This is my Job

   So of the events I was faced with today in the line of work, coming off my break to find that a slightly anxious mental health patient had barracaded himself in the dining room, (blocking my way through) was one of the more serious ones. I think he was just as surprised as me to find me standing there. He must have believed that he was the only one down there; intentionally shutting out all other members of staff. Unfortunately for me, this meant that me and him were the only two there, and I'm not exactly the strongest of people if something were to happen.

   What started as a mere chair blocking the door then became a table and two chairs as he began lifting and shifting, pacing and reuminating. Talking him down wasn't working, and pulling the alarm might escalate him. I was a little stuck.

   I kept my distance, knew my exit, and was relieved when another member of staff appeared a minute later, peering, slightly bewildered, through the glass of the door.

   It wasn't long before three more staff worked out that they could come around through the nurses office door (which I had thought was a window), and relieved me, de-escalted him and thus brought the situation under control.
  
   Phew!
  
   All in a days work.