The “Killer” amongst us.

There are many ways to approach the demise of the catastrophe adjuster.

1)      The fatal auto accident.

2)      The falling off the roof.

3)      The stroke

4)      The heart attack

Many of the above are related to the difficult and lengthily work hours we endure to provide our services to those that require them, as well as to provide for our families.

Many auto accidents occur because we are tired, not paying attention, involved in a cell phone call, or some other distraction which may or may not be the proximate cause of the accident, but could be contributory thereto.

Falling off a roof is usually caused by being distracted and not paying attention to the situation at hand. Many have fallen, a few have survived, and more than a few have not, or have incurred injuries which limit their future. (Several close friends are among the missing).

The stroke’s and heart attack’s may be a predisposed condition which exists in some, and then they may be brought on by the lack of having a healthy diet and or proper exercise, or whatever other cause a physician or physiologist may proffer.
 

Most of us have been associated with the term “Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome”, which for the most part has been loosely associated with our undaunted military personnel, who return to the States after enduring some form of extremely difficult conditions. (In this instance you would have had to “been there&rdquo

Many of these returning “hero’s, and I use the term as all inclusive, (because in my humble opinion they all are) have ventured into the various wildernesses of our society, never to return. Some have strayed off into the pinelands of New Jersey, or the Rocky Mountains of Colorado or Montana, or the barrens of Wyoming, or the streets of New York, Chicago, Los Angles, Philadelphia or any other place where they can blend into the background of this erstwhile accusatory society. (Especially those from Nam).

We now are facing yet another round of returning hero’s from a land of sand and blood and many things which are completely foreign to out perception of good and evil, or society as we understand and accept. It gives pause to each of us, to reflect on the condition and potential reactions of these people.
 

If, in fact, the trauma room Doctor or Nurse, or the Paramedic, or Police Officer or EMT or Fireman can deal with the daily tasks which they face, should we not be able to do the same?

Understand this, my friends; we deal with the same identical issues that the above referenced trades deal with. Sometimes it is only one a day, and other times it is 10 per day.

Perhaps we do not risk our lives in fighting a fire, using the “jaws of life” to extricate someone from a vehicle, face an individual with a firearm pointed at us, or use all of the medical training we have to save a life, but we do sometimes deal with the stress that is associated with the claimant that has lost everything they ever had. We deal with the stress of having to assure the claimant that we will do all in our power to lessen their personal losses.

We can NEVER know how they feel, nor can we even assume that we can know this. We are not the ones that have lost everything, their home, possessions, photographs, mementos, souvenirs, childhood toys and memories.

Yet, we do deal with each of these things, in our minds. We do feel their pain, we do think about what has happened to them. We do imagine what we MAY feel like if the same thing occurred in our lives. This is what is called STRESS.
 

The simple word stress is not unkindly, nor is it meant to be, in this proffered venue, a direct cause of the potential killer. The root of this article is for each and every one to become aware of the underlying, untold, and insufferable causes of the duties and actions of this profession.

Have you ever come home from a gig and found yourself sleeping 10-12-14 hours a day? Have you ever found yourselves becoming short, argumentative or resentful of your significant other, wife, children, parents or friends? This translates to STRESS.

No matter the cause, how long the gig, how difficult the work, we do it because we enjoy it, like to assist where we can, like to return the claimant to their just conditions and simply “do the right thing”.

There is a price for what we do, those that hire us, pay for our services, and we do enjoy these benefits. But there is a much higher price we and our families and friends pay. That price is watching us deteriorate before their eyes. Seeing us as we now are, instead of what we were before we were “deployed”. To my old mind there is little difference between WWII, Korea, and Nam, Iraq or any other warfront to which we could have been, or were, deployed to, and what we now do.

The object matter is to realize and fully comprehend what we do, why we do it and what the ensuing results may be. We are here to assist people in their time of need, we are here to lessen the trials and tribulations they are facing, and we are here to do all we can to make life more endurable for them.

Please remember the objective of this difficult adjusting life. Do all you can to help, be all you can be, and take off the adjuster hat when you get back? It is not easy, by any stretch of the imagination, but it may save you from some very serious personal difficulties with your family, children, friends and acquaintances.

In all the years that have been devoted to this profession there has only been one (1) person that I am aware of that had ever addressed this issue, and it was totally ignored.

