Sara Clow: My Story Is My Voice
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy and Ciara chat with Sara Clow about how her life changed five years ago and what she’s doing now for change. She is a remarkable human who shows such resilience!
Her Story
We talked with Sara about her story and courage to speak up. She lost her law enforcement husband just over five years ago to suicide, and that has helped drive her to change how mental health is viewed and handled within our departments and community.
Sara now works for NAMI as the CIT Program Director in Northern Nevada. She talked about how all states have the CIT (Crisis Intervention Training), but some do not have it mandated, like Nevada does. All law enforcement agencies must undergo the 40-hour training to help recognize mental illness during calls and how to de-escalate these calls so that people don’t have to be handcuffed because of mental illness. The other side of that is having the talks and telling her story to our first responders, so hopefully, they can recognize their mental health struggles and that it is okay not to be okay.
Sara also sits on the board of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention - Nevada chapter! She chats with us about what that entails and how her two crucial roles with each organization “work” together to help raise awareness for suicide prevention within our community.
Sara is a fantastic friend and advocate within our community and beyond. She works hard to make the change and get things done. Ciara is fortunate to call her a friend and proudly stand next to her in breaking the stigma!
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Follow Our Guest:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy and Ciara discuss First Responder Suicide Awareness Week and the First Responder children. Grab the meatball and start rolling. #Honorthem
The Children
We talk about First Responder Awareness often, not only to help break the stigma of mental health in the first responder world but also to teach tools that can help the survivors of suicide. Suicide is uncomfortable; anyway, you put it. Some people will talk about it, and some will react like it is a dirty little secret. What about these kids? This group of first responders, yes, I said first responders, as they serve with you and continue serving after suicide. It may sound uncomfortable when we say they serve with you on the invisible line at the home front, at school, when they walk down the street. They are either always looking over their shoulder or playing with fire, with reckless behavior. This behavior may sound familiar. You may know a first responder who will take the risk of entering the building without their vest or not caring if they have the oxygen mask secured. Our first responder kids are doing the same thing; we don’t recognize it as a struggle. We spend so much time not feeling or seeing what is in our four walls that we miss their cry for help.
Excuses
We understand that it’s time to stop making excuses and start changing the conversation on mental health among our first responders. So when will we stop making excuses that the children are just teenagers acting out, or they will grow out of it? That time is now before they make a decision that will forever change their life. Have that conversation with them, letting them know it’s okay to struggle with feelings because we made feelings uncomfortable for their entire life. Learn to be uncomfortable in your feelings; they learn from the best, their parent. Kids are brilliant at feeling the energy in the room, but we are brilliant at ignoring it. Teach accountability through actions and support, not through it. It’s easier not to pretend like it isn’t happening. Suck up the emotions, feel them, taste them, hear them, and learn from them. Feelings are like meatballs: they get messy, they roll away, they want to run, or when you eat them, they stick to your ribs. Life with children can get saucy, and it rolls away from you quickly, so you can either get up and get the meatball or miss it as it rolls by.
Mental Health Resources for Kids
Start planning for your child's mental health needs before you need the resources. Learn from them and practice with them. Teach them that vulnerability is a strength. Some schools offer a program that helps you find a counselor. Care Solace works with the school systems to help take the stress of what counselor works best off your shoulders. Take your kids for an internet surf and check out mental health tools like Project Semi-Colon. Find your local NAMI organization.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Ciara talk with Leslie Maginn, daughter of J. Daniel Maginn EOW 7/9/93.
We had the hard talks with Leslie about how being a child of a police officer who died by suicide has affected her life and the trickle of effects of not dealing with the trauma. Much like how our first responders deal with trauma, Leslie did so too. We had deep talks of her dark places and how she too avoided dealing with the grief, even as a young child.
As a young child she refused to grieve and learned many avoidance behaviors so she didn’t have to face her grief. She dove head first into things that satisfied her and when it didn’t anymore she picked up something else. Or moved. Or just plain quit.
These behaviors followed her into adulthood where then it became things that were not just only unhealthy mentally but physically too. Until she too thought it wasn’t really worth it anymore, and who cares about the future.
The Hardwork
Just as she had thought she was done with everything, a corner turned and she tried counseling. That partnered with facing her grief, owning it, and getting some closure; Leslie came out of her 20+ year long pain and became part of something amazing. She continues to do the hard work at getting healthy and finding herself again.
