Boots & Tears
It’s a job of boots and tears, but it seems clear in training that first responders are not the ones allowed to cry.
It’s a job of boots and tears, but it seems clear in training that first responders are not the ones allowed to cry.
No one signs up for trauma because it’s fun. We sign up for trauma to help people out of it, not to wear the scars of it for the rest of our lives.
Our current technology has led us to a place where you can put a device on and change your environment. This opens a world of opportunity for therapy for PTSD patients.
We love our fireworks on the fourth, their popping colors and vibrant designs, but not everyone does. Those with PTSD may have a particularly difficult time with fireworks.
We shouldn’t wait for things to get ugly or to the point of someone thinking about suicide before we take the first steps of prevention. We need to start conversations now, right now, so that everyone is aware of what to do.
Trauma Informed Coaches anchor their work in the present, not the past. They focus on the client’s current life and how trauma is affecting them today.
Traumatic events bear a weight and, though most responders shove that small weight aside or push the experiences down, it builds and builds over time. This is cumulative trauma and many first responders carry it, many unknowingly.
Years ago, we didn’t know what we didn’t know. It wasn’t studied and brain function studies and mental health knowledge weren’t anywhere near where they are now.
Keith Hanks, FRC’s Director of Business Development, was a firefighter for 21 years and now speaks about PTSD and its effects.
Having mental health issues makes many feel they can’t uphold this image of a strong and capable helper. It’s this fear that causes many first responders to not admit when they need help or they’re having issues.