My wife and I have a combined 30 years of service as first responders, so we know a thing or two about the importance of resilience.
Without resilience, quite frankly you won’t last.
The years have had a significant impact on us physically and mentally. It’s highly unlikely you will come across a first responder without some form of physical and/or mental damage.
With this comes a foundation of resilience that cannot be taken away, unfortunately for so many the mental load becomes too much to bear.
Luckily for our Son, we have built an unshakable relationship and have the ability and experience to pass on our strength and resilience to him and our future kids in the form of lessons.
For this, we are extremely grateful.
Building Resilience as a First Responder
As first responders, we are no strangers to the intensity and unpredictability of our work. We have a front-row seat to witnessing both the strength and vulnerability that come with this role.
Resilience, the ability to adapt, overcome, and stand back up when we get knocked down isn’t just a concept for us—it’s a necessity.
The Importance of Resilience
Resilience is our guardian against the cumulative stress that comes with being a first responder.
Every call we answer, every traumatic incident we witness, leaves a mark.
Over time, these experiences can weigh heavily on our mental and physical health. Resilience allows us to manage these stresses, preventing them from overwhelming us and enabling us to continue serving our communities and our teams effectively.
Challenges We Face
First responders face a unique set of challenges that demand not only physical endurance but also mental resilience.
The combination of long shifts and late-night calls often makes restful sleep a rarity.
Sleep deprivation goes beyond just feeling tired; it impacts our cognitive functions, decision-making abilities, and emotional regulation, which are crucial in high-stakes situations.
Over time, the lack of adequate rest can lead to burnout, decreased job performance, and chronic stress, all of which take a toll on our overall well-being.
Adding to this strain is the emotional weight of witnessing traumatic events regularly.
The cumulative effect of exposure to trauma can profoundly impact mental health, leading to conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
The constant state of alertness required during extended shifts leaves little room for recovery, compounding the physical exhaustion and emotional drain.
A lot of the time the constant state of alertness doesn’t cease at the end of your shift.
Building resilience becomes essential in managing these challenges, helping us process our experiences, maintain mental health, and continue performing our duties effectively.
The big four
The four pillars we prioritize – do we always manage to get them right, absolutely not. But, we do our absolute best, for us, for our Son and for our family unit.
Prioritize Sleep:
Despite the challenges, making sleep a priority when off-duty is essential.
Developing a routine that promotes quality sleep can help mitigate the effects of sleep deprivation. Routines aren’t easy with two shift workers and Kids.
Physical Health:
Regular exercise and a balanced diet are foundational to resilience.
They help maintain energy levels, improve mood, and enhance overall physical health. We take care of our physical health more for our mental well-being. Without our exercise we decline rapidly
Mental Health Support:
Don’t hesitate to seek support when needed.
Whether through counselling, peer support groups, or simply talking with a trusted colleague, addressing mental health is key to long-term resilience.
We both see an great psychologist on a regular basis and check in with our amazing GP regularly also.
Mindfulness and Relaxation:
Techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing exercises can help manage stress and improve emotional regulation.
Sometimes we just take twenty minutes to ourselves to do this. We don’t have a lot of free time but twenty minutes everyone can find.
That’s our big four, anything beyond these is a bonus. But, maintaining these keeps us running pretty smooth.
Being a first responder is one of the most rewarding yet challenging roles one can undertake.
By focusing on building resilience, we can better navigate the demands of our job and continue to serve our communities with strength and dedication.
We have also managed to build something very powerful between the two of us that will only benefit our Son and future kids.