She along with her co-founder started Foundation 1010. They are striving to help first responders and their families. The ideas Leslie shared with us are quite amazing and definitely can have such a positive impact on the families within their community!
Keep pushing forward Leslie, we are here for you, to listen and watch you and the foundation grow!
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Foundation1010 Fighting For First Responders
Follow Our Guest:
Leslie Maginn Facebook Instagram
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Ciara talk about the family weekend in Dallas Texas.
First H.E.L.P. Family
Every year family members who have lost a first responder to suicide are able to attend a weekend of honoring their loved ones. While seeing the people who have become their family.
We talk about how this year the sessions were mixed among family members, and how awesome the sessions were. We got to learn how other family members dealt with their grief, which is not how it has been in the past: widows all together, parents all together, etc.
This year was a first for both of our daughters and it was truly another part of our families healing journeys, and so awesome to see them be with other children who have lost a parent to suicide.
The family weekend is sometimes the only vacation many of these families get all year, so it is undeniably special in many ways. We are so thankful for First H.E.L.P. and all the amazing sponsors who help put this even together each year. It would never be possible without them!
Already counting down the days to see our family next year!
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Ciara talk with Firefighter Pat Shea about his rock bottom and how he has dedicated himself to getting healthy, and how to help others.
Pat, a former Firefighter for Little Rock Arkansas fire department, was injured on the job; from there his life tumbled out of control, to the point of no longer being a fireman and losing everything to addiction. Pat met the demons of addiction, and fought his way back to sobriety, and is now a Firefighter with the Las Vegas Fire Department. While actively speaking about his addiction and struggle in hopes to help others. Not just with his fellow firefighters but on active calls in his community, in his hometown, and proudly on the podcast.
Like many others Pat has seen how crucial it is to be speaking out so our first responders see that it is ok to not be ok. It is ok to ask for help. His life changed the day that one person picked up the phone and he asked for help. It is hard work, but he won’t ever give up; and wants people to know that regardless of being a cop, a firefighter, an EMT, or a dispatcher that you should be supported when asking for help. No matter what your struggle is, there should always be support and someone to help and listen.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
IAFF Center of Excellence - It’s Okay to Ask For Help
1-844-525-3473 Firefighter Suicide Hotline
Follow Our Guest:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Ciara talk about how actively listening doesn’t just mean listen to others, but also to yourself.
Christy and Ciara chatted this week about active listening, and how actively listening can help not just you but your relationships. How it is healthy to listen to yourself, what you need and what you chose to do for yourself.
Having active conversations is so important for the mental health aspect in all areas of life, including your own self. It is ok to listen to yourself and say “I need to decompress”. Listening to yourself and what you need, will help you actively listen to the people around you, whether it be in the office, at the dinner table or with friends.
Christy talked about her annoyance with hearing people eat, and how it is linked to the fight or flight. We now learned that it has a scientific term as Misophonia. Christy now has a broader perspective on how she can sit down at the dinner table with her family and have an active listening conversation. Ciara will be having a deeper conversation with herself about getting into a better routine and going to bed earlier.
What can you do to listen to yourself better? And how can that active listening to yourself improve your overall life?
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Actively Listening to yourself
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy and Ciara chat about recognizing the good, in literally just about everything!
You can see the good!
It is so incredibly healthy and healing in recognizing the good, even in the bad situations. But also recognizing that you can’t look past the bad because of the good.
As Christy finds the good in her ghosts…what can you find the good in? It may have been a “bad day with a bad call”. But if you are learning with your tools in your toolbelt…you’ll find that the good in your life will help you overcome those traumatic events. Finding the good in traumatic events helps your mind and body start the process of recognizing and healing.
The series “Nightwatch” is based in New Orleans, Louisiana, and how they have a party after a funeral, it is known as “the second line”. They find the good in their loss and celebrate their life with a “Jazz Funeral”, they party and dance. You can find a few clips of their Jazz Funerals here and here.
For all you who are curious about a turkey vulture spiritual meaning…so while Christy sees the good, I’m going to keep a healthy safe distance.
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Ciara talk with a Retired Fire Investigator and Stronger Families Director, Tim Sears.
PTSI
Tim talked about his struggles with PTSI and how he now helps families and first responders build healthy relationships through Stronger Families.
