Navigating Trauma, Growth, and Resilience in Paramedic Life – Insights from a Former Paramedic
As a former Paramedic, with a career spanning 16 years, I’m intimately familiar with the challenges faced by emergency service workers. We all have countless stories, many of which remain untold, unexplored, or unresolved. The trauma we witness, and experience often affects us vicariously, manifesting in our bodies and behaviour’s. I uniquely know the emotional toll the job has on us all. In this blog I explore some of these challenges and some tips on how to work through them.
Recent research has highlighted not only the importance of resilience-focused training for professionals in high-stress fields but also the significant impact of shift work on Paramedics and their families. Moreover, studies have begun to explore both the positive and negative outcomes of trauma exposure in emergency service workers. A study on post traumatic growth (PTG) in emergency ambulance personnel emphasises that while exposure to trauma can lead to distressing outcomes, there’s also potential for positive changes. The PTG model suggests that individuals can flourish beyond their previous level of functioning after experiencing trauma (Calhoun & Tedeschi, 2006). Five domains of potential growth have been consistently identified: personal strength, new possibilities, relating to others, appreciation of life, and spiritual change.
However, the relationship between post traumatic distress and growth is complex and not yet fully understood. Research findings have been inconsistent, possibly due to cultural differences, populations sampled, or measures used. Some studies show a small positive relationship between positive and negative post trauma symptoms, while others find negative relationships or no relationship at all (Kirby, Shakespeare-Finch & Palk, 2011). This complexity underscores the importance of considering both positive and negative outcomes when addressing trauma exposure in emergency service workers. It’s not just about mitigating distress, but also about fostering potential growth and resilience.
The 2019 literature review by Lucy Anderson, published in the British Paramedic Journal, explored how paramedic shift work impacts the family system. Anderson identified three key themes: physical injury, emotional labour, and work-family fit. The study found that paramedics are at high risk of sustaining work-related injuries, which raises concerns among family members and creates financial and psychological stress for the paramedics themselves. Emotionally, paramedics often rely heavily on their families for support due to the nature of incidents they encounter at work. However, the “male”: coping culture in paramedic practice (and we all know what this feels and looks like, also brushing this onto our female colleagues) often deters emotional expression at work, leading to families bearing the brunt of emotional support. This puts family members at risk of vicarious trauma, especially as they are often uneducated in emotional processing techniques. So when you talk to your family about work please think about how you are going to protect them first, and what particular details you might not want to share with them.
The Anderson (2019) review also highlighted that several shift characteristics contribute to work-family conflict, relationship problems, child-rearing conflicts, and difficulties in maintaining a social life. These findings align with my personal experiences and observations over the years. Stress and exhaustion can hinder our lives while we silently carry the weight of our experiences. Though the support from colleagues is invaluable, and we all know “those” conversations that occur on the way to a job, or after the job it’s crucial to share beyond our professional circle to avoid overwhelming each other and to address the inevitable frustrations that arise from working closely together. Vicarious trauma is real, and its useful not to place the burden of your trauma onto colleagues or other workers around you. You have an ethical obligation to keep them safe from additional psychological harm and stress. While this may seem like an extra responsibility, it doesn’t have to be burdensome.
An effective way to support your well-being is to schedule monthly counselling sessions outside the workplace with a professional like myself. This amounts to just 12 hours per year dedicated entirely to your well-being. These private and confidential sessions focus solely on you because your life and mental health matter. As the saying goes, “what’s said in the Ambulance, stays in the Ambulance,” with some small exceptions. When things get tough, as we all know they sometimes do, you can temporarily increase the frequency of your sessions to work through any traumas, big or small. Reflecting on my career, it’s surprising that counselling and psychotherapy as a paramedic often aren’t pursued until one faces significant trauma, or a complete breakdown. In counsellor training, one of the first lessons is to find a practitioner for regular sessions to work through personal issues and protect others. I firmly believe—and I may be a bit biased—that every healthcare professional and emergency service worker should engage in regular counselling as part of their professional practice.
Research clearly shows that addressing the challenges of paramedic life through resilience-focused counselling and fostering potential post-traumatic growth can significantly improve your well-being and that of your family. This comprehensive approach can help reduce burnout, enhance your well-being, and improve your ability to provide compassionate care, even in the most demanding situations. As you continue to serve your community and patients, please prioritise your well-being, your family’s, and your larger paramedic family’s. By investing in your resilience and mental health, advocating for other paramedics to do the same, and acknowledging the potential for both distress and growth from your professional experiences, you can ensure that you’re not only surviving but thriving in this demanding yet rewarding profession.
So why wait? Schedule a session with me on one of your days off. I am available in person at my practice in Adelaide, or if you’re interstate, we can connect virtually via telehealth. My door is always open to every paramedic in the country. In the meantime, please take care of yourself.
References
Anderson, L. (2019). The impact of paramedic shift work on the family system: A literature review. British Paramedic Journal, 3(4), 43. https://doi.org/10.29045/14784726.2019.03.3.4.43
Calhoun, L. G., & Tedeschi, R. G. (Eds.). (2006). Handbook of posttraumatic growth: Research & practice. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
Kirby, R., Shakespeare-Finch, J., & Palk, G. (2011). Adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies predict posttrauma outcomes in ambulance personnel. Traumatology, 17(4), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.1177/1534765610395623
Winblad, N. E., Changaris, M., & Stein, P. K. (2018). Effect of Somatic Experiencing Resiliency-Based Trauma Treatment Training on Quality of Life and Psychological Health as Potential Markers of Resilience in Treating Professionals. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12, 70. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2018.00070
