Compassion fatigue is an interesting phenomenon. It’s what happens when you witness too much suffering or when you take care of countless people who’ve experienced a lot of trauma.

Trauma is a heavy burden to bear. Have you noticed how it seems to impact every aspect of your life?

The life of a first responder is not easy, is it? Whenever there’s an emergency, you’re the first to show up. You’re qualified to help. But that’s a lot to deal with—and it can leave a lasting impact.

Have you ever had someone close to you break your trust? Maybe it was a parent who didn’t take care of you the way they should have, or your partner cheated on you.

First responders witness traumatic events more often than the average person. It’s part of the job description. But does that mean they’re less likely to develop PTSD? Exposure to traumatic events should make them easier to witness, right?

More and more first responders are demonstrating signs of PTSD, some of which are harder to recognize and less obvious than the common symptoms.

Trauma is a very difficult emotion to overcome. When you are traumatized, you may struggle to accept what has happened to you, and you may be unconsciously unwilling to confront your feelings, pain, and suffering. 

Have you ever heard of the mind referred to as a small family? Or maybe you’ve heard of the mind as a concept that can easily be divided into different parts? Are you curious as to what these parts might be? What about the origins of this theory?

Have you ever heard of Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)? It was developed by family therapist Richard Schwartz in the 1980s. At first, it was a type of therapy for people who suffered from eating disorders, but it is now considered helpful for a variety of people with different disorders, or even people with no diagnoses at all.