Sears Speaks about how their “wheelhouse” is relationships and helping strengthen those relationships, which goes hand in hand within the communities while creating a space for spouses to connect with other spouses.
Stronger Families
Stronger Families helps guide first responders and their families on how “to end the shift well” and some great tips to help them and their families at home.
Take a cold shower; it is healthy for you. Mentally and physically.
C.A.N.I.
Remember Constant and Never Ending Improvement…we are all constantly evolving, growing, and improving. C.A.N.I., also known as Kaizen, a combination of Japanese traditions, can help us throughout living in a first responder home to process what life throughs at us. C.A.N.I.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Our Guest:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
*** There is conversation that may be to Triggering ***
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Ciara talk with a family member about the fight to save her family, while trying to get help for her former spouse.
Jody
We are using the name Jody, to protect the family as they are still going through this situation. The strength it takes to speak up and fight to be heard is admirable.
Family
Jody has been trying to get her husband helped for years after PTSD had gotten so bad, that he is now living on the lamb. The unfortunate situation has caused not only the family to break apart, but for her to live looking over her shoulder, wondering where he is.
PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, can happen to anyone and anytime. However, as compounded trauma continues to pile up, there comes a breaking point. Often when left untreated, causes a person to change and hallucinate, and lose all sight of reality. For a first responder, this becomes job ended when the departments turn a blind eye.
Treatment
Treatment can help heal PTSD. There are many facilities and Doctors that will help first responders heal. Ask your EAP, or your doctor, or talk with your peer support.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Ciara talk with retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Captain Harry Fagel
They spoke with Harry about his trauma’s and how he has handled them through the years. How he has written poetry as his release and to help him through his hard times. That it is his healthy outlet and how important it is to him, even years later still writing and performing his poetry. They spoke on the poem he wrote and performed after the October 1 mass shooting at the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas.
How Harry is too, speaking out for the mental health of officers, and how he has had to bury too many friends to suicide. Harry speaks in depth about how therapy and acknowledging “it’s ok to not be ok” has helped him, that it is hard work but well worth all that you put in to do the work. Thank you Harry for sharing your journey and helping to fight the mental health fight within our departments!
Every night out in the Vegas bake
Cop for 25 years out here
Sucking it up
Blowing it out
Keeping it cool
Risking it all
Front seat witness to death in all its inglorious;
Suicide, homicide, abuse, neglect
- Piece from Harry’s poem “Attention Reinvention”
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
The Route- October 1 Tribute by Captain Harry Fagel
Follow Our Guest:
Harry:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
First H.E.L.P.
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy and Ciara talk about the effects of miscommunication and your mental wellness.
They broke down the basis of miscommunication and how it can not just affect your mental health but your life overall. How much your anxiety, depression, PST (D) (I), can be affected by miscommunication, and cause even more anxiety and turmoil. It is an emotional spiral that can be avoided. Have active listening and open conversations.
Miscommunication can come in all forms, not just verbal. How one may act during a conversation can be conceived as miscommunication. It takes work to learn how to have a healthy conversation, and it is even ok to start those healthy conversations with a text or a note, it is a healthy step in the direction to improve the home and relationships.
We all need to be better with communication because “81% of children aged five to thirteen formally diagnosed with emotional and behavior disorders demonstrated below-average language performance” we have taught our children to not communicate. This should be everyone’s challenge for the week!
“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” Tony Robbins
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
https://medium.com/@coachpadraig/14-strategies-to-avoid-miscommunication-with-your-team-354d1c761d26
Follow Our Guest:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
This week Christy and Ciara talk about compassion fatigue in a first responder home. We will take a look at the reasons and ways to overcome burnout.
Compassion Fatigue/ Caregiver Burn-out
At home point in our lifetime, everyone will struggle with Compassion Fatigue/Caregiver Burnout. What causes Caregiver Fatigue? Well, honestly, life is how we take care of ourselves and our families in the process of life. According to the article from BetterUp, lack of control, lack of perceived choice, intensity of hours, perfectionism, financial stress, and low self-confidence are the main reasons.
Christy and Ciara also talked about “closing the tabs” and how that can help not just mentally and physically but improve the household dynamic and overall happiness of everyone. They challenged everyone to move all the apps from their Home Screen on phones and tablets, like the book Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day, to the next page. These little steps can stop you from mindlessly scrolling through social media and help you better connect to yourself and the people around you.
