Trauma Treatment & E.M.D.R. for First Responders
"When your body and mind have a chance to recover you will no longer be in a state of hyper-arousal or emotional disengagement (“shut down”)— this should leave you feeling more present and better able to enjoy time with loved ones, and be better able to help others as a professional without interfering symptoms."
If everyone on your watch deserves to be rescued, protected, and recovered, so do you.
Many first responders and care professionals feel stigmatized and uncomfortable needing support, and are concerned that their need for assistance will be evidence of weakness. After all, one of your biggest skills and strengths as a first responder is being strong for others and maintaining control when others are going through anguish. This can make it difficult to discuss vulnerabilities and ask for help for yourself. It is also normal to avoid talking about traumatic experiences and avoid treatment due to fear that once these issues are acknowledged they will become more overwhelming or unmanageable. Many become concerned and have thoughts like: “is something wrong with me” when they experience post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, and relationship issues, and try to manage their symptoms on their own due to feelings of shame and fear of being judged or ridiculed.
However, being witness to disturbing sites, sounds, smells, stories, and experiences actually causes chemical changes in the body and an over-active stress response system in the mind that in most cases makes it impossible to recover fully without intervention. Some of the symptoms that can be expected following what we call “secondary trauma” (being witness to and being involved in a trauma experience, even if the horrific event technically happened to someone else) are irritation, trouble sleeping, anxiety, sadness and hopelessness, flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts and memories, feeling “shut down” emotionally, and avoidance of triggers that may be reminders of the trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, or E.M.D.R., is a solution-focused, time-sensitive, and evidence-based treatment for trauma that can eliminate flashbacks, nightmares, and other symptoms resulting from the trauma. This treatment also helps reduce triggers and reactivity to reminders of the experienced trauma, which means that you will feel more in control, be better able to concentrate and remember things, have less anxiety, and less sadness. When your body and mind have a chance to recover you will no longer be in a state of hyper-arousal or emotional disengagement (“shut down”)— this should leave you feeling more present and better able to enjoy time with loved ones, and be better able to help others as a professional without interfering symptoms.
My top priority is helping you recover and have the best quality of life possible. Call me for a free consultation in order to help you learn more about E.M.D.R. and how it could help you specifically recover quickly from your unique trauma experiences.
Many first responders and care professionals feel stigmatized and uncomfortable needing support, and are concerned that their need for assistance will be evidence of weakness. After all, one of your biggest skills and strengths as a first responder is being strong for others and maintaining control when others are going through anguish. This can make it difficult to discuss vulnerabilities and ask for help for yourself. It is also normal to avoid talking about traumatic experiences and avoid treatment due to fear that once these issues are acknowledged they will become more overwhelming or unmanageable. Many become concerned and have thoughts like: “is something wrong with me” when they experience post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, substance use, and relationship issues, and try to manage their symptoms on their own due to feelings of shame and fear of being judged or ridiculed.
However, being witness to disturbing sites, sounds, smells, stories, and experiences actually causes chemical changes in the body and an over-active stress response system in the mind that in most cases makes it impossible to recover fully without intervention. Some of the symptoms that can be expected following what we call “secondary trauma” (being witness to and being involved in a trauma experience, even if the horrific event technically happened to someone else) are irritation, trouble sleeping, anxiety, sadness and hopelessness, flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts and memories, feeling “shut down” emotionally, and avoidance of triggers that may be reminders of the trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, or E.M.D.R., is a solution-focused, time-sensitive, and evidence-based treatment for trauma that can eliminate flashbacks, nightmares, and other symptoms resulting from the trauma. This treatment also helps reduce triggers and reactivity to reminders of the experienced trauma, which means that you will feel more in control, be better able to concentrate and remember things, have less anxiety, and less sadness. When your body and mind have a chance to recover you will no longer be in a state of hyper-arousal or emotional disengagement (“shut down”)— this should leave you feeling more present and better able to enjoy time with loved ones, and be better able to help others as a professional without interfering symptoms.
My top priority is helping you recover and have the best quality of life possible. Call me for a free consultation in order to help you learn more about E.M.D.R. and how it could help you specifically recover quickly from your unique trauma experiences.
Photo used under Creative Commons from The National Guard