Courage Beyond the Call: Supporting First Responders with PTSD

My Guest, Dr. Derrick Edwards, Psychology Professor at Tennessee Tech and Professional Counselor for First Responders. “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone ” ~ Mr. Rodgers It can go without saying that life is full of uncertainties.  However, there are plenty of things that can easily be said to be certainties in life as well.  One of those certainties is, first responders will face many difficult situations over the course of a career.  Some of those situations will leave emotional scars that will not heal alone and that’s when we must make our personal mental health the priority. This week’s guest decided to combine his love of psychology and firefighting to be a voice for first responders.  Doctor Derrick Edwards does an incredible job of breaking down the many layers of mental stress that one goes through, and the different avenues individuals will take to find coping mechanisms. Doctor Edwards took a practical approach to the complexity of psychology and did an excellent job of keeping the information both relatable and academic at the same time.  His personal experiences combined with his academic studies are the perfect blend when it comes to being able to be both sympathetic and empathic to first responders experiencing a mental health crisis. This episode is a must listen if you or someone you know works on the frontlines and even non-first responders will gain a ton of information that can be useful in every day life.  The number one message that I hope others will take from this episode is, it is ok to not be ok, and you owe it to yourself to want a healthy mind.  Allowing yourself to be vulnerable is a true strength and your life is definitely worth living. Please continue to listen and support this podcast and be sure to check out my social media content on my website http://MotivateWithCoachCamp.com   Also, if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of this podcast please click the link below to learn more.  This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC ShelbyRowProductions.com   👉 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST -  https://bit.ly/443wPRj 🔗 WEBSITE - http://www.motivatewithcoachcamp.com 📺 WATCH - YouTube and Facebook 🎧 LISTEN - Apple and Spotify   This episode was recorded at SRP Studios and Produced by Shelby Row Productions LLC SRPStudiosLLC.com