CRACKYL Magazine - No.6 (Jul/Aug 2022)

Page 56

HEALTH

By Tori Mikulan

Performing a size-up is a crucial part of any emergency response and something firefighters continually do as a situation changes to enable them to adjust and respond accordingly. If you don’t make adjustments, you can’t make progress or reach a solution. You remain stagnant, the situation eventually worsens, and more is put at risk. The same thing happens to us as individuals when we don’t manage our moods and emotions and that lack of management can lead to dangerous consequences. Given the high-stress, often traumatic situations in which first responders find themselves, it’s vital to monitor your emotional state on a consistent basis and then respond and adjust accordingly – just as you would do in an emergency situation. What makes an internal size-up challenging is the difficulty involved in accurately tuning in to your emotions; however, there are tools and skills to help you decipher your feelings.

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C RAC KYL MAGAZ I N E

THE SIZE-UP TOOLKIT

INTERNAL SIZE-UP FOR MENTAL HEALTH

A 2017 REPORT FROM THE IAFF RECOVERY CENTER STATES THAT, AT SOME POINT IN THEIR CAREERS, ONE IN FIVE FIREFIGHTERS WILL STRUGGLE WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND THAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY SUICIDE THAN IN THE LINE OF DUTY. Despite this, a stigma remains that suggests seeking treatment for mental health concerns is a sign of weakness. This can prevent those who need it from getting help. It can drive them to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance abuse, which then can lead to further deterioration of their mental health and can lead to physical ailments as well. All of this can contribute to both personal and professional relationship struggles that continue the cycle. All of this makes the internal size-up imperative for firefighters to enable them to develop habits and self-care mechanisms that will improve their mental health.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE According to the magazine "Psychology Today", the theory of emotional intelligence was introduced in the 1990s by Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer, and then further developed in Dr. Daniel Goleman’s 1995 book, “Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships,” which brought it into the public arena. Emotional intelligence is about emotional awareness, specifically, recognizing and managing your own emotions along with the emotions of others. This ability comprises several skills including self-emotional awareness, controlling and applying emotions to specific tasks, managing your emotions, and helping others manage theirs. The University of New Hampshire’s Psychological and Counseling Services provide guidance on recognizing your emotions. One point made is that we can often confuse strong emotions with anger, simply because of their intensity. But incorrectly identifying your emotions makes it even harder to resolve them. Plus, it is possible to feel multiple strong emotions which may overlap, making it even more critical to separate and identify your feelings.


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