Here is an excellent article about Compassion Fatigue and ways to help combat it. I love how the first tip is “Ask for help,” what we preach every day! Ask for help because it is ok not to be ok!
Show Links:
Follow us:
This week Christy talks with Joette Doyle, a family member of a first responder that served for 36 years in the Fire Department. While serving, he lost his sister, mother, and brother to illness and his daughter to suicide.
Silence Speaks
Joette had known her boyfriend for over 20 years. Although being together for 13 years, she has watched the change in communication and inability to process and ask for help for himself. How do you get through to someone who doesn’t talk about anything? The Guilt of feeling like you are not being able to help those you love while your job is to go and help the community can weigh you down.
Taking the Cape Off
Joette had the opportunity to read a book by Patrick Kenny, a former fireman, called Taking the Cape Off. In the book, Patrick has an open dialogue about what struggles he went through with his family while on the job. Doyle comments everyone looks at first responders as if they are superheroes; even superheroes need to cape off at the end of the day. We are all only human, and your family remains the constant in your life. Don’t they deserve to understand how to help you?
Family Tools
Family, like the first responder, cannot read minds; they can, however, feel the silence and distance that occurs over time. Having the tools/words to help the first responder to open up and for both sides of the family connection to know that what is occurring is not because of the family and silence is what was taught as not to appear weak or struggling. This, however, is a learned behavior that can change.
- Have a friend or person you can talk to; to help you process
- Be prepared to say, hey, I had a bad day, and then reconvene the conversation or sit together in silence as you process.
- Your family understands more than you want to believe.
- Have a hobby
Show Links:
Follow us:
This week Christy and Ciara talked about the mental wellness of the family, including children and
friends of 1st Responders. Ending Mental Health Awareness month they touched on all the stressors of
every day life, and how even children can be affected by this.
How everyone can suffer differently through depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and various other
mental health hurdles we can all go through. Learning how to go through life with healthy coping skills
and how to help your children.
According to studies “1 in 5 adults live with a mental illness, and over 1 in 5 youth (ages 13-18) either
currently or at some point have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.”
The book Ciara talked about “Supercharging the Female Brain” by Daniel G Amen. We found a lot of
men’s mental health books, but nothing specific like the female one. I will do some more research and
give recommendations next week.
Some tips for First Responders to take care of yourself , actually anyone can use these tips when they
feel they are in challenging situations.
As parents we all think we can fix all help all, but sometimes it’s ok to step back and say we need help,
here is what we chatted about a bit.
988 is ALWAYS available for anyone to talk and get help.
COPLINE 1-800-COPLINE
IAFF Hotline 855-900-8437
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy and Ciara the meaning of Memorial Day.
Never Forget
We should never forget why we celebrate this holiday, thank you to all our brave men and
women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country!
Decoration Day
Christy and Ciara chatted about how Memorial Day was originally celebrated and held by the
slaves after the civil war, it was then called “Decoration Day”. A particular quote about the
article I truly love “This was a story that had really been suppressed both in the local memory
and certainly the national memory,” says Blight. “But nobody who had witnessed it could ever
have forgotten it.” That is a quote that is s true on many levels when it comes to the remembrance
of our soldiers that have given their all, then and now. To read about this history, click here! Even
more history here!
Memorial Day Quotes
Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay. - Barak
Obama
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to
utter words but to live by them. - John F Kennedy
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. - James Allen
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that
such men lived. - George S Patton
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy and Ciara discuss communication after suicide and the elephant it causes in relationships.
Welcome aboard
Ciara Madrid, one of our many volunteers, has now taken the role of co-host on Beyond the 1st Response. I am excited to have her knowledge, and determination, to break the stigma of mental wellness in first responders and their families.
The Misunderstanding of tip-toeing around Suicide
It will also feel uncomfortable to talk about someone dying by suicide because truth be known, we don’t have the words to after someone losses a loved one by suicide. Statistics are 1 in 4 young people considered suicide. That means, that our first responder children that have a parent die by suicide, are in fact 3 times more likely to take their lives.
Communication
Starting a relationship is tough, to begin with, add losing a partner to suicide. Communication tends to be difficult. The trauma that someone deals with is like no other. Learning a new set of communication skills can remove the elephant in the room.
“It is much easier to talk about suicide than it is to bury someone you love to suicide.” Ciara Madrid
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Our Guest:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy and Ciara talk with Doug Lowe founder of EMMP about his new venture to fuel Firefighters while they fight forest fires in the Pacific Northeast.
