Quick Summary
PTSD from repeated traumatic exposure can cause first responders to experience emotional numbing, avoidance, and withdrawal, which may lead to relationship disconnection and increase vulnerability to infidelity for both partners. First responders face significantly higher PTSD rates than the general population, with some studies showing 57% of firefighters and 37.8% of military personnel affected. Trauma-informed therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and couples or family therapy, can help address underlying trauma, rebuild emotional connection, and restore trust in relationships.
Key Takeaways
- PTSD rates are reported to be higher in first responder populations, including about 15% of paramedics, 23% of military service members, and up to 57% of firefighters compared with about 6% of the general adult population.
- Common PTSD symptoms such as emotional numbing, hypervigilance, avoidance, and difficulty showing vulnerability can create emotional distance and communication barriers in relationships.
- When PTSD goes untreated and disconnection grows, some relationships become more vulnerable to seeking connection outside the partnership, which can trigger infidelity and prolonged emotional fallout.
- Trauma-informed support can help early, including evidence-based PTSD therapy such as CBT and couples or family therapy to rebuild trust and strengthen communication.
First responders are under a lot of pressure and stress while on the job. Not only are they dealing with emergency situations, but they need to manage their own emotions and stress levels in the most challenging environments. The reality is that first responders have a high risk of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) over time, which has an undeniable impact on their relationships and emotional wellness.
The shocking truth is that people living with PTSD often have difficulties with their close family relationships or friendships. PTSD causes emotional disconnection and can even lead to issues with communication and closeness. Eventually, the emotional challenges can increase the likelihood of infidelity, which takes a toll on the ability of a relationship to survive.
While first responders are needed in our communities, these people make sacrifices because of the high-stress nature of their careers. Over time, their personal lives and relationships are affected. The only way out of these patterns is to seek professional help so the first responder can address trauma and start rebuilding their relationships.
The Connection: How PTSD Affects First Responders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a psychiatric condition that affects people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, circumstances, or a series of events. The shock of the experience can affect the person’s mental, physical, social, or spiritual well-being.
PTSD is prevalent in first responders because they are exposed to highly traumatic situations over and over again. Every time a first responder shows up on the scene, they face injuries, accidents, and even death. These teams of responders are often seeing life-threatening situations, as well as repeated exposure to violence and accidents.
Even if a person has good mental health when they start working as a first responder, the chronic exposure to traumatic events can take a toll on their mental health over time. Eventually, a first responder might develop PTSD and have symptoms such as anxiety, flashbacks, hypervigilance, and emotional instability.
Statistics: First Responders Have a Higher Risk of PTSD
According to the Armed Forces Benefit Association, an estimated 6% of the adult population in the United States is diagnosed with PTSD. But the risk of PTSD goes up for people who are exposed to violence and stressful situations in their careers:
- 15% of paramedics are diagnosed with PTSD
- 23% of military service members are diagnosed with PTSD
Another report from the National Library of Medicine shares that 57% of firefighters have PTSD and 37.8% of military personnel.
The truth is that it’s challenging to identify specific statistics, especially because many first responders with PTSD are suffering on a daily basis without help or a diagnosis. Regardless of what the numbers are showing, the most important thing we need to know is that first responders have a much higher risk of having PTSD, and this mental health issue can have a domino effect on every aspect of their lives.
How PTSD Leads to Emotional Disconnection and Relationship Problems
Some of the most common symptoms of PTSD disrupt emotional intimacy. For example, when a first responder is having PTSD symptoms, they might experience emotional numbing, hyper vigilance, and avoidance.
The subconscious mind is trying to protect the individual from perceived threats. So, emotional disconnection happens because the trauma is so intense.
As the emotional disconnection starts to set in, a person suffering from PTSD might withdraw from their partner because they want to avoid discussing the trauma. This withdrawal leads to feelings of distance and isolation for both partners, which can cause the relationship to start to fall apart over time.
Additionally, PTSD affects communication. When a patient is dealing with emotional overwhelm, it’s very difficult to talk about their emotions. They find it hard to express vulnerability and are unable to connect with loved ones on an emotional level.
All of these symptoms cause friction in the relationship, especially if the other person doesn’t realize that the patient’s behaviors stem from unresolved trauma. Eventually, emotional barriers are built, which can be extremely hard to overcome without professional intervention.
