The manager parts work hard to protect trauma victims from harm. This protection is often manifested as control over everything they do. It affects their relationships with others, their professional lives, and even their interactions with complete strangers.
But sometimes managers are not as efficient as they want to be, and no matter how hard they try to protect someone who has experienced trauma, those defenses break down. The trauma victim feels threatened and can be thrown into a panic.
That is when the firefighters step in.
What are Firefighters?
In the book, Introduction to the Internal Family Systems Model, Dr. Richard Schwartz states, “This might seem like an odd term for this group of parts because in some ways they are more like fire setters that create crises in our lives.”
Firefighters are even more protective than managers. Their job is to do anything and everything to stop the panic, even if more destruction happens in the process.
When trauma victims are hurting, fearful, lonely, or experiencing a host of other negative feelings, managers guide them to work those feelings out through socially acceptable means. That is why so many turn to things like:
- Excessive eating
- Going on crash diets
- Sleeping too much
- Taking prescription medications
- Smoking cigarettes
If those approaches fail, firefighters will encourage even greater distractions, such as:
- Drinking alcohol excessively
- Taking illegal drugs
- Having suicidal thoughts
- Self-mutilation
- Having secret affairs
When nothing is done to disrupt this cycle, firefighters learn to come to the forefront faster, and the socially acceptable reactions take a backseat to the greater distractions.
Firefighters’ Responses Can Affect Health Too
In some trauma victims, it is common for them to experience worsening health effects when firefighter parts respond as well. The individual might suddenly have more physical pain than normal, or their immune system may weaken, causing them to become more susceptible to viruses and diseases.
Our bodies are very closely connected to our minds, and they directly impact each other. That is exactly why it is so important to keep a close eye on how we treat our bodies. We all need healthy food, enough exercise, and enough sleep. All of these can affect how the parts respond when triggered.
The Flight Response
Many trauma victims experience a different response when their firefighter parts are triggered. Instead of lashing out at others or themselves, they will look for a way to retreat from a potentially threatening situation.
The following are all common when this occurs:
- Finding a way to leave a room quickly
- Getting sleepy all of a sudden
- Feeling confused
- Getting dizzy
- Feeling numb
Trauma Therapy Can Help You Understand the Firefighters
All of the above are completely normal ways for trauma victims to respond, and not everyone responds the same way all the time. Firefighters play an important role, and they too need to be heard and understood. But that is not something most people can do without guidance.
If you can identify with experiencing any of the above, your firefighter parts are likely stepping forward to offer you protection. Trauma therapy can help you learn more about them and heal.
Are you ready to take that step? Please contact me to make an appointment.
