Alcohol Use and Trauma in First Responders
By Stephen Odom, PhD, Founder and Chief Clinical Officer, FR Health Family of Companies As we recognize Alcohol Awareness Month this April, it’s an important time to shine a light on the complex relationship between alcohol use and trauma in first responders. These are the men and women on the front lines—law enforcement officers, firefighters, […]
Identify Hidden Stress
What are some common signs that you or a loved one may be experiencing stress? How do you know when these levels of stress are becoming harmful? Taking time to identify hidden stress in yourself and others can lead to better mental health and well-being . As first responders, it is imperative to be able […]
Be Mindful of Negative Coping
We all experience emotions and events that are uncomfortable, painful, or traumatic. Those moments or circumstances often cause lingering thoughts and emotions that must be dealt with one way or another. At some point, we may engage in numbing behavior to put off having to process unpleasant feelings. That behavior may look different for everyone […]
Four effective methods you can utilize to assist a first responder in recovery
The role that friends and family take on when a loved one struggles with addiction almost resembles the job responsibility of a first responder.
The feeling of being “on-call” for a person who has the potential to go into crisis at any moment and constantly remaining open to the prospect of intervening for your loved one requires both empathy and vigilance, the same characteristics that first responders use to do their jobs.
Five of the most common substitute addictions, learn how to avoid them
Avoiding substitute addictions in recovery is essential to ensuring mental wellness and preventing subsequent behavioral issues.
While many of these behaviors are less severe than drug and alcohol abuse, they can affect your quality of life and contribute to the overall detriment of your mental health.
Three positive improvements to expect after one year of alcohol sobriety
You endure so many humps and hurdles during your first year of alcohol sobriety. But, within those challenges, you can soon begin to reap the positive changes that will soon be bestowed upon your life. While there’s a vast array of benefits that come with putting an end to consuming alcohol, it can be tough […]
One year sober? Here’s how an alumni program can add value to your life
Remaining sober can be a daily struggle, which is exactly why one year of sober living as a first responder is an achievement worth celebrating. Naturally, given the passage of time, the nature of one’s relationship with sobriety grows and changes — like any other relationship. You might be thinking, “After passing the one-year sober […]
Here’s why first responders delay addressing substance abuse and mental health struggles
Ever heard of disassociation? Well, it’s one of the biggest reasons why first responders delay asking for help. The life of a first responder is go, go, go – constantly on the move, balancing families, 80 to 100 hour work weeks, errands, personal projects, and more. It’s rough. But one thing that first responders are […]
Three reasons why first responders in addiction recovery should add daily affirmations to their routine
Daily affirmations are one of the easiest and most accessible wellness routines first responders can add to their self-care regimens while in addiction recovery. First responders are constantly on the go, working 10 to 16 hours per day in high-stress environments – they need self-care routines that they can access everywhere they go. Recovering from […]
This is the difference between inpatient and outpatient care for addiction
The first step towards recovery is deciding to seek help, so props to you for being here. We understand the traumas of a first responder, as many of our clinicians and team have been in your shoes. Now, as you look further into our wellness programs, you will hit the point of having to decide […]