You Matter

This is a smoke signal for police/fire/public safety/dispatch/EMS - for anyone in a '“first responder” role. Complex PTSD is coming, and it is a life-changing, career-changing diagnosis. Take the necessary steps to take care of your mind/body. Medication is helpful but - when taken without therapy - it’s a tourniquet.

Talk about what haunts you. Talk about what you blocked out. Talk about what makes you sick to rehash. Talk about it in a safe space. Because one day, it will come back.

How?

It will show up as sleepless nights, nightmares, and night tremors.
It will show up in your relationship with food.
It will show up as anger; lashing out or lashing in.
It will show up when you can’t get out of bed, with paralyzing fatigue and burnout.
It will show up when you can’t stop crying or understand why.
It will show up in your face until you work through it.
It will show up as exhaustion, hyper-vigilance, sensitivity to sound, weight gain or loss, hair loss, acne, unexplained bruises, hyper-independence, isolation, forgetfulness, substance use, or substance abuse.

But remember:

You matter.
Your life - matters.
Your existence - is not in vain.

Keep showing up
Every. Day.

Yes, I know it’s hard, but people need you—you need you—your life is worth living.
Especially on the hard days.
When you find yourself making lists of reasons to live, make sure you list yourself there, and use the tools that exist-because you’re needed.

You matter. More than you possibly know.