Stress and trauma can change the brain—so what can you do if highly stressful, often traumatic situations are part of your job? Gina Rollo White explains how a more flexible approach to mindfulness can help people feel safer, regulate difficult emotions, and heal the brain.
The article titled “Make It Personal: How Mindfulness Can Support Highly Stressed People” by Amber Tucker on Mindful discusses the adaptable use of mindfulness practices to help highly stressed and traumatized individuals, particularly first responders and veterans.
Gina Rollo White, founder of Mindful Junkie Outreach and creator of the Tactical Brain Training® (TBT) program, shares insights on how personalized mindfulness practices can support emotional regulation and mental well-being.
Key Points:
Personalized Mindfulness Approach: Traditional mindfulness practices often adopt a “one-size-fits-all” approach, but Rollo White emphasizes the need for tailored methods, especially for those in high-stress environments. The TBT program combines mindfulness with self-assessments to offer practical tools for stress and trauma management.
Mindful Junkie Outreach: Established in 2015, this non-profit focuses on culturally appropriate mindfulness interventions for first responders and veterans, helping them manage stress both on the job and at home.
Personal Connection: Rollo White’s drive stems from her experience as the daughter of two first responders. Observing the effects of chronic stress on her parents helped shape her understanding of the need for trauma-sensitive mindfulness practices.
Flexibility in Practice: Techniques like Square Breathing are introduced as alternatives to traditional deep breathing, which can be difficult or triggering in specific situations, such as for those wearing restrictive gear or with a history of trauma.
Normalizing Stress Responses: It is crucial to validate stress and trauma responses as normal human experiences rather than signs of weakness or failure. This perspective allows individuals to explore mindfulness practices without judgment.
Unique Insights:
- Stress responses vary widely, even among individuals in the same field. This variability underscores the need for customizable mindfulness techniques.
- Introducing mindfulness with cultural sensitivity and practicality (e.g., keeping eyes open during meditation) increases its accessibility and effectiveness.
- Rollo White shares an example of how the sound of chimes, often used in mindfulness sessions, could trigger stress responses in firefighters due to associations with emergency bells.
Final Takeaway:
Mindfulness, when adapted thoughtfully, can offer powerful support for individuals dealing with high stress and trauma.
The Tactical Brain Training® program demonstrates that creating a personal and flexible approach can enhance the safety, health, and emotional resilience of first responders, veterans, and beyond.
Source: Make It Personal: How Mindfulness Can Support Highly Stressed People
