First responders work long hours, shift work, and often have back-to-back calls. They are exposed to dangerous environments that could be life-threatening, which results in vicarious trauma through witnessing accidents, death, and forms of human suffering most people never see. These experiences trigger the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to stay in a sympathetic dominant state. Without adequate recovery, nervous system regulation and chronic exposure to traumatic stress can lead to burnout, anxiety, depression, moral injury, physical health problems, substance use, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal ideation. Once we understand the neurobiology of the stress response and the function of the vagus nerve which is responsible for the fight, flight, and freeze states we can reduce negative outcomes.
