130: When Your Trauma Explodes with Nick Wilson of The Resiliency Project

One day not too long ago, Officer Nick Wilson was on his way to jail. But there was a problem.  The problem was that despite countless trips to county before, this time he was riding in the backseat.  He had just been arrested for DUI. But the problem was actually bigger than that. Nick was suffering from a dangerous combination of physical injuries from his career and emotional and mental injuries as well. Doctors prescribed Nick a cocktail of opiates, benzodiazepines and sleeping pills.  Nick has done something amazing with such a horrible experience. Nick turned his life around and has become an advocate for mental health treatment and resiliency training for police officers. He is the founder of The Resiliency Project (@the_resiliencyproject).  In this episode, you’ll hear how he caught the early warning signs but still didn’t know what to do, how he reacted poorly to the anxiety he felt as a result of his work and how he suffered from crippling anxiety. Nick also shares the story of his arrest and how the sergeant on-scene had a massive effect on him, helped him shift his mindset, and is now a board member of Nick’s non-profit. Nick travels around California teaching about his experiences in the hopes that other cops can avoid the pits of despair he fell into. He’s a leader and truly an example of someone willing to Be the One by sharing their story. Learn more about Nick and his class at theresiliencyproject.info If you or someone you love is struggling right now, please reach out. The Squad Room supports the fantastic work at Copline, staffed 24/7 by trained officers who are able to help you right away. Call them at 1-800-COPLINE. Special thanks to our episode’s sponsor, Signature Coins for their support of the show. If you’re looking for high-quality challenge coins, visit their site. Use the coupon code “thesquadroom” for $50 off your first order.