PTSD Prevention in First Responders
Presenter: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes
Counseling CEUs can be earned for this presentation at https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/378/c/
Objectives
~ What is PTSD and Cumulative PTSD?
~ Prevention: Why and When?
~ HPA-Axis AKA Threat Response System
~ Prevention: How?
~ Destination
~ Mindfulness
~ Vulnerabilities
~ Cognitions
~ Interventions
~ Exposure to a traumatic event that involved actual or the potential for death or serious injury in which there was a sense of helplessness and horror.
~ 3 Types
~ Single Exposure (The straw that broke the camel’s back)
~ Chronic Exposure
~ Secondary Exposure (Think… Spouses of people working Twin towers)
~ Spouses – When Mama ain’t happy…
~ Children
Introduction
~ For the vast majority of the population, the psychological trauma is limited to an acute, transient disturbance.
~ The signs and symptoms of PTSD reflect a persistent, abnormal adaptation of neurobiological systems to the witnessed trauma.
~ For more information (psychobabble) about the exact brain changes that take place in people with PTSD, view the video on our YouTube Channel: Neurobiological Impact of Psychological Trauma on the HPA-Axis
PTSD Symptoms & Functions
~ Re-Experieincing: Flashbacks, nightmares
~ Avoidance: Avoiding any triggers for re-experiencing
~ Sight, Smell, Sound, Taste, Touch, Place, Time, Objects…
~ Arousal or Reactivity
~ Hypervigilance /Easy startle
~ Difficulty Sleeping
~ Angry outbursts
~ Cognition/Mood
~ Trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event
~ Negative thoughts about oneself or the world (Us-Them)
~ Distorted feelings like guilt or blame
~ Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
Burnout –Not Quite PTSD, but Just as Bad
~ Physical, Mental, Emotional Exhaustion: Rookie
~ Frustration, Guilt, Loss of a sense of purpose
~ Nothing I do makes a difference.
~ There’s just too many of them
~ Self-consciousness about their sense of vulnerability, emotional reactions
~ Cynicism and callousness: In response to prolonged feelings of helplessness some people put on heavy armor hey develop an
~ “Look out for # 1.” “Cover your ass.” “Not a Social Worker.”
~ Failure, helplessness and crisis: R.O.D Deputy
Risk Factors
~ The response of an individual to trauma depends not only on stressor characteristics, but also on factors specific to the individual.
~ Perception of stressor
~ Proximity to safe zones
~ Similarity to victim
~ Degree of helplessness
~ Prior traumatic experiences (1+1=5)
~ Amount of stress in the preceding months (Including family, personal and organizational)
~ Current mental health or addiction issues
~ Availability of social support 4/24
Prevention Whys
~ It is easier (and cheaper) to intervene early
~ Activity—identify someone who has developed burnout. What are the impacts
~ Emotionally (anger, anxiety, moodiness, withdrawn, depressed)
~ Mentally (outlook, concentration, hope, screw it attitude, gets behind on paperwork)
~ Physically (illness, exhaustion, weight gain, increased drinking)
~ Socially (relationships with family, friends, ability to get along with team, draws complaints, “lost puppies”)
Prevention Whens
~ NOW!
~ Prevention mitigates vulnerabilities and strengthens the force
~ A vulnerable officer is more likely to:
~ Draw a complaint
~ Make a mistake
~ Get hurt
~ Develop stress related illnesses and mood issues
The HPA Axis: Threat Respons
