People often run away from crises. First responders, on the other hand, run towards the crises. Because of their frequency of exposure to life-threatening situations, first responders are at an increased risk of mental health symptoms and trauma symptoms. Finding a trusted somatic therapist for first responders near Milwaukee, WI is one way to start healing from past trauma.
Various Forms of Trauma
Covering the big T and little t traumas that first responders are exposed to would take several paragraphs. I’ll briefly provide categories of more common traumas first responders may be exposed to in their jobs below:
- Repeated varying levels of trauma on a day-by-day, weekly, or monthly basis.
- Proximity to loss of life.
- Being put in situations that go against their character – also known as moral injury.
- Loss of a coworker – often intertwined with grief, loss, and trauma.
- Life-threatening situations to self and coworkers.
- Investigating criminal cases with gruesome details.
Oftentimes, a first responder worker will have a combination of these experiences all occurring within a matter of moments or hours. This can lead to nervous system overwhelm and trauma and then nervous system dysregulation.
Effects of Trauma on the Body
Exposure to traumatic situations can lead to trauma symptoms and nervous system dysregulation. These symptoms and the dysregulation may increase over time if not treated. The traumatic event and nervous system dysregulation can lead to physiological changes in the brain and body. This can increase one’s reactivity to stress, muscle tension, emotional numbness, and dissociation. The pain of trauma impacts many domains of a person’s life.
Ways to Cope with Stress and Trauma Symptoms
Despite trauma symptoms and stress, there are ways to cope. This section is dedicated to helping you find meaningful ways to manage the symptoms of trauma and stress as they show up in your life. Just a note, coping skills work in the short-term but are not ways to heal. Here are a few ways to start!
- Finding something that helps you soothe. This could be solitude in the gym, cooking, taking a shower, or going for a walk. Everyone soothes differently.
- Connect with past positive experiences in your life. These powerful memories can act like anchors and pull you into re-regulation.
- Connect with others that are supportive and caring. This can be another strong anchor to stabilize trauma symptoms and nervous system dysregulation.
- Find gentle ways to release stored body energy. This can be through walking, stretching, or yoga, for example.
You’ll need to find what techniques work for you. Maybe you’ll need to tweak some of the suggestions above. That’s okay. Find what works best for you. These are just starting points. Here is a link for additional coping skills for you to reference as well.
Somatic Therapist for First Responders Near Milwaukee, WI
Somatic Experiencing (SE) therapy for first responders near Milwaukee, WI works by establishing safety within the body first. SE therapy does this because the mind and body often become disconnected after traumatic situations. By establishing safety first, the body and mind can reconnect and not feel threatened. Then SE slowly integrates past painful memories by pendulating between uncomfortable memories and anchors of resilience. This balance helps you merge past painful memories and experiences so they no longer create trauma and stress symptoms in your daily life.
Find a Somatic Therapist Near Me
At Revitalize Mental Health PLLC, I offer both online trauma therapy as well as in-person therapy sessions for first responders. This way you can have therapy on your terms, where it feels comfortable, and when it’s convenient for you. SE is a powerful form of psychotherapy that can help you heal from past trauma. If you or someone you know is looking to recover from trauma, call 720.295.6703 or submit a form online by following this link here. I look forward to hearing from you.
