You constantly get thanked. You feel appreciated and recognized for the hard work you do. Likely, the appreciation that you receive gives you the motivation to keep doing your job. Even if some days are so grueling you just want to give up.
Being a hero to the community can be completely exhausting. From firefighters, police officers, medical workers, and many more, you show up when there is a need. Our first responders and nurses always show up for us to lend a helping hand. You may love your job and what you do, but if you are struggling with your mental health, know that you aren’t alone. Because the truth is, many heroes don’t have the headspace to not only take care of others’ needs but their own as well.
Constantly showing up for other people is no small deed. But the saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” is not only true, but something everyone should try to take to heart. You are important too. If you aren’t sure how to handle your mental health, here are some tips to guide you.
First responders are always there when an emergency situation takes place. From fires to car accidents, medical emergencies, or diagnosis of an illness, people rely on you. Communities look to these people to help them when they are in a terrifying situation. Knowing this, you have to remain strong and calm and not show your emotions over what is happening around you.
Doing this constantly does not give you much space to decompress and process the events of the day. Especially when you are responding to calls constantly. You push everything out of your mind because sometimes that’s the only thing you can do when you are consistently busy throughout the day. Even though this might seem helpful, in the long run, it can be detrimental to your mental health.
Not processing or suppressing your emotions can lead to symptoms of PTSD or anxiety and depression. Out of sight, out of mind, is a terrible phrase. It gives people the impression that as long as you aren’t thinking about it, it can’t affect you. Even though you may not be actively thinking about something, you are still impacted by it.
Take little moments throughout the day to recognize that you are impacted by what you just saw and that it did affect your emotions.
Some days, it is all routine and nothing major took place. Then other days, there may have been a major accident you responded to or a house fire that destroyed everything. Even though it is your job, if you feel traumatized by it, it can definitely affect you when you are done with work for the day.
Humans have a tendency to internalize and bottle things up when they are feeling emotional about something. Especially for heroes, who have to remain strong in the public eye. You may not want to appear weak to your fellow coworkers. But in the line of work you are in, it’s something that most people are going to experience.
Talk to your co-workers. There’s a chance that they have also felt the effects of a tough situation. You don’t have to suffer alone and work through what you are feeling. They’ll understand firsthand what you are feeling.
If you don’t feel comfortable talking to a co-worker, you could try speaking with your family or friends about it. When it comes to mental health, however, sometimes the best listening ear you can find is a therapist or coach.
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