First responders often have a natural sense of duty to serve and protect the general public. They are the unsung heroes of our nation for all that they do to help the people of our nation. Taking care of other people in their time of need comes at a cost, though.
While they do a lot of good, that doesn’t mean the impact of what they see in their everyday jobs doesn’t impact them emotionally. Truthfully, many first responders deal with PTSD. That doesn’t mean they always recognize that what they are feeling and experiencing is PTSD, though. Before we talk about how to prevent PTSD in first responders, let’s go over the signs to watch for in yourself or a first responder that you may know.
Signs of PTSD In First Responders
- Re-living traumatic experiences they went through on the job
- Not being able to recall specific details about a situation
- Changes in normal sleep patterns(insomnia)
- Self-medicating as a way to cope
- Placing blame on oneself for anything that occurred on the job
- Thinking about how or what could have been done differently to change the outcome
- Changes in eating habits (eating more or less than normal)
- Nightmares about highly stressful events
3 Ways To Prevent PTSD In First Responders
Unfortunately, being exposed to stressful events is just part of the job description for any first responder. Whether that be a policeman, firefighter, or EMS worker. Even though that comes with the line of work, there are ways to lessen the effects of PTSD.
1. Have A Supportive Work Environment
Nobody knows about the tribulations of a first responder better than a first responder. Lessening the impact of PTSD should absolutely start with the work environment.
Creating a supportive work environment is possible by doing the following:
- Talk to your coworker if you believe they are starting to get burned out from the job.
- Agree to have meetings where anyone can talk about what they saw or went through that impacted them mentally.
- Speak up about situations that need to be addressed, whether it be internally or out in the field
- Get to know your coworkers. This can create a safe environment to talk about trauma if you have someone you feel comfortable talking to about personal matters.
2. Don’t Give In To Stigma
There is a lot of stigma that comes with anything related to mental health. Especially for first responders.
There is a stigma that exists that implies that someone is weak if they ask for help, need a break, or are feeling burned out, depressed, or stressed.
None of those things are a sign of weakness. In fact, asking for help is one of the greatest signs of inner strength. It takes courage to admit to yourself that you need a break or you aren’t feeling your best.
It’s far too common for people to not talk about their mental health. It’s time we break that mold, no matter what your occupation may be.
3. Take Care Of Yourself
One of the best ways to prevent trauma as a first responder is to put yourself first. Taking care of other people may be your calling, but that doesn’t mean that has to come with the sacrifice of losing yourself in the process.
Putting yourself first will look different for everyone. Sometimes, that could mean giving yourself a mental health day every once in a while. Or, it could just mean that you find ways to decompress during your off hours, like focusing on an activity or hobby that you enjoy.
Taking care of yourself, most often, will involve reaching out for mental health support. As a first responder, you can continue to help serve your community in the best way possible by also investing in yourself.
Reach out if you are interested in learning more about therapy for first responders.
