A first responder’s work can be rewarding, but over time, it can also take its toll on an individual and lead to emotional exhaustion. This exhaustion can result from high emotional involvement, such as working with traumatized individuals in the community without adequate support.  In the emergency services community, compassion fatigue can often be thought of as the emotional exhaustion manifesting itself as the reduced ability of a responder to engage with empathy or compassion toward the person they are helping. It is the strain and burden associated with prolonged exposure of feeling ..read more

This article is courtesy of Patrick McCurdy, Retired Sergeant/Deputy. — Being a First Responder is difficult. You see and experience things on a regular basis that would send most people reeling in shock. Most people cannot even begin to imagine the depths of sorrow, tragedy, evil and darkness that you witness and deal with. Despite this, you courageously continue to go to the places that others would never dare to go, simply because you are driven by a deeply rooted sense of honor, commitment and loyalty to protect, save and serve others. Serving others, though, is not without cost and conse ..read more

This article is courtesy of Patrick McCurdy, Retired Sergeant/Deputy. — “I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief.”C.S. Lewis It was Christmas Eve. We were looking for a domestic violence assault suspect. It was a pretty bad assault, and we were determined to find him. Everyone inside of the house said that he had run away, but there were no tracks in the fresh snow, and a K9 confirmed that there was no scent trail. We knew that he was hiding somewhere inside that garbage and hazard strewn home. I got to be the guy who climbed into the attic to crouch and try t ..read more

Burnout is a state of mind characterized by emotional and mental exhaustion. When someone develops burnout in the workplace, they may begin to perform poorly, develop a cynical outlook, and struggle to cope with stress. While burnout can happen in any profession, first responders are especially susceptible due to the intensely stressful nature of their ..read more

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As addiction spirals, the number of activities we engage in while impaired increases. These situations may include recreational hobbies, workplace environments, and behind-the-wheel of a motorized vehicle; all can be dangerous and even life-threatening.  The post Four tips to help you refrain from driving under the influence appeared first on First Responder Wellness ..read more

First responders who have stayed sober for extended periods are privy to the mental health benefits of experiencing peace of mind. However, any long-tenured recovery alumni can attest that these moments of clarity, feeling content in sobriety and life in general, often lack their portability. The post Understanding mental clarity in recovery appeared first on First Responder Wellness ..read more

According to the Pan American Health Organization, one in five men will not reach the age of 50 in America due to issues relating to hypermasculinity, also known as toxic masculinity. The post Learn how hypermasculinity can alter behavior, mask depression, and lead to addiction appeared first on First Responder Wellness ..read more

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), over 30 percent of first responders suffer from a mental health condition, including post-traumatic stress (PTS).  With the rise in critical incidents against civilians and towards our men and women in uniform, first responders must be able to identify PTS.  The post Four signs a first responder may be suffering from post traumatic stress appeared first on First Responder Wellness ..read more

The role that friends and family take on when a loved one struggles with addiction almost resembles the job responsibility of a first responder.  The feeling of being “on-call” for a person who has the potential to go into crisis at any moment and constantly remaining open to the prospect of intervening for your loved one requires both empathy and vigilance, the same characteristics that first responders use to do their jobs. The post Four effective methods you can utilize to assist a first responder in recovery appeared first on First Responder Wellness ..read more