First responders spend so much time helping others. Sometimes that means assisting someone with a physical injury or getting them out of a dangerous situation. Sometimes it means providing life-saving surgeries or procedures. First responders can even help people struggling with their mental well-being, especially when declining mental health leads to unhealthy and dangerous decisions.
However, first responders are just people, too. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and if you’re not taking care of your own mental health, you could be at risk of developing specific anxiety disorders. Whether you’re a doctor, police officer, firefighter, or have another role as a first responder, it’s essential to understand different anxiety disorders that can affect you and why you might be at a greater risk of developing them. Let’s take a closer look, so you can better manage your mental health and get help as needed.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Perhaps the most common anxiety disorder first responders face is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). While anxiety is the most common mental health condition in the world, first responders can be more susceptible to it for various reasons.
Most first responder positions are high-stress. You likely have people’s lives in your hands and a very short amount of time to make important decisions. Additionally, many first responders work long hours without breaks, which can contribute to burnout and fuel feelings of anxiety.
Finally, it’s important to remember the humanness of who you are. While you might try to let things go when you get home each day, it’s not always easy to forget about things you had to do, see, and experience. Thinking about those things and reliving them in your mind doesn’t just contribute to anxiety; it can even trigger symptoms of PTSD.
Phobias
Depending on the things you’ve experienced, you might develop certain phobias about people, places, or objects. Maybe you had a bad experience on a call, and now you can’t go to a certain neighborhood or see a certain animal or object. These types of phobias can make it difficult to do your job effectively. More importantly, they can hinder your everyday life, making it difficult to enjoy things because you never know when you’ll be triggered.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety occurs when you have a fear of being around others. You might worry about being embarrassed or feel like everyone’s judging you whenever you’re around. You might also worry that people are talking about you behind your back. Because most first responder positions are collaborative, social anxiety can be extremely debilitating in the field. It can also affect your personal life. If you’re struggling with anxiety, leaning on a support system of friends and family is important. Withdrawing from the people and activities you love often makes things worse.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Many people might not immediately think of OCD as an anxiety disorder. But, when going through it, you can feel a sense of fear and worry more often than not. Because first responders often have to deal with things the average person doesn’t, it can be easier for them to experience intrusive, invasive, and unwanted thoughts. Sound familiar? If that’s the case, you might develop compulsions as a way to deal with those thoughts or feel a sense of control when everything else feels like it’s falling apart. Unfortunately, OCD can make it difficult to focus on your job and wreak havoc on your personal life. That’s especially true if you don’t receive a proper diagnosis and treatment.
What Can You Do?
If you’re a first responder dealing with any type of anxiety, the best thing to do is acknowledge it. Trying to ignore those feelings or push them down will only make things worse.
Next, reach out for help with anxiety treatment. You’re not alone in the way you’re feeling, and you don’t have to ignore your needs because of your career. Feel free to contact me if you’re struggling, and together we’ll work on the skills needed to manage your anxiety and enjoy a healthier work-life balance.