As first
responders enter their career, they often have a close-knit group of friends
that is separate from their work peers. But as they become more immersed in the
demands of their job, they may find themselves sacrificing personal time and
hobbies in order to fulfill their duty. This can lead to a natural distance
between friends, making it difficult to maintain a strong social life.
However,
studies have shown the importance of maintaining a social network for first
responders. Those with larger networks and strong social support tend to
experience less stress and better mental health overall. This concept, known as
the "stress-buffering hypothesis," suggests that having a strong
support system can help reduce negative thoughts and beliefs following a
traumatic experience.
But for
many first responders, maintaining these friendships can be challenging. Their
demanding schedules and confidentiality obligations make it hard to connect
with friends who haven't experienced similar situations. There is also a sense
that others may not fully understand what they've been through, leading to a
feeling of disconnection.
Despite
these challenges, these friendships are crucial for first responders because
they offer an outlet outside of work.
These
friendships, though somewhat disconnected, are vital because they provide
camaraderie that allows the first responder to fully disengage from the stress
and trauma experienced on the job. Schedule difficulties aside, time and effort
to maintain these friendships is essential or they will dwindle. And that means
losing important social support, outside of the workplace.
A
healthy social network includes variety, so while our first set of friends is
crucial, we can’t discount the importance of peers and work friends. Brothers
and sisters on your team.
The bond
first responders share is like no other. The things they go through and see
together help them feel understood and often distant from others. It’s common
for first responders to slowly see their original friend group narrow as their
work friends increase, but both are equally vital.
These
friendships provide camaraderie that allows the first responder to feel
understood through the stress and trauma experienced on the job.
But
though the bond between peers is unique in its forged through fire strength, it
can quickly disappear when individual is no longer a part of the day to day of
the department due to leave, transfers, injuries, early retirements, etc. The
circle a first responder surrounds themselves with at work can sometimes be a
false sense of security because dealing with trauma means one can never know
what next shift might bring and losses on the job are not uncommon.
This is
why it's essential for first responders to intentionally build a large social
network both within and outside of their workplace.
First
responders have to navigate and process some of the most difficult and
traumatic situations imaginable... on a daily basis. There’s not enough
sleeping or eating right in the world that is going to fortify a person against
the effects of trauma like that. To borrow a phrase, “it takes a village.”
When
relationships breakdown or dwindle, so too does the protection that the social
network provides.
Poor
social support has been linked to depression, loneliness & isolation, and
has been shown to alter brain function and increase the risk of the following:
· Alcohol
use
· Cardiovascular
disease
· Depression
· Suicide
Social support is vital for our well being. If you find yourself pulling away from your group, this is your sign to reach out for help.
*****
“If you believe change is possible, you want to change, and you are willing to do the work, you absolutely CAN get your life back.”
Get your copy of The Soldier's Guide to PTSD, The Soldier's Workbook,
No comments:
Post a Comment