For The Love of Cooking
Doug has taken his passion for restaurants and cooking to an all-new level; fueling those that are fighting wildfires. For the past 20-plus years, he has done everything from busboy, to chef and back again. The desire to keep the conversations going that we often have while at the dinner table or in the kitchen, Doug’s passion is to bring it to those that can’t get home to their own tables.
EMMP
EMMP was born in 2020, when Doug watched through his life those firefighters and the victims of the fires, struggle in the moments of disaster. Giving back to them was in his heart, and fueling them with food was the one way he knew how. Spending countless dollars of his own to buy the equipment needed, followed up with making sure the health department would provide him the property permits, so it is done right; it is finally here.
Wildland Firefighting Season
The season of wildland firefighting is among us, and it is just a matter of the temperature heating up and the ground drying out, and they will be back at it. Wildfire suppression becomes more dangerous every year as mother nature continues to fight back against climate change. The fire season is lasting longer, and first responders are in the throat of it for a longer rate of time. Not only draining themselves physically but mentally as well. Bringing a hot meal, and fresh coffee is just the start of what EMMP has planned. They may not be able to make it home, but they will have a table and meal for one of the days they are there. One Kind Act will nourish the souls that put their lives on the line each and every day.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Our Guest:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy talks with Sgt. Dwayne English of Joliet Police Department IL, about how being a cop has made him a better counselor.
Dream Cop
Since the age of six, Dwayne had wanted to become a cop. Living his dream, he saw the stress of being a first responder both in the community and at home. Achieving a bachelors in psychology, he has worked hard to bring mental wellness into the department on all levels.
Blue H.E.L.P.
Discovering the social media presence of Blue H.E.L.P. and the conversations they were starting online. Dwayne reached out and asked how he can help. Dwayne and his son Cole, for years helped put together the honor boxes for the police departments that lost an officer to suicide. Reaching out a liaison to the departments to let them know, they are not alone.
Masters Degree
Retirement is not something that is easy on the mind, especially when you have gifts and lessons, that you can share and help others. Dwayne has spent the last three years in school, while still working on the job, to become a licensed counselor. Now, nearing the end, of school, he doing his internship and seeing patients at Aspyre Wellness.
Plan for Retirement
Dreaming of doing nothing but fishing, biking, or just sitting on your couch doing nothing, sounds amazing. In reality, you spend 25 plus years on the job constantly caring for your communities, your families, etc. But you have to have a plan. Dwayne, is planning to conitune to help others, with the gift of Therapy. What is your plan?
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy talks with Chris about starting 4th Shift Fitness in 2017 with the goal of bringing these lessons directly to the front lines. Go to 4thShiftFitness.com to see how to get in touch and set up a seminar, training session, or digital personal training.
Tailboard Talks Podcast
Chris started his podcast Tailboard Talks Podcast, after recording videos on YouTube talking about mental health, fitness, and firefighting. Bringing tools for balancing them all in a healthy way.
1st Responders Conferences
On May 15-16th 1st Responder Conferences, Chris will be speaking on his 4th Shift Fitness coaching. Spouses and Partners are welcome to attend the two-day conference mental wellness conference for first responders and families.
4th Shift Fitness
Understanding that every firehouse, police department, and civilian world, is affected by making time for health and fitness. Chris realizes they can bring it to you where ever you are. 4th Shift Fitness, offers ways to achieve the goal that you are looking for. They are also willing to come to your department, home, gym, and provide the coaching that we all can use.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Our Guest:
4th shift fitness https://www.instagram.com/4thshiftfitness/
https://www.instagram.com/spring4change/
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy and Steve talk with Valerie Groth, Director of Partnerships at Stella Center. Part 2 of the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB)
SGB- What is different now
Christy decided to have the SGB after struggling with PTSD for over 30 years. The results have been amazing. After the first episode on the SGB, and researching it, she was ready to take the leap.
Therapy
Continuing the regimen of Talk Therapy, or counseling of your choice, is important. The SGB is not a miracle fix. It is, however, an important tool, to help move you past the traumatic events that you have been through. People that do couple therapy and the SGB are more likely, to not have to have a follow-up treatment.
