The Burdens That We Carry
This article is courtesy of Patrick McCurdy, Retired Sergeant/Deputy. — Being a First Responder is difficult. You see and experience things on a regular basis that would send most people reeling in shock. Most people cannot even begin to imagine the depths of sorrow, tragedy, evil and darkness that you witness and deal with. Despite […]
First Responder Grief During the Holidays
This article is courtesy of Patrick McCurdy, Retired Sergeant/Deputy. — “I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief.”C.S. Lewis It was Christmas Eve. We were looking for a domestic violence assault suspect. It was a pretty bad assault, and we were determined to find him. Everyone inside […]
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.
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 […]
What are the differences between binge drinking and alcoholism?
Many times people confuse binge drinking and alcoholism, but they are not the same. What is the same is that first responders tend to suffer from both due to being exposed to stressful and disturbing critical situations regularly. As you may have experienced, alcohol is almost a part of the first responder culture, which is […]
Four tips to help you adjust to a sober lifestyle
Adjusting to a clean and sober lifestyle after completing a treatment program for substance abuse is a challenge, especially for first responders. In addition to giving up certain aspects of a previous lifestyle, recovery also affords one the opportunity to explore new interests and make connections with people who support and encourage sobriety. “Research shows […]
Deep breathing our way towards wellness
Did you know regularly practicing deep breathing can have a lasting impact on mental wellness? Yes, something as simple as “breathing” has the healing qualities to alleviate stress, anxiety, heart palpitations, anxiousness, depression, and even help cope with post-traumatic stress. Creating a deep breathing routine and regularly implementing it into a small portion of your […]
