No, we are not talking about the song from the musical Cats. Memory, more specific memories, play an important role in a person’s resilience. Those we work with share that they associate K9FR Teams with calm, safety and positive emotional feelings of hope after a tragedy. That is one reason why early contact is important.
Althea Olson, LCSW, and Mike Wasilewski, MSW have written an informative article about understanding negative memories and making positive ones. Well worth reading.
Code 9 Project’s mission is to provide education, support and viable self-help tools to all Public Safety Personnel and their families for the purpose of managing, reducing and eventually eliminating the compressive stress effects, such as PTSD and suicide.
View their documentary trailer here: Code 9 Project Trailer
Two years after the Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy, a group of SHES teachers got together one evening to discuss what transpired on Friday, December 14th, 2012. They spoke of the events that day. Joe Quint was invited to share that time together. He filmed their conversations, memories and thoughts.
As the 3rd anniversary approaches, watch each teacher’s strength and individual resilience. The path to resilience is a personal one. Each teacher in their own time and in their own way.
During the holidays, helping our neighbors is am important aspect of our mission. Ann’s Place (http://www.annsplace.org/festival-of-trees/) is a compassionate nonprofit serving Connecticut and Hudson Valley New York with professional counseling, support groups, wellness activities and educational resources. Hundreds come to them for support, all at no charge.
We at K9FR are honored and happy to support their premier event… The Festival of Trees. This was a wonderful time for our teams to help spread smiles and the joy of the season. Tis the reason….
Resilience is generally thought of as a “positive adaptation” after a stressful or adverse situation. In other words, resilience is one’s ability to bounce back from a negative experience. Individuals and communities are able to rebuild their lives even after devastating tragedies.
Being resilient doesn’t mean going through life without experiencing stress and pain. People feel grief, sadness, and a range of other emotions after adversity and loss. The road to resilience lies in working through the emotions and effects of stress and painful events.
Resilience is also not something that you’re either born with or not. Resilience develops as people grow up and gain better thinking and self-management skills and more knowledge. Resilience also comes from supportive relationships with parents, peers and others, as well as cultural beliefs and traditions that help people cope with the inevitable bumps in life. Resilience is found in a variety of behaviors, thoughts, and actions that can be learned and developed across the life span.
Factors that contribute to resilience include:
K9 First Responders often meet people when they are overcome with emotion after a horrific event or tragedy. We work to help re-establish one’s emotional and cognitive equilibrium. The sooner a person is able to process, assess and decide their next steps, better the chances of resiliency being seen sooner than later.
A interesting podcast may be found at: http://tinyurl.com/kudqf6c
We congratulate Ms. Martin on her new job. K9FR partnered with Ms. Martin in her role as Director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness at the Boston Health Commission. We look forward to our continued relationship. Read more about her exciting new role at the link below.
Those who fight monsters inevitably change. Because of all that they see and do, they lose their innocence, and a piece of their humanity with it. If they want to survive, they begin to adopt some of the same characteristics as the monsters they fight. It is necessary. They become capable of rage, and extreme violence.
There is a fundamental difference, however. They keep those monster tendencies locked away in a cage, deep inside. That monster is only allowed out to protect others, to accomplish the mission, to get the job done…..Not for the perverse pleasure that the monsters feel when they harm others. In fact, those monster tendencies cause damage…guilt, isolation, depression, PTSD.
There is a cost for visiting violence on others when you are not a monster. Those who do so know one thing…The cost inflicted upon society as a whole is far greater without those who fight monsters. That is why they are willing to make that horrible sacrifice so that others may live peaceably. Before you judge one of us, remember this… We witness things that humans aren’t meant to see…and we see them repeatedly.
We perform the duties that you feel are beneath you. We solve your problems… Often by visiting violence upon others. We run towards the things that you run away from. We go out to fight what you fear. We stand between you, and the monsters that want to damage you. You want to pretend that they don’t exist, but we know better. We do the things that you are too soft, too weak, too cowardly to do. Your life is more peaceful…..because of us.
The current political climate in this country holds that there is nothing worth fighting for. Submission is the popular mantra. Warriors are decried, denigrated, and cast as morally inferior. We know how childish, how asinine, and how cowardly that mindset is. We know this…..There ARE things worth fighting, and dying for.
We know that not every problem can be solved through rational discourse…that some problems can only be solved through the application of force and violence. And, while we do prefer the former….we are perfectly capable of the latter. We believe that fighting what others fear is honorable, noble, and just….and are willing to pay the price for that deeply held belief.
Why? For us, it isn’t a choice… It is what we are. We are simply built that way.
I met you in the rain on the last day of 1972… A recently posted essay in the least likely of places, Craigslist. See link below.
You witness or are involved in a horrific event. You may not realize it but someone is yelling “All Aboard… the Trauma Train is now leaving the station”. Not knowing it, you have a ticket to ride. A window seat on the Critical Incident Stress Express.
Psychological Trauma starts the moment an event occurs. Your emotions, thoughts, feelings etc. start rolling like that train. Moving along, picking up speed… going faster and faster. You feel overwhelmed and out of control.
How do we stop, or at least slow down, the Trauma Train? Keep it from getting to a place you don’t want to be.
K9 First Responders (K9FR) are not psychotherapists. Psychotherapy identifies and changes the thought and behavior patterns that are keeping you from feeling your best.
K9FR teams work to prevent change from occurring in the first place. Or at least, slow change until a connection is made to additional mental health support.
Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) are tools we use to prevent change. The picture above shows there are different options for a train to travel. K9FR Teams help the Trauma Train move off the main line to a side track and idle.
K9FR is hosting a “Meet & Greet” for the greater Boston Area on Thursday, Sept. 24th @ 7 PM at:
Suite 4100
1 Canal Park
Cambridge, MA 92141
Learn about what we do and how we do it. Meet some of our coordinators. You do not have to own a dog to attend. Volunteer support personnel help with logistics and operations which does not require a dog.
This is open to the public but RSVP is required. RSVP no later than Tuesday, Sept. 22nd via e-mail to k9fr@k9fr.org
Hope to see you there!