Stella Center
At Stella Center, Dr. Lipov has discovered the use of anesthesia to help reset your fight or flight response. Effectively providing relief almost immediately. Valerie is working on partnering with not only VA hospitals but also with First Responders and their families. Currently, insurance doe not cover the treatment, but some partnerships that Stella Center has can assist.
Advocating for Stellate Ganglion
Chicago Police department is recognizing the need for mental health needs in the department. A City Council committee has been formed to review how SGB can be accepted and covered for the police force, their family, and all city workers. You find the speaking engagement on the resource tab of Stella Center’s website.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Our Guest:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy talks with Wendy Hummel Podcast Host of Guns and Yoga. Wendy, a wellness coordinator for Sedwick County Sheriff Department in Kansas, brings her first responder yoga to the wellness program she has built. Grab your tool bag, we are handing you some new tools for living a resilient life.
Yoga
Wendy has been doing yoga for 15 years. After realizing the benefits it has had on her, during the stress of their job and personal life, she became a certified trainer with Yoga for First Responders.
We are not a Super Hero
Tools during yoga can help you normalize, and prepare for the stress of life. You don’t have to be good at integrating work-life balance. Doing yoga helps to build your resilience. It helps build your physical stress, your body moves as if you are wringing out the stress out while being mindful.
Self Management
Breathwork is the direct line to your access to your nervous system. When you inhale your active sympathetic response; when you exhale your parasymapthic branch. Hummell states this has been the most beneficial teaching for first responders. Your body doesn’t recognize an actual threat or perceived threat.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Our Guest:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4slYZAdpQOxrbbew6WwzLA
https://www.facebook.com/people/Guns-and-Yoga/100064269423315/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-hummell-b48653186/
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this Beyond the 1st Response episode, Christy talks with Jillian Bass, a radio host for Star 96.7 Fm. Jillian experienced an event that opened her up to understand that mental wellness is a top priority and has created a platform on her midday show for all her listeners.
Porta Potty
After a night baseball game at the local community park, life changed instantly. “Hide behind the porta potty, get down, get down!” Bass remembers screaming. Plainfield, Illinois the typical American suburban community, it happened. Leaving the fields after the game, they stepped foot on the parking lot where shots rang out. At first, not realizing what was happening, they realized, there was a gunfight in the parking full of children and families. Once in the car, they realized that a male victim lay deceased next to his car.
PTSD and Therapy
Silently suffering for months, Jillian realized it needed to change. It wasn’t normal to isolate herself anymore. Months after, she began to go to therapy. Processing not only what she experienced but was provided tools, to help her when the triggers come around. Resiliency can happen every day.
Mental Wellness
Imagine, listening to something positive every day! The importance of making the conversation normal and finding a positive even through a negative event is life-changing. Hitting the airways with Mind health Mondays and a feel-good story every day is helping someone, somewhere, each day.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Our Guest:
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
EP 35: Becca Willey- While you are away..
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy talks with Becca Willey, an army wife, mother of three, business owner, and board member of Naperville Salute, and organizations, that celebrate Veterans and First Responses raising money to give back to the veterans in the Chicagoland area.
18 Month Countdown
Becca has been through this drill before, deployment, time apart, and back together. This time, deployment comes, 18 months long, and now three kids are at home. Just when you think you are ready, it hits, she was not as mentally prepared as she thought. Navigating new waters, with three other bodies, but she is not alone.
Buddy Check
Buddy Check, how are you? “ Drowning but ok!” I pick up the phone and call, “ it’s not ok to be drowning.” We proceed to talk openly, this wouldn’t happen if buddy checks weren’t in place.
Grieving the loss of who he was
When a first responder leaves for a shift, whether it be 12 hours, 48 hours, or 18 months, they come home a different person. Life circumstance changes every time you walk back into your front door and when you leave. There is a feeling that seems impossible to describe because you haven’t lost someone, they are coming home, however, it feels isolating. It’s called grief, you are grieving the person you knew, who you love, and who you will miss. Grieving, yes, because they are changing while they are gone. They don’t know what call, event, or discussion they have to make will change them, or even if they will realize it has changed them. You are grieving the loss of who you were as well. Don’t forget that, family is your biggest support system, and they are serving next to you from the home front.
When is the right time?
