Wildland Firefighter FoundationArticles

Understanding Chronic Stress and Hormones

December 16, 2024

When you experience stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activates, releasing cortisol, the primary stress hormone. In short bursts, cortisol helps you respond to challenges. However, chronic stress keeps this system in overdrive, leading to hormonal imbalances that can negatively affect physical performance, mental health, and long-term well-being. The Negative Effects of Chronic Stress on Hormones […]

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A Holiday Message to our Wildland Firefighting Family

December 16, 2024

To Our Wildland Firefighting Family, For many, the holidays bring images of warmth, family, and celebration. But for those in the wildland firefighting community, the season often carries something more complex—feelings of isolation, exhaustion, uncertainty, even loss of purpose after a long, relentless fire season. For some, the work still isn’t done. Fires don’t follow […]

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The Power of Gratitude: A Reflection for Thanksgiving

November 22, 2024

As Thanksgiving approaches, we find ourselves drawn to a time-honored tradition: reflecting on what we’re grateful for. While this may seem like a simple practice, it carries profound power—especially for those in challenging and demanding professions like wildland firefighting. For wildland firefighters and their families, gratitude is more than just a feeling; it’s a gateway […]

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Combating Chronic Stress in Wildland Firefighters

November 12, 2024

Click the button below if you would like to download this as a PDF for printing or future use. Open PDF   Inflammation, Gut Dysbiosis, and Metabolic Disorder: How Chronic Stress and Dysregulation Impact Your Health In the wildland firefighting community, stress has become an almost ubiquitous part of life. For many, the constant physical […]

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Seasonal Wellness for Wildland Firefighters: A Comprehensive Wellness Guide

November 4, 2024

Table of Contents Introduction Pre-Season Wellness Physical Training Mental Preparation Nutrition and Hydration Substance Use Management Mid-Season Wellness Fatigue Management Injury Prevention Mental Health Support Nutrition and Hydration Strategies End of Season Wellness Physical and Mental Recovery Reconnecting with Personal Life Addressing Substance Use Aging as a Wildland Firefighter Adapted Physical Training Long-Term Mental Health […]

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A Message on Wildland Firefighter Wellness

December 21, 2023

To all wildland firefighters and those who respond to wildland fires, we hope the fire season treated you well and you are able to take some time to rest, recover and be with those you love over the holidays. We want to acknowledge the tough and important job you do. What you do is both […]

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On Grief and Grieving: Understanding, Coping, Healing

October 26, 2023

Understanding, Coping, Healing Grief is a universal human experience, yet it is one of the most challenging emotions to navigate. It is an intricate emotional process that occurs in response to loss, and it can have a profound impact on an individual’s life. In this article, we will explore what grieving is, its impact on […]

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Common Types of Therapy

August 11, 2023

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of talk therapy that helps focus on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT is a type of therapy that helps individuals learn skills to manage their emotions and improve their relationships. Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: IFS is a type of therapy […]

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10 Self Care Tips

July 27, 2023

Each of us is responsible for our own wellbeing both mentally and physically. The more aware we are or can become about our own needs the more we can take action towards keeping ourselves healthy. It can be a challenge to make time for ourselves and to take care of ourselves. If we brush aside […]

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Alternatives and Compliments to Therapy

June 15, 2023

Mental Fitness is not thought of in the same way we think of staying physically fit. We do P.T. and strength train; we do cardio, run, go on hikes and add in calisthenics, like pushups, pull ups and burpees. We warm up and cool down with stretching all in an effort to keep ourselves at […]

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