Irritable. On edge. Shut down.
One minute you’re ready to react, the next you’re unreachable.
You might be wondering: “What the hell is wrong with me?”

The answer: nothing.

In this episode, Erin breaks down why so many first responders and their partners get stuck in emotional overdrive, even when the threat is gone.

You’ll learn why your nervous system treats a slammed door like an ambush and how to retrain your brain to respond, not react.

She introduces the Survival Reframe Protocol, a tool to interrupt spiraling, re-regulate your body, and get your brain back on your side.

This isn’t weakness. It’s wiring.
And it’s 100 percent reversible.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why survival mode doesn’t clock out when your shift ends
• What fight, flight, freeze, and fawn really look like at home
• How the job trains you to survive but never taught you to come down
• What overreactions really mean (hint: it’s not that you’re broken)
• A 3-step nervous system tool to help you reset in the moment
• Why reactivity isn’t a failure it’s an opportunity to retrain

MENTAL FIREPOWER:

The Survival Reframe Protocol

1. Name it. “This isn’t weakness. This is my nervous system in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.”
2. Zoom out. Ask yourself: “What threat does my brain think it’s solving right now?”
3. Signal safety. Breathe, move, ground...anything that reminds your body you’re not in danger anymore.

This is how you start teaching your system the difference between the street and the dinner table.

WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR:

• First responders who feel like they can’t turn it off
• Spouses wondering why their partner shuts down or lashes out
• Leaders managing hyper-reactive teams
• Anyone tired of living like they’re on-call 24/7, even at home

BONUS RESOURCE:

Erin also highlights two upcoming conferences built for this kind of work:

Operation Yellow Tape in Richmond, Virginia
Firefighter Health and Wellness Conference in Beavercreek, Ohio

These events bring together resources, training, and real conversations that change lives. Don’t miss them.

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/needmospace/chill-power

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