There is no right answer to knowing when the right time to tell family you are leaving. Or even if they would understand the length of time. Finding that tool earlier can help you and your family. Let the kids talk openly, and let them see your emotions. They will know it’s ok to let the tears fall, it’s ok to be angry at that moment. Because that is Processing in a healthy way. Sometimes, that is all you need is someone to sit with no judgment.
No Judgement
Give yourself grace, don’t judge yourself for feeling overwhelmed, confused, or angry. Forgive yourself, it’s ok to sit here taking in the new normal, the unknown, that is processing. Remember not to stay there, find yourself, You Be You, so that you can be there for yourself.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Our Guest:
https://www.instagram.com/mamawilley/
https://www.instagram.com/uh60rotorhead/
Follow Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this episode of Beyond the 1st Response, Christy talks with Jennifer Anderson of First Responder Coaching candidly about her WHY in understanding the need for coaching as an option for preparing for what the job does to you and your family.
How We Met
Jennifer and Kevin met in college, she was attending for an education degree. He was going for his criminal justice degree, they fell in love, got married, and life began. The local police department hired Kevin, and one of the first things the Chief did was call and interview Jennifer. The Chief wanted to make sure she understood the toll of the job. Fast forward 10 years, two children, and many days on the job later. Kevin started changing.
Mental Break
Anderson saw things changing, but couldn’t understand what it was. Kevin became distant, separating himself emotionally, except for being a father. Finally, it happened, Kevin needed help. After 15 years as a police officer, countless overtime, traumatic calls, and no support from the department, he could no longer stay on duty and retired out medically.
First Responder Coaching
A traumatic life-changing event turned passion and understanding. An eagerness to coach first responders and their families, to help prepare for what life as a first responder can throw at you. FRC savings marriage's lives and provides support and tools to balance lifes ups and downs.
Beyond the 1st Response Show Links:
Follow Our Guest:
Linkdin
Instragram
Follow: Beyond The 1st Response for all our episodes on:
In this episode of Beyond the First Response, Christy and Robyn talk with Firefighter Jason Patton of Fire Department Chronicles and Fire Department Coffee.
Jason
17 year veteran FF Jason Patton uses his personal struggles with mental health as motivation for his often ‘art imitating life’ take on firefighting in the wildly popular “Fire Department Chronicles” videos. Whether you are a first responder or a civilian surfing You Tube, you will no doubt find yourself smiling and laughing.
Seriously, Who Does This?
Sometimes during a call, you look at the situation and think seriously, who does this? For many first responders this happens all the time and Jason has found the best way to not let this view of humanity get to him is just to laugh. As many firefighters have free time on their hands during their off days, Jason and friends have also embarked on a successful venture as coffeemakers and distributers. Fire Department Coffee can now be found in big box supermarkets such as Albertsons and Safeway. This stuff isn’t for the faint of heart though! This is the caffeine dosage of someone who needs to stay awake for 48 hours!!!
EP 57: My Story Is My Voice- Sara Clow
53:55
EP 56: It's Not Just The Meatballs
36:18
EP 55: From The Mouth Of A Child - Leslie Maginn
51:45
EP 54: We are Family
32:39
EP 53: Fighting the Fire for Sobriety - Pat Shea
54:55
EP 52 - Hey You Listen To Yourself
43:53
Ep 51: Recognize the Good in the Past
28:38
EP 50: Tim Sears - C.A.N.I.
58:35
EP 49: When Family Speaks
48:55
EP 48: Harry Fagel- The Route You Choose
1:03:57
EP 47 Miscommunication - Part two of Mental Wellness Wear Down
44:42
EP 46 Close the Mental Tabs
37:50
EP 45: Family Connection - Joette Doyle
40:17
EP 44: Challenge Accepted
46:20
EP 43: Thank You For Your Service
19:12
EP 42: Communication Elephant
51:37
EP 41: Doug Lowe- Fueling Firefighters
58:14
EP 40: Dwayne English - From Cop to Couch
57:27
EP 39: Chris Marella - Making Healthy Easy; A Little Bit A Time
37:34
EP 38: Valerie Groth - Stellate Ganglion Block Part 2
50:14
EP 37: Wendy Hummell - Breathe, Life is Uncomfortable
36:34
EP 36: Jillian Bass - Find The Positive
1:00:57
EP 35: Becca Willey - While You Are Away
55:04
EP 34: Jennifer Anderson - I'm Good! What does that mean to You?
56:01
EP 33: It's Ok to Feel Your Feelings - Jason Patton
50:23