What is First Responder PTSD?
Many people are aware that a first responder is any emergency services worker who answers distress calls and arrives as the first source of aid in a dangerous environment. This name is sometimes used for firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and armed service members. In a job that requires a certain degree of selflessness, these individuals put their lives—and mental health—on the line daily.
Being tasked as the first individual to show up to scenes that include traumatic injuries, fatalities, and other tragedies requires a substantial amount of bravery. Unfortunately, it also weighs heavily on the minds of these workers, as there’s no predicting what waits after every call. The result of exposure to these situations, combined with the burden of being responsible for the lives of so many, often leads to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, in first responders.
At South Shores Detox, we cater to brave men and women who suffer from first-responder PTSD. This unfortunate byproduct of exposure to traumatic events day after day often leads to self-medicating, and it takes a staff knowledgeable in co-occurring disorders to provide the remedy for long-term recovery.
This article explains how South Shores can help you or someone you care about who suffers from PTSD symptoms associated with the duties of being a first responder.
What Is the Nature of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a serious mental health condition that emerges in those who have experienced traumatic situations that triggered a significant amount of fear or panic. PTSD symptoms include a wide range of responses and behaviors to recurring thoughts of the trauma experienced by the individual, often triggered by external and psychological influences.
Taking a closer look, it becomes apparent that Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a complicated mental health challenge involving several neurotransmitters, chemicals, and parts of the brain. When posttraumatic stress symptoms manifest, the brain goes into fight-or-flight mode, deriving from the actions of a part of the brain known as the amygdala.
This leads to a release of hormones that impact physical and mental health. Post Traumatic Stress symptoms include spikes in heart rate and blood pressure. These spikes, ironically, are the body’s way of attempting to shield us from an immediate threat.
Lingering Response Symptoms
In a brain absent of PTSD, these symptoms only last until the presence of danger is gone. For victims of traumatic events suffering from PTSD, this stress response continues, leading to long periods of hyper-vigilance. Ultimately, the result is extreme anxiety, panic attacks, nightmares, and even flashbacks.
This mental health disorder is so severe that it leads to permanent changes in the part of the brain responsible for memory and processing fear.
Why Is PTSD So Disruptive?
The first thing you should be aware of is the fact that it’s perfectly normal to feel anxiety after experiencing trauma. As stated above, this is a part of the brain’s fight or flight mechanism, a natural action that shields our psyche.
However, when these traumatic events lead to PTSD and the symptoms persist for hours on end, it seriously impacts any attempt to lead a normal life.
So, how do we know the difference between symptoms of PTSD and a normal response during traumatic events? When the symptoms continue for extended lengths of time, to the point of impacting an individual’s quality of life, chances are high they’ve crossed the threshold into PTSD.
The Ability to Cope
As we begin to cope with traumatic events in a healthy way, the natural stress response in the body eventually calms. This is why it’s imperative that we properly learn to grieve, cope, and process when these situations arise. In the case of PTSD, these mental health symptoms can rage on for months and years.
Because of the chronic occurrence of these symptoms, PTSD makes it nearly impossible to thrive at work or maintain close personal relationships with new people. The intensity of PTSD side effects are crippling, often leading to invasive thoughts, repetitive nightmares, and hallucinations known as flashbacks.
Sensory stimuli usually trigger these events, returning the individual to the traumatic event. When constantly plagued by the nightmarish reminder of such damaging events, accomplishing the simplest tasks becomes challenging.
The Connection Between First Responders and Psychological Distress
First responders regularly expose themselves to several traumatic scenes and experiences. Things like physical violence, tragic accidents, and natural disasters create scenes that have a lasting impact that creates traumatic memories. Because many first responders push their feelings and thoughts regarding their experiences to the side for the sake of continuing the job, many have a high risk of developing PTSD.
For many, the adrenaline rush experienced during these traumatic incidents fuels them to carry on day-to-day. Unfortunately, it’s this same experience that has a lasting impact that ends with mental health issues. Let’s look at the most common first responders and the situations they run into regularly.
Firefighters
Firefighters are tasked with multiple responsibilities. Not only are they responsible for extinguishing the flames of a burning structure, but they must also ensure the safety of the individuals at the scene. This often means putting their own lives on the line for the sake of helping those in need.
