Educating Friends About EMS PTSD
Whenever one sees the initials PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) they may automatically associate this diagnosis with a soldier that has returned home after combat duty in some faraway country. PTSD can certainly occur in these instances. However, this diagnosis delves much deeper into most public servants’ life who falls victim to long-term exposure to high-level stress and trauma such as, the EMT.
When one experiences trauma on the job or in private life they can be diagnosed with PTSD. One example of a traumatic job may be that of an EMT or first responder. When PTSD goes untreated as it frequently does it put many at high risk for substance abuse. This condition is real with a real diagnosis that requires the help of a qualified professional.
PTSD is a process by which one cannot forget the details of horrible memories and visions of a particular event. The victim want to forget that the event happened, however, they cannot, and they keep reliving the memories over and over again. A good share of those suffering from this diagnosis starts to self-medicate or take illegal drugs to help them live life without the horrible memories. Substance abuse is a tool to help those forget the horror of certain events. Constant reminders of horrible events can become life-threatening, causing the person to enter a path towards suicide as an end to the mental suffering.
PTSD is now becoming a more recognizable condition with percentages of EMT and first responders suffering from this mental health disorder reaching 20 percent or higher across the United States.
At this point, the person likely needs the help of an in-house rehabilitation facility such as found at First Responders First in California. Nestled among the breathtaking mountains of the Angeles National Forest, first responders are catered to and treated for PTSD. First Responders First is a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art rehab facility that caters specifically to those in high trauma positions such as found in the realm of EMT and other first responder jobs.
Horrible events are shoved to the back burner of the mind where it simmers until someone innocently brings up some questions that put the event on a rolling boil. Suffers do not forget bad incidents easily, if at all. The EMT remember dates, times, names, and every shocking bit of the event. Memories never go away or even fade in the slightest. The person must work tirelessly to keep the awful event a distant memory until they are innocently forced to relive the whole incident again.
Need to Talk About PTSD in EMS & Fire
EMT specialists and first responders are discovering that they can no longer help anyone if at first, they do not help themselves. Learn how to respond to a Resilient Responder Mindset. Those who care for others need to care for themselves first.
Know that this diagnosis is curable and so are the side effects such as substance abuse. However, those suffering from this diagnosis believe that this horrible event is something they must learn to live with, and they will never forget because there is no fixing the memories. The events are burned into the mind, never to be forgotten.
We are seeing more and more helpless and hopeless first responders going through the effects of PTSD. We see these people being healed mentally, physically, and spiritually resolving the bad memories and finding life-long lasting peace and healing through evidence-based therapies. This diagnosis can be cured and we have the proof. Education is the key to successful healing.
Weathering the Storm Towards Renewed Health and Wellness
The EMT requires education about PTSD brought about from years of on the job, long-term trauma experiences and extraordinary levels of on the job stress. The toll that these trauma experiences hold for the EMT is now clearly recognizable, manageable, and highly curable.
Employers nationwide find that those employees suffering from PTSD need much more attention than what their helpful approaches can give and are addressing this mental health dilemma. First responders are healing mentally and physically from traumatic incidents with a high rate of recovery with substance abuse assistance once they recognize the fact that there is help for them. These public servants are reentering their profession with more resiliency than ever before.
Rehabilitation assistance goes beyond employee resources now being offered such as debriefings, stress management, assistance programs, counselor assistance, and other approaches that employers are now offering the EMT. New recovery assistance is on the horizon and showing life-long success. PTSD suffers are now able to cope with situations where old memories of traumatic events can resurface, opening up old wounds that cause continued mental anguish in a matter of seconds.
Education does not stop with the EMT suffering from PTSD but reaches out to coworkers, family members, and friends. Education starts within the public realm that PTSD is more common than thought among first responders including the suicide rate among EMT specialists.
This mental health diagnosis no longer has to be hidden and seldom talked about condition. Understanding of PTSD begins with educated communication among the victims, their coworkers, family, and friends. Victims are learning how to communicate and answer awkward and relentless questions about their job experiences in better ways showing that the EMT is able to overcome their bad experiences.
A Call to Action for Help
The client fighting this all too common mental health disorder must possess the motivation and desire to be healed. PTSD is a real public mental health diagnosis that requires assistance from a mental health professional to overcome this disorder.
If you or someone you know suffers daily with PTSD please reach out to us, a unique and one-of-a-kind PTSD facility. We can help you. If you need our services, contact us at 888-252-5767. We are but a telephone call away. You can email us at admissions@firstrespondersfirst.com.
