First Responder Family Wellness Center

I’m Kimberly Williamson, First Responder Spouse & Registered Social Worker in Clinical Practice, Specializing in Family Trauma, Founder of the FRFWC

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

It makes sense that our fears, anxieties, and worries get transmitted to our kids, making them anxious too. The very best gift you can give your children is to heal and resolve your trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, ext. 🎁 #FirstResponderFamily

https://t.co/VBSJQXsS9e

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

As one of the leaders of your family (your spouse is the other), it is your responsibility to practice emotional regulation so that you can teach your children by example what emotional regulation looks like.

Learn more: https://t.co/qiJTsYHj0X

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

It can be so frustrating and at times painful.
While your feelings, emotions and behaviours are valid, are they helpful? Or are they just making you feel more disconnected, lonely and misunderstood?

Try using these perspective-shifting questions next time you're feeling angry.

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

Self-care is challenging even on our best days, when we're struggling or healing it can be that much harder. So the next time your partner skips a treatment, instead of getting angry, can you get curious?

Curiosity can make all the difference. #FirstResponderFamily

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

The early mornings and weird working hours.
The BIG feelings, the hard conversations and the miscommunications.
The missed events, the lonely weekends and the solo parenting. I see you ♥️
And I'm here to support you, find more resources at https://t.co/VBSJQXsS9e

#firstresponder

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

A calm, cool, collected first responder?
With an anxious, heart-on-their-sleeve, emotionally attached partner?

If you are in this pattern - it makes so much sense, but you can each learn a little from each other.

Learn to communicate more effectively https://t.co/qiJTsYpI9p

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

Next time you find yourself in the kitchen screaming about unwashed dishes...remember it’s never about the dishes. It's about the need to connect with your partner, to feel like you matter, to know they'll be there even in your moments of messy healing

https://t.co/qiJTsYHj0X

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

Most of us believe we’ll just “figure it out” and that our love will be enough. 
Strong relationships need so. much. more.
#StrongRelationships need SKILLS.
The good news is the skills you need for a happy, thriving, resident family are easier to learn than you think.

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

We are imperfect and learning beings. No matter how much work we do on ourselves, we will never reach the destination of not messing up. 

Learn how to better manage hard feelings and better communicate as a First Responder Family: https://t.co/qiJTsYpI9p

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

First Responder Family stress can feel unbearably overwhelming and can feel like no one in your circle "gets it."

Do you have a community that gets it?

Thrive as a #FirstResponderfamily https://t.co/qiJTsYHj0X

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

When our First Responders get diagnosed with PTSD or a prolonged stress injury, it can ripple through the entire family, but it's not your fault. ♥️

Start with the Coping Toolbox: https://t.co/zNYQUzhjRd

#firstresponderfamilyresources

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

Until you stop trying to take responsibility for something that isn't your responsibility, things aren't going to change.

Read the full blog post on the #1 thing First Responder Spouses Wished They're Learned Early, at https://t.co/yZkmhsGcfF

#firstresponderfamily

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

You can learn to better deal with hard emotions.
You can be there for your #FirstResponder without sacrificing yourself, your needs or your feelings.
You CAN find peace, connection and joy amongst the chaos of being a #FirstResponderFamily and all that comes with it.

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

I used to feel like it was only our family dealing with stress, anxiety + conflict that seemed to hijack the festivities of the season, but this is common for First Responder Families. ♥️ Here are a few strategies to better navigate the holiday season

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

For First Responder Families, the holiday season can be hard when trying to navigate shift work, holiday traditions and family expectations. Make the holiday's more joyful and less stressful as a First Responder Spouse by prioritizing your needs and taking care of yourself.

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

Sarah and Sylvain were doing the absolute best they could to care for his mental health. Sarah wants you to know one of the signs she wished she had known before Sylvain's passing.
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Tune into the podcast on itunes, Anchor, Google or our website

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

In this first interview episode, welcome twelve-year police veteran James Jefferson and his wife Amy Jefferson, as they take an honest dive deep into the dark places of his post traumatic stress injury. Tune in on itunes, anchor or our website

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

June is PTSD awareness month. In honour of that, this week, Kim pulls back the dark curtain on the “beast of O.S.I.” — operational stress injury— and breaks down how to notice when a first responder’s work is affecting them, their family, and those around them.

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise can help anchor us in a moment of overwhelm.

#groundingexcercise #firstresponders #firstresponderlife #firstresponderspouse #firstresponderfamily #firstrespondermentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #firstresponderfamilywellnesscenter

[First Responder Family Wellness Center @ResponderFamily]

“When you say, ‘YES’ to others, make sure you are not saying, ‘NO’ to yourself.”—Paulo Coelho

It's too easy to put others first and neglect ourselves. If this is you, consider signing up for some coaching to establish healthy habits.

https://t.co/c2yShZX7bC