Share
Everyone has a dream. But sometimes there’s a gap between where we are and where we want to be. True, there are some people who can bridge that gap easily, on their own, but all of us need a little help at some point. A little boost. An accountability partner. A Snooze Squad. In each episode, the Snooze Squad will strategize an action plan for people to face their fears. Guests will transform their own perception of their potential and walk away a few inches closer to who they want to become ...
…
continue reading
E.232 From Chief To Healer: A First Responder’s Journey Through Loss, Addiction, And Resilience (Part 1)
Resilience Development in Action: First Responder Mental Health
Manage episode 521437942 series 2931758
Content provided by Steve Bisson. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Steve Bisson or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.
The story begins where many first responder lives converge: relentless calls, court dates, and a small department that never truly sleeps. Then the personal hits. Former New Hampshire police chief Doug Wyman opens up about parenting through a son’s addiction at the height of the opioid crisis, supporting a younger child through identity shifts, and the morning that changed everything—when his wife died by suicide with his duty weapon. What follows is a rare, unguarded look at procedure meeting grief, and how systems can protect evidence while still protecting people.
We walk through what real support looks like after the casseroles stop—peer teams that actually call, clergy who listen more than they preach, and a therapist with true cultural competency. Doug explains why a mind body spirit triangle isn’t fluff; it’s the backbone of resilience for first responders and families. Spirituality here is practical, not preachy—whether you find it in church, Stoicism, or a clear atheist ethic. Acceptance becomes the turning point. It’s not agreement. It’s the doorway to choose constructive over destructive, to convert pain into purpose, and to build post-traumatic growth one small habit at a time.
We also dig into the cognitive traps that keep people stuck on if and the simple language checks that interrupt self-blame. From there, the focus widens to culture. Strong wellness programs don’t live in binders; they live in people. Informal leaders—the ones who can get fifteen colleagues to show up on a Saturday—are the engine. When departments design with those influencers, recruitment and retention rise, and the holdouts become a minority. If you want a team to thrive, build a house you’re proud to invite others into.
If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a teammate who needs it, and leave a review so more first responders and families can find these tools. And if you or someone you love is in crisis, call 988 right now. You’re not alone.
Go to Doug's LinkedIn website at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-wyman-6b80852a/details/featured/
The Class Inside the Box - Focuses on Organizational Wellness and Post Traumatic growth and is for first line supervisors and command staff.
Chapters
1. E.232 From Chief To Healer: A First Responder’s Journey Through Loss, Addiction, And Resilience (Part 1) (00:00:00)
2. Sponsor: GetFree.ai Offer (00:00:29)
3. Introducing Guest Doug Wyman (00:01:07)
4. Career Snapshot And Teaching Roles (00:02:58)
5. Family Challenges: Addiction And Identity (00:05:31)
6. Spousal Suicide And Aftermath (00:09:55)
7. Finding Support And Faith-Based Therapy (00:13:28)
8. Cultural Competency In Care (00:18:04)
9. The Spiritual Triangle: Mind Body Spirit (00:21:01)
10. Grief Timelines And Real Support (00:24:50)
11. Acceptance, Choice, And Post-Traumatic Growth (00:28:22)
253 episodes
))