Now having become an erstwhile victim of PTSS, after “Katrina” it is time I “fessed up”

Please do not let STRESS become your personal “KILLER”

Furthermore, the causes of stress are highly individual. What you consider stressful depends on many factors, including your personality, general outlook on life, problem-solving abilities, and social support system. Something that's stressful to you may be neutral or even enjoyable to someone else. For example, your morning commute may make you anxious and tense because you worry that traffic will make you late. Others, however, may find the trip relaxing because they allow more than enough time and enjoy playing music or listening to books while they drive.

Stressors can be divided into three broad categories:

• Frustrations – Frustrations are obstacles that prevent you from meeting your needs or achieving personal goals. They can be external—such as discrimination, an unsatisfying job, divorce, or the death of a loved one—or internal. Examples of internal frustrations include physical handicaps, the lack of a desired ability or trait, and other real or perceived personal limitations.
• Conflicts – Stressors involving two or more incompatible needs or goals are known as conflicts. For example, a working mother might feel torn over a job offer that would advance her career, but take time away from her family. Sometimes the conflict involves a choice between two desirable options, such as deciding between two acceptance offers from equally appealing colleges. At other times, the decision involves disagreeable alternatives.
• Pressures – Stress can stem from the expectations of others or the demands you place on yourself. You may feel pressure to get good grades in order to please your parents or get into a good school. Or you may feel pressure to excel at work, make a difference in your community, or be the perfect mother.

Whether or not the source of stress causes significant emotional and physical symptoms depends in part on the nature of the stressor itself. Stressors that involve central aspects of your life or that persist for extended periods of time are more likely to result in severe distress and disruption of functioning. Furthermore, the more stressful situations or life changes you're dealing with at one time, the more intense the symptoms of stress.

Stress affects the mind, body, and behavior in many ways. The specific signs and symptoms of stress vary from person to person, but all have the potential to harm your health, emotional well-being, and relationships with others.

Oh my gosh, I'm speechless, and for those of you who know me, you  know that's quite a statement.

To "Jim the Adjuster" and those of like mindset, all I have to say is shame on you. 

Imagine not being able or willing to feel completely honored to be given the gift of the knowledge of those who have been doing a thing longer than you.  Imagine not having respect and manners enough to realize what an honor it is to be in the company of such individuals. 

A sad reflection of the break down in our society today, lack of respect, lack of integrity, lack of honor.

I think I'll just stick with the "geezer" group and enjoy the company of those distinguished individuals who know how to treat others, and we'll regale each other with tales of "how we had to walk a mile in the snow to get to school"! 

This is a great thread.  I am a self proclaimed "newbie", and do not have nearly as much experience as most of you.  But that being said, I have worked both hurricanes and hail storms, and have felt that there is some sort of PTSS with this job.  After working a couple of hurricanes in a row after just starting off,  I was ready for a break.  I was physically, but more MENTALLY and EMOTIONALLY exhausted.  It was only after 4 weeks at home that I got a call from my IA firm asking if I was available to work a hailstorm.  Honestly, I didn't think I was, but I had been taught be a trusted mentor to NEVER turn down work.  I told them I was ready to go.  After I arrived, there was another hailstorm in the same general area, and I wound up gettting about twice as many claims as I had expected.  I worked about 3 months on that deplyment when all was said and done, and found myself to be much less exhausted than I had been after the hurricanes I had worked.  My wife even noticed the difference, not only when she would come to visit, but after I got home.  She assumed I was just getting used to the hours and stress, but I knew better.  I remembered back to the first hurricane.  She came to visit me one weekend after I had been there about a month.  I was so stressed out that we weren't able to enjoy the visit.  I couldn't explain it to her at the time, but the truth is, I felt terribly guilty about taking a day, ONE day, to enjoy some time with my wife, because I knew there were people depending on me to help them get there lives back to some semblance of normal.  I couldn't handle putting them off. 

 I remember going to pick up some fast food while she was there, and from the time I left the hotel until the time I got back, I was on the phone with policyholders assuring them I would be in touch with them ASAP to set an appointment, or discuss whatever they needed to discuss.  

On the other hand, for the most part, while working that hail storm, there was almost no stress involved.  I had a couple of claims where wind had caused extensive damage, but 99% of my claims were strictly roof claims.  The PH's didn't  appear to be under any stress themselves, and therefore, I had less stress.  I didn't hear any stories from them about how they had to huddle in the bathtub with mattresses on top of them for hours on end, then try to find food and gas and ice and water, so that their children would be somewhat comfortable.  They didn't have any stories of loved ones that they still hadn't heard from, and didn't know there whereabouts, or their fates.  These people just wanted to know if they needed a new roof. 