Emotional Disconnection Can Lead to Infidelity
When emotional disconnection overshadows a relationship, the unfortunate truth is that it can increase the likelihood of infidelity. The person suffering from PTSD might be so emotionally disconnected that they fall into maladaptive coping mechanisms, such as infidelity and other forms of addiction.
For the partner who is suffering because their loved one has PTSD, they may have emotional needs that are going unmet. There is a deep drive to connect, which can cause the individual to seek validation or affection outside of the relationship.
Both partners are being affected by the unresolved trauma and emotional pain, which causes people to do things that are out of character. One or both partners might engage in behaviors that negatively impact trust and intimacy, which harms the relationship.
It often leads to a cycle of emotional turmoil: the partner suffering from PTSD feels disconnected, while the non-PTSD partner feels abandoned or neglected. Both sides of this problem can lead to vulnerabilities that contribute to infidelity.
Mental Health Treatment is the Key to Healing Relationships
If you or your partner are suffering from PTSD, then the best thing you can do is seek professional treatment as soon as possible. The good news is that there are many types of therapy that can help to alleviate the symptoms and underlying causes of PTSD:
When these therapies are administered under the guidance of mental health experts, they can help individuals heal from trauma.
The reality is that as long as the trauma of PTSD remains untreated, the individual and relationship will continue to suffer. You want to rebuild connection and emotional stability in the relationship, and professional treatment is one of the best places to start.
In addition to accessing treatment for the person suffering from PTSD, it’s also helpful to participate in couples therapy or family therapy. These sessions can be beneficial for each partner to understand more about their unique dynamics, find ways to rebuild trust, and address communication issues. Going to therapy together is a powerful way to reconnect and reduce the risk of emotional disconnection again in the future.
Why First Responders with PTSD Need to Seek Therapy Early
When PTSD is left untreated, it can get worse over time. Unfortunately, untreated PTSD not only affects the person’s relationships, but it also impacts their ability to work, socialize, and even enjoy their favorite activities.
Over time, untreated PTSD causes the symptoms to worsen and become more apparent to everyone around them. The emotional disconnection continues to deepen, leaving the person in a state of isolation and loneliness, which can cause a domino effect of other mental health issues.
If you suspect that you or a loved one are suffering from PTSD, then the best thing you can do is seek treatment as soon as possible. Early intervention helps to stop the relationship damage, prevent more relationship issues, and even reduce the risk of infidelity in the future.
Seeking professional mental health services is the proactive step that you need to take. This process can help you find healing both individually and as a couple.
Avery Lane: Full-Service Solutions for Treating PTSD and Trauma
At Avery Lane, our experienced team provides trauma-informed care and dual-diagnosis treatment programs for women suffering from PTSD and other mental health conditions. Our women’s clinic is a safe and supportive place where you can heal from the trauma under the supervision of experienced therapists and mental health providers.
The benefits of trauma-informed care are undeniable because these treatment programs get to the root of the problems. Our therapists understand the unique needs of women who are healing from trauma. Not only do we have effective treatments for female first responders suffering from PTSD, but our team is also here to help women who are in relationships with first responders.
As you learn more about our programs at Avery Lane, you will see that we use evidence-based therapies, as well as holistic and whole being modalities, to promote optimal healing through a multi-faceted approach. In addition to individual therapy and group therapy, we also offer alternative healing methods such as breath work, mindfulness, somatic exercises, and more.
Our priority is healing trauma, helping each patient rebuild their self-worth, and restoring healthy relationship dynamics. We’ve seen time and time again that it’s possible to overcome these mental health issues and regain thriving relationships and a happy life.
Do You or Your Loved One Need Mental Health Support?
If you are suffering from PTSD or you have a loved one who is struggling with these symptoms, then it’s time to reach out to our expert team at Avery Lane for Women. We provide a full-service experience that goes beyond symptom management. Our goal is to get to the root of the trauma so that you can heal and move forward in life.
Don’t delay professional services. We encourage you to call our compassionate team as soon as possible to see how we can help with healing trauma and strengthening your relationships.
Our team not only helps clients with overcoming trauma in treatment, but the ultimate goal is empowerment in addiction recovery. For more information about healing trauma in residential settings, contact Avery Lane for a consultation.
