You Knew What You Signed Up For: The Unwritten "Terms of Service"

Send us Fan Mail “You knew what you signed up for.” Maybe. But knowing what might happen is not the same as knowing what it will feel like when it does. In this episode, Cinnamon challenges one of the most dismissive phrases used toward first responders and explores the difference between understanding the risks of the job and being prepared for the emotional, relational, and psychological consequences that can follow. Drawing from conversations with past guests including John Mattingly, Giovanni Rocco, Jess Flores, Justin Atherton, and Ed Monroe, she examines the injuries that rarely make it into academy training: organizational betrayal, public scrutiny, career loss, identity disruption, unexpected emotional reactions, and the moment the people or institutions you trusted become part of the trauma. She also looks at how childhood adversity can intersect with first responder culture, why uncertainty keeps the nervous system stuck in threat mode, and why accountability and humane treatment are not mutually exclusive. First responders may sign up to do difficult work. They do not sign away their nervous systems, their identities, their families, their grief, or their right to be affected by what they experience. Maybe the better sentence was never, “You knew what you signed up for.” Maybe it was: “You knew what might happen. You couldn’t know exactly what it would feel like.” Disclaimer:  After the Tones Drop is shared for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, and listening does not create a therapist-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the individual speaking. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional or emergency services in a crisis.  ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat):  https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/intentions License code: 6EH17HSYMTZPKEYF DISCLAIMER: After the Tones Drop is shared for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. It does not provide therapy, medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, and listening does not create a therapist-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the individual speaking. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional or emergency services in a crisis. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information.  ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat):   Our theme music is Intentions by Abby Noise, licensed through Upbeat  https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/adventure-is-calling License code: ANJCYVHRMULSNKQR https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: H4WTAGJZIXZCM8DM https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/homewardLicense code: KO7FZAIJBAEAJLKE https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/the-heart-grows License code: KAID0ITO96GJZAPS https://uppbeat.io/t/philip-anderson/achievement License code: XZ4PMCKHW94GUR74 https://uppbeat.io/t/tobias-voigt/nexus License code: MVMDRGHKHTJRABVR https://uppbeat.io/t/paul-yudin/breakthrough License code: FYPM3OJF0NQ4OGTE