I know we are going through a rough time as IA's, but I will never watch the TV hoping for a hurricane to come.  I have a small landscape business to keep me occupied during these slow times, and if I get a call to work a hailstorm or two every year, I can make it.  That's not to say I won't work a hurricane...after all, someone has to do it.  But I wouldn't wish one on my worst enemy.  I went through Katrina myself, and in fact was displaced from my home for 4 months. (My wife and kids were, anyway...I was working)  But after seeing some of the things I have seen, and I'm sure every one of you has also, I count myself lucky to have no more damage than I had, and to know all of my family is safe and comfortable.  

Bottom line, there is definitely a huge amount of stress in this business, and I can certainly see where it could be hazardous to one's health.   

I for one truly enjoy the wisdom of the "ole geezers" sure the young ones may be quicker at climbing roofs, or the new computer programs; they may be walking a bit faster through the house.  But with experience comes knowledge and we all try to learn on every storm.  I am sure the adjusters with 20+ experience have forgotten more than I know.  If the newbie’s would take the time to try and retain 1% of the information at their disposal on CADO they would be 100 times better of an adjuster. 

I seen the newbie’s on storms with their extra computers for playing computer games, called them and they where napping at 5:00 getting some rest before they went to the bar, bragging on the number of inspections they did all week only to hear how they were going to have to inspect them again next week because they didn’t do it right the first time.  Complaining how the carriers were stupid, their supervisors wanted to much, expected too much.  But hey they know it all they took the class they have a license, they learned xactamate or msb.  But the time will come when they go on a real storm and they will want more than a pulse to get deployed and there is time to really look at the work they produce and they will not survive.  And like they say he who laughs last laughs best.  So keep up this thread we love and treasure all advice.  Because anyone who can do this job properly will suffer from stress, and needs all the information you all post.  So Thanks a Million

Melanie

Seems like Jim the Adjuster has been hanging around the Applebees Parking Lot Guy too long. 

If I may diverge back to the original post....

This is quite a business.  It is always either too much work or too little.  I'm not sure which is worse.  It is away from home for months or years at a time.  And time at home may not end up being the hoped-for quality time.  It all depends on if the time at home is spent reconnecting with relationships that have slipped from neglect and distance, or looking for more work, or trying to fix up all the stuff around the house that has fallen into disrepair during your absence.  And of course, time at home depends on having a home in the first place.  For some of us who work 40 to 45 weeks out of the year, there may really be no such thing as "home" in the sense of what any normal person would define it.

I call Pennsylvania home, but I spent three days there from May 2005 to January 2007.  I would (and do) call that "homeless in style".  In fact the only reason I have been in Pennsylvania since January is that I found an assignment here.

In terms of stress, as far as I am concerned, nothing beats a winter storm.  When a hurricane hits everyone knows that, though their claim may involve an emergency, they are not the only one in such desparate straits.  A hail storm is rarely an emergency.  But when it is literally raining in the house and water is running down the walls and dripping from the light fixture due to an ice dam people want you to see it today.  When the pipes have frozen and burst and water is spraying all over the house and rising in the basement, they want you to see it today.  When the roof collapses under weight of ice and snow people want you to see it today.  Last week I sat down to write up claims five days in a row.  Five days in a row I got a call from my vendor telling me they had an emergency claim that had to be seen today.  The writing of claims is relegated to after 7PM and weekends.  I don't tell people I am working through the weekend so there will be some reprieve and an opportunity to get the claims written up before the calls start coming that ask why they do not have their money yet.  One of the carriers even started marking their assignments as "Super Rush".  It made me laugh.  Then I called the insured immediately, dropped everything else, and went out to inspect the loss.

Geography and demographics may have something to do with the stress of an assignment, as well.  The character of people who live in different areas tends to differ.  In some places, people are more litigiuous.  In some they are more demanding.  In some they tend to complain more.  In different parts of the country people expect a different level of service than in others.  Someone who has just been working Mississippi may find a surprise when they attempt to work at the same pace in New York City.  Even between New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast people had very different expectations of what we would do for them and how quickly their claim should be resolved.  Many of the areas prone to winter storms are also areas where a higher level of service is expected, like the urban areas of the northeast.  I've been surprised while working this assignment from home to find that much of the Poconos has become bedroom communities for those who work in New York City and commute six hours round trip each day.  This brings a different dynamic to the level of claim handling that one might have expected to perform ten years ago.

I feel I have gone far afield in this stream of consciousness post.  I also feel the pressure to get back to writing these claims up, so I will just end here.

And, might I add, I truly feel like a geezer at the moment.

1