E.221 From Survival Mode to Sustainable Service: A First Responder's Guide to Wellbeing

Resilience Development in Action

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The weight of caring for others can become unbearable when we forget to care for ourselves. This powerful conversation with Deidre Gestrin, a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified health coach, takes us deep into the reality of burnout among first responders and helping professionals.
Deidre shares her profound personal journey through burnout - a harrowing experience that led her doctor to deliver the stark warning: "Your job is killing you." With remarkable candor, she reveals how her dedication to helping others in crisis led to working literally 24/7, developing physical health problems including arthritis in her mid-30s, and ultimately experiencing secondary traumatic stress so severe she couldn't tolerate family members standing behind her.
The discussion illuminates the science behind burnout - how chronic stress essentially shuts down our frontal cortex, impairing judgment and decision-making abilities critical for first responders. Steve and Deidre explore why those drawn to helping professions are particularly vulnerable to burnout, and why changing jobs often fails to solve the underlying issues.
What makes this episode uniquely valuable is the practical, realistic approach to recovery. Rather than offering platitudes, Deidre provides tangible strategies that work within the constraints of demanding professions. From establishing sleep hygiene routines that function even with irregular schedules to creating small, intentional habits that regulate the nervous system, listeners gain actionable tools for resilience.
Perhaps most compelling is Deidre's revelation about recovery timelines - the small shifts at three months, the ability to work again at six months, but the full two years before feeling completely restored. This honest assessment serves as both warning and hope for those navigating their own burnout journeys.
Connect with Deidre at abundantwellnessessentials.com to explore personalized strategies for overcoming burnout and reclaiming your purpose and wellbeing.

Her Social media presence:

https://www.youtube.com/@deidregestrin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deidregestrin/
https://www.facebook.com/dgestrin/
https://www.instagram.com/dgestrin/

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Chapters

1. Introduction to Resilience Development (00:00:00)

2. Meeting Deidre Guestrin (00:03:12)

3. Personal Burnout Journey (00:07:16)

4. First Responder Burnout Reality (00:16:35)

5. Sleep Hygiene and Recovery Practices (00:21:54)

6. Organizational Support for Burnout (00:29:33)

7. Spiritual Connection and Resources (00:34:41)