Surviving Your Shift, Building Responder Wellness

By: Dr. Bart J. Leger
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  • Summary

  • Do you find yourself slumped on the sofa after a twelve-hour shift at work, mindlessly scrolling through your phone, too exhausted to get up and enjoy dinner with your family? Or, do you feel lost for words when trying to comfort a co-worker who's just faced a tough call, not knowing what to say to help them without making them relive the ordeal?


    As a retired first responder and crisis interventionist, I know what it’s like to spend your days juggling back-to-back calls from clients in crisis, sacrificing sleep, working rotating shifts, and missing out on meaningful family events — again.


    But what if you could get through every workday without staving off an oncoming panic attack or feeling your heart pound inside your chest every time your phone rings?


    With over 25 years of experience as a board-certified professional in traumatic stress, I've equipped thousands of people who face the daily challenges of high-pressure jobs like yours with the practical action steps they need to stop treating everything in their life as if it was a 911 emergency and regain full control of their life.


    Each week, you’ll hear the unfiltered stories from frontline professionals just like you who’ve experienced the pain of loss, endured graphic trauma calls, contemplated suicide, and found hope in the darkest moments on their journey.


    Together, we’ll explore the simple steps you can take to build greater resilience in your own high-stress profession through critical incident stress management, first responder burnout, suicide intervention, peer counseling teams, and much more so that you can learn how to stop surviving and start thriving both on and off duty.


    Ready to experience what it’s like to have the time and mental energy for things that matter most to you, get a full night’s sleep without worrying about what tomorrow’s shift might bring, and to (finally!) find meaning and joy again in answering the call? Hit play, and let’s dive in.
    © 2024 The Stress Care Doc, LLC
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Psychology Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Success
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Episodes
  • Your Story is Not Unique

    Your Story is Not Unique
    Sep 25 2024

    Are you struggling with burnout, stress, or feeling overwhelmed as a first responder? Retired firefighter paramedic Matthew Matty Fiorenza joins us to share his journey through PTSD and anxiety and how he’s now helping first responders find healing and support. Tune in for practical steps to protect your mental health.

    Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of being a first responder?

    It’s common to experience burnout and stress, but it doesn’t have to be your daily reality. Retired firefighter paramedic Matt Fiorenza knows this struggle firsthand, and in this episode, he shares his journey from PTSD to finding healing and purpose in supporting other first responders.

    BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

    •How Matt turned his pain into purpose by helping first responders heal

    •Practical steps to protect your mental health and build resilience

    •The importance of finding the right support and community for your journey

    Don’t wait until burnout takes over—listen now and discover the steps you can take today to protect your mental health.

    CONNECT WITH Matt Fiorenza

    https://www.facebook.com/frprfoundation
    https://frprfoundation.com/

    OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

    PTSD 911 Movie: https://ptsd911movie.com/

    Recovery First Treatment Centers: https://recoveryfirst.com/


    CONNECT WITH BART: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    Liked this episode? Share it and tag me @bartleger

    Love the show? Leave a review and let me know!

    This podcast is sponsored by The Stress Care Doc. Organizations are losing money everyday to workplace stress and employee turnover. I deliver the training and structure they need to develop a resilient workforce. Organizations that work with us provide their employees with the supportive workplace they deserve.

    Some product links on this site are affiliate links, which means I'll earn a small commission for any affiliate purchases you make (at no additional cost to you). I only recommend products that I use and/or personally trust, so you can browse with confidence.
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    52 mins
  • Surviving Retirement and Finding Purpose

    Surviving Retirement and Finding Purpose
    Sep 3 2024

    Are you anxious about what life will be like after you retire? In this episode, Dr. Medina Baumgart, author of the book Surviving Retirement: Finding Purpose and Fulfillment Beyond the Badge, shares practical strategies to help you survive and thrive in retirement.

    Have you ever wondered what life will look like after you hang up your uniform for the last time?

    Retirement can bring more anxiety than excitement for many first responders, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

    In this episode, Dr. Medina Baumgart helps you navigate the challenges of transitioning out of your career, from finding new purpose to avoiding common pitfalls.

    BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

    • How to prepare for retirement beyond just finances and healthcare.
    • The importance of maintaining a strong support system during retirement.
    • Key strategies to find purpose and thrive in your post-career life.

    Don’t let retirement catch you off guard—equip yourself with the tools and insights shared in this episode to embrace this new chapter with confidence and purpose.

    CONNECT WITH DR. BAUMGART

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbaumgart/

    Website: https://www.drbaumgart.com/

    OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

    Book: Surviving Retirement: Finding Purpose and Fulfillment Beyond the Badge https://amzn.to/3yRFwnI

    The Proud Police Wife Podcast with Cyndi Doyle: https://proudpolicewife.com/hold-the-line-support-for-police-families/


    CONNECT WITH BART: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    Liked this episode? Share it and tag me @bartleger

    Love the show? Leave a review and let me know!

    This podcast is sponsored by The Stress Care Doc. Organizations are losing money everyday to workplace stress and employee turnover. I deliver the training and structure they need to develop a resilient workforce. Organizations that work with us provide their employees with the supportive workplace they deserve.

    Some product links on this site are affiliate links, which means I'll earn a small commission for any affiliate purchases you make (at no additional cost to you). I only recommend products that I use and/or personally trust, so you can browse with confidence.
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
  • Supporting Your Family While Protecting Others

    Supporting Your Family While Protecting Others
    Aug 27 2024

    Join Bart Leger as he interviews Tiffany Atalla, a trauma therapist specializing in first responder family support. Learn how Tiffany combines her personal experience and professional expertise to strengthen first responder families and provide innovative trauma care techniques.

    What does it take to support first responders and their families in the toughest times?

    If you’re a first responder or someone close to them, you might be struggling with maintaining family relationships amid the pressures of the job.

    In this episode, Bart and Tiffany discuss how proactive family support and trauma care can make all the difference. Tiffany shares strategies for maintaining strong relationships and effective trauma therapy, including equine-assisted therapy and innovative practices.

    BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN DISCOVER:

    • How to support first responder families through proactive care and education.
    • The importance of integrating mental health and wellness programs in first responder departments.
    • Unique approaches like equine-assisted therapy that offer powerful healing for trauma.

    Don’t miss out on Tiffany’s invaluable insights on how to thrive as a first responder and in your personal life.

    CONNECT WITH TIFFANY

    Website: https://bestsolutionstherapy.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-atalla-573937126

    OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

    Living Blue Book: https://amzn.to/3YS9SRE


    CONNECT WITH BART: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    Liked this episode? Share it and tag me @bartleger

    Love the show? Leave a review and let me know!

    This podcast is sponsored by The Stress Care Doc. Organizations are losing money everyday to workplace stress and employee turnover. I deliver the training and structure they need to develop a resilient workforce. Organizations that work with us provide their employees with the supportive workplace they deserve.

    Some product links on this site are affiliate links, which means I'll earn a small commission for any affiliate purchases you make (at no additional cost to you). I only recommend products that I use and/or personally trust, so you can browse with confidence.
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins

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