Heavy subjectTraumaMenMental health1 minute read
Trauma after military, police or emergency work
When the job exposes you to things most people never see.
Some jobs ask people to see and do things that would overwhelm anyone. Soldiers, police officers, paramedics, firefighters, nurses, doctors and others can carry what they saw for years.
How it can show up
- Images that do not fade
- Guilt about people you could not save
- Feeling unable to talk about it with anyone outside the job
- Irritability, drinking, or pulling away from family
- Feeling that ordinary life seems pointless or unreal
Moral injury
Sometimes the hardest part is not fear but a sense that something you did, failed to do, or witnessed went against what you believe is right. This is called moral injury. It is distinct from fear based trauma and often needs a different kind of conversation.
Getting help
Many services exist specifically for veterans and emergency workers, staffed by people who understand the culture. Peer support from others who did the same work can be powerful.
If you are thinking about suicide, reach a crisis line now. The help page lists them by country.