After rescuing a victim from a fiery inferno, firefighters must also act as paramedics, administering life-saving techniques until an ambulance arrives. Anxiety disorders, PTSD, and other mental health problems impact emergency personnel on the fire squad after routine events like the following:
- Commonly witnessing individuals with significant burns from fire and smoke
- Exposure to fatalities upon arrival, leaving victims nearly unrecognizable
- Many of the victims involved are also children, making the trauma more severe
- The mental weight when attempts to rescue someone aren’t successful
- The intense sounds and visuals associated with a massive fire
Paramedics
Paramedics rush to aid those in need after a 911 call is made. Acute stress disorder and developing PTSD is a common occurrence for these first responders, as they experience a massive range of traumatic distress calls. Emergency Medical Technicians, or EMTs, have the job of acting as trauma physicians in the field. Sometimes, there’s no time to shuttle the individual to a hospital. Lifesaving treatment must be administered at the scene—and every effort isn’t successful.
These first responders have difficulty separating these thoughts from their personal and professional lives. Trauma exposure often includes:
- Violent car accidents with badly injured drivers and passengers
- Individuals who have committed or attempted to take their own lives
- Traumatic injuries that include gun and knife violence
- The intense weight of losing someone after lifesaving efforts fail
Police Officers
Police officers are included in the list of first responders and can also be tasked with the work of an EMT. Although usually dispatched to mitigate violent crimes and other intense scenarios, cops must take life-saving action if required until paramedics arrive on the scene. There is an additional layer of risk for police officers as they put themselves in harm’s way daily, often interacting with dangerous criminals. These emergency response providers frequently deal with:
- The victims of violent crimes
- Calls that involve investigating fatalities
- The stress of possibly having to use their firearm
- Putting themselves at risk of being targets of violence
How Common Is PTSD Among First Responders?
PTSD is common among first responders of any nature. The average number of emergency workers who suffer from this disorder is staggering. Not only is there an increased risk of PTSD among first responders—it’s nearly guaranteed.
1 in 3 first responders is reported to suffer from PTSD or major depression. This mental health stigma requires workers to develop healthy coping mechanisms. However, these efforts often come too late, or never at all, leading to cases of substance abuse to self-medicate.
Accessing adequate mental health resources is imperative for frontline emergency workers. At South Shores Detox, we’re experts in treating PTSD in first responders. Our mental health professionals remain constantly in tune with the latest research in PTSD treatment, offering therapy that comes packaged in multiple strategies.
What are some of the most successful methods of treating posttraumatic stress disorder? In the following section, you’ll discover how South Shores Detox approaches healing the scars of these life-altering events.
What’s the Best Way to Approach Mental Health Care for First Responders?
First responders who develop mental disorders from occupational stress can benefit from a variety of different therapeutic efforts. After decades of psychiatric research, developments in mental health services have instilled hope in PTSD patients everywhere. At South Shores Detox, we use many of the following methods:
Psychotherapy and One-on-One Counseling
One of our most frequently used approaches to PTSD is psychotherapy. There are multiple subcategories of psychotherapy our professionals specialize in at South Shores Detox, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Exposure Therapy
- Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
These methods can be used in conjunction with each other for maximum impact. The goal is to help clients learn to process their trauma in a healthy way, identify negative behaviors and thoughts, and learn how to replace these harmful elements with more positive coping strategies.
Medication and Medical Treatment
In more severe cases, pharmaceutical treatment is the most efficient way to treat PTSD in first responders. Prescription drugs for depression and anxiety are provided to clients, helping them to manage the symptoms of PTSD better.
Medication is another standard option to help them obtain more consistent, restful sleep. Because of recurring nightmares, those who suffer from the psychological stress of PTSD have difficulty sleeping more than a couple of hours per night. The goal is to use medication to help clients cope with the worst symptoms, allowing them to focus on alternative healing efforts with the help of a counselor.
Ultimately, we prefer that clients refrain from using pharmaceutical treatment. However, each situation is different, and no two clients work on the same timeline. Long-term prescription plans are available if clients only show positive results with medication assistance. Ideally, we help clients find an efficient dosage using lower-strength medication, allowing them to stabilize on the smallest dose possible.
South Shores Detox: On the Front Lines for First Responders
At South Shores Detox, we take pride in having the honor of assisting the brave men and women who make up the core of our emergency response services.
Offering help for our first responders is imperative, as millions rely on them to remain mentally sharp so they can provide the life-saving techniques their job demands. If you or someone you love feels the weight of being a first responder, we strongly encourage you to reach out.
Even heroes need a helping hand occasionally, and South Shores Detox offers the lifesaving assistance you deserve. For more information, contact a member of our admissions team today. All calls are confidential, so please reach out now for our proven support options.