• Crisis Text Line: Text Home to 741741 for free, 24/7 crisis support in the US

  • Safe Call Now: 206-459-3020 Safe Call Now is a CONFIDENTIAL, comprehensive, 24-hour crisis referral service for all public safety employees, all emergency services personnel and their family members nationwide

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for free, 24/7 crisis support in the US

Stress

Everyone feels stressed from time to time. But what is stress? How does it affect your health? And what can you do about it?

Stress is how the brain and body respond to any demand. Every type of demand or stressor—such as exercise, work, school, major life changes, or traumatic events—can be stressful.

Stress can affect your health. It is important to pay attention to how you deal with minor and major stress events so that you know when to seek help. The National Institute of Mental Health has some great resources to help you deal with the stress in your life and your work.

Take the time to Test Your Stress to determine what stress level you may be at and to get resources to learn and cope with your stress.

Stress Levels

Acute Stress

  • Begins on-scene or within 24 hours

  • Very obvious, very connected to fight or flight

  • Responders may become overwhelmed

  • Physical symptoms kick in

    • Blood flow diversion and shaking

    • Bladder and bowel issues

  • Psychological responses

    • The prefrontal cortex shuts down

Delayed Stress

  • Begins 48 or more hours
    after the incident

  • Symptoms are similar
    to acute stress

  • Often confusion about
    this stress response
    due to the delay

Cumulative Stress

  • Results from coupling unrealistic expectations
    with good intentions

  • Too much of something

  • Not enough time off / away

  • Not enough balance in one’s life

PTSD

  • Psychological disorder (PTSD) listed in the DSM-V

  • Is the end result of exposure to stress trauma which is so extreme, that it is beyond human coping capacity

  • Trauma gets stored in the frontal lobe and the brain is unable to process the event to long-term memory

  • Repeated attempts to process the event result in multiple fight or flight reactions

  • Glucocorticoids then damage the limbic system

  • PTSD is the survival response in the wrong cycle

  • INTRUSION: Recurring thoughts, images, flash bangs, nightmares,
    the event feels like it is constantly in your face

  • AROUSAL: Increased anxiety, breathing, heart rate, etc., similar to the fight or flight response experienced on-scene

  • AVOIDANCE: We spend a great deal of time and energy trying not to think about it