Updated: August 6th, 2021
Imagine having a job where your life, the life of your colleagues and those in your community depend on you being alert at all times to avoid danger and possible life-threatening situations.
In a split second, several lives could be changed forever because for just one moment, you had let your guard down.
As a civilian, that may be very challenging to understand, as your perception of the world is very different. A person on the street stops you to ask for directions. They quickly reach their hand into their pocket and pull out a piece of paper with the address of their destination. Would you have noticed their hand going into their pocket? Even if you were aware, you likely would not view their actions as a threat. Your own life experiences would have demonstrated that when someone is putting their hand in their pocket, they are reaching for their wallet, phone or money. As a police officer, you will have been more likely to have exposure to incidents where a person putting their hand into their pocket is actually reaching for a weapon. For a first responder, being vigilant of a person’s movements could mean the difference between life and death.
“In the military, service members are taught: "Stay alert, stay alive!" But once, home that feeling of being on high alert is hard to turn off.“ (Holcombe, Lt. Col. Philip).
How many times have you been driving on the highway talking with passengers, listening to your favourite podcast or belting out the lyrics to the AC/DC song on the radio? Suddenly you realize that you were not paying any attention to where you were. What if there was an emergency? Would you be able to tell the 911 dispatcher where you were?
As civilians, we may find ourselves in occasional moments of hypervigilance, such as walking down the street late at night in an unfamiliar neighbourhood or driving to work in bad weather and road conditions. Mostly, we tend to sit back and enjoy every day events, oblivious to our surroundings. Meanwhile, first responders are constantly watching, waiting, protecting. But what effect does chronic hypervigilance have on them?
Hypervigilant : extremely or excessively vigilant; highly or abnormally alert to potential danger or threat
Being vigilant can be very beneficial; lifesaving, in some cases. Being in a state of extreme alertness creates stress in your body designed to help you handle a potentially threatening situation. A vigilant person might notice the vehicle several cars ahead swerving in and out of lanes and recognize it as a possible threat. Once the situation is perceived as a threat, their fight or flight response is activated which will create changes in their body and brain that will help them recognize the danger and give them the opportunity to remove themselves from the situation. This is an example of a short-term stressor which is very different from the chronic state of stress and hypervigilance that a first responder will experience which could have damaging effects on their body and brain.
Your response to a situation that may threaten your survival depends in part on your autonomic nervous system (ANS) which is comprised of your sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which is your fight or flight response, and your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which is your rest and digest response.
Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) fight or flight
Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) rest and digest
When you perceive a situation as a threat your brain triggers your sympathetic nervous system to release stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, to assist your body in the ability to respond appropriately to the threat (fight or flight). Once the threat no longer exists, it is the responsibility of your parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) to bring your body back to homeostasis. “The balance between these two systems is essential for regulating the body’s energy and directing resources to where they are needed.” (From Emerson, David and Hopper, Elizabeth. “Overcoming Trauma through Yoga”. North Atlantic Books, 2011.)
Without this balance, you could find yourself stuck in the fight response with your body continuing to release stress hormones.
This ongoing state of stress can weaken your immune system, making you vulnerable to illnesses and disease. It can cause fatigue which may lead to injuries and affect your decision-making and judgement. Other effects of chronic stress may include increased inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders, difficulty concentrating, irritability and/or depression.
While the list of negative effects of chronic stress can seem overwhelming, it is not a life sentence for a first responder that depends on being hypervigilant while on duty. There are ways to reverse the effects of stress hormones and bring your body back to a state of homeostasis. Activities that involve deep breathing such as exercise, yoga and meditation, help to regulate your nervous system and bring it back into balance.
Deep breathing increases oxygen to your brain which stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). The biggest advantage of deep breathing techniques is that they are easy and accessible, whether you are at home, sitting at your desk, or on the truck heading to a call. It only takes a couple of minutes of deep breathing through your nose to have a calming effect on your nervous system which will result in a positive impact on your body. “Consistently practicing relaxation techniques reduces stress symptoms by lowering your blood pressure, slowing your breathing rate, increasing blood flow to major muscles, reducing muscle tension and chronic pain, improving your concentration, reducing anger and frustration and boosting your confidence in handling problems.” (From Willis, Dan. “Bulletproof Spirit”. New World Library, revised edition 2019)
There are benefits of giving first responders these tools, such as deep breathing techniques, to help them reduce chronic stress and regulate their nervous system. These include a decreased number of sick days, fewer mistakes/accidents on the job leading to fewer disability claims, career longevity and improvement in relationships at work, home, and within the community.
First responders have unique jobs that expose them to traumatic events and stress on a daily basis.
The stress may become chronic, it may be cumulative and without intervention, it will likely take a toll on their physical and mental health. “The diminished health and wellness of first responders is extremely disheartening. The number one cause of death for police officers is suicide.”(From Willis, Dan. “Bulletproof Spirit”. New World Library, revised edition 2019).
By taking a proactive approach and teaching first responders how to process job-related stress and build resilience we can avoid a mass exodus of skilled and dedicated firefighters, police officers and paramedics suffering from burn out, illness, and mental health struggles. But the clock is ticking as we continue to lose our first responders. This is our opportunity to step up and protect the protectors.
Written by YogaShield® Instructor Susie DeBaie Class 0010 S2
I knew that I wanted to teach yoga to first responders and veterans before becoming a yoga teacher and before knowing about Yoga For First Responders. In September 2019, I packed my maple syrup and headed to Pflugerville Texas for YFFR teacher training. While there were no first responders within my family or circle of friends, my father had served in the United States Army where he was stationed in Korea 1962-1963 and Vietnam 1963-1964. Those who knew him back then said that he was never the same person after coming back and while there were many indicators that my father had post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) it was never anything he would talk about. At times, he found relationships, including ours, challenging, confusing and overwhelming. As his daughter, I struggled not to take it personally but despite my best efforts, sometimes it hurt . As a YFFR instructor with trauma-sensitive yoga teacher training, my goal is to work with first responders, veterans and their families to help them recognize the signs of chronic stress, understand its damaging effects and discover healthy coping methods for the entire family. This work has also inspired me to follow a new path in life and pursue part-time studies in social work (my early retirement plan!) while I continue working full time. Looking back on my relationship with my father, I wish that I had known more about stress, trauma and PTSI earlier, so that I could have understood what he was going through. Unfortunately, he passed away just a few months before I attended YFFR training. Like my father, I am an extremely private person but if sharing our story helps one person, it was worth it.
Many thanks to YFFR for all of the amazing work they are doing. They are not only helping first responders, they are helping their families.