Resilience, or the ability to persevere and overcome adversity, can be built throughout a lifetime. Being resilient does not mean that you eliminate challenges or distress from your life. Rather, it means that you can adapt in the face of trauma, tragedy, and threats.

Most first responders and veterans see, hear, taste, smell and touch more trauma in a month than the average citizen does in a lifetime. Critical incident stress is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation, by a group or an individual. Some of the symptoms are:
 

• Elevated blood pressure

• Depression

• Over/under eating

• Withdrawal

• Nightmares

• Flashbacks

• Irritability

• Lack of concentration

• Increased alcohol consumption

Veterans and first responders already have an impressive amount of strength and resilience within, but that inner strength can always be built upon.

Sonoma Life Solutions’ counselors are culturally competent and experienced with veterans and first responders. Our clinicians understand the calls and service you respond to, the exposures to danger and traumas, understand that dark humor is beneficial, and know the challenges of transitioning from work mode to home mode.

Building on inner strengths to achieve long-term resilience to solve problems and bounce back from them.