caught the guy.
Ask about free counseling. There are resources in many states.
Merchandise and money are insured at places of business, so just comply and be safe, in most cases all they want is what they ask for.
I do carry a gun at my new job with the owner's blessing but that is for if things go completely south and I have no other choice and must defend my life.
I do realize that this is not a choice for everyone, so I will not argue for everyone being armed.
I hope you can get help to get over that fear. *hugs you*
The most important part is making sure you and no one else gets hurt, which you did.
If it makes you feel any better, that kind of reaction afterwards is reasonable, common, and completely valid. And you'll be able to work through it with time and patience. But it's rough now and that seriously blows. :C