In the previous blog post, we learned about the first type of Protector Part called Managers.The second type of Protector includes the Firefighters. Firefighters suppress and push pain away to keep us from feeling it. Essentially, their mottos include “By any means necessary” and “When all else fails.”
Firefights are very reactive. They are actively responding to pain from the external environment or potentially an Exiled Part. Firefights commonly show up in order to:
Numb
Distract
Soothe
Dissociate
Firefighters are not concerned with collateral damage or long-term consequences from their strategies. They are trying to achieve immediate relief. This unfortunately causes these Parts to be seen as the villains of the system and are judged heavily for their impact. This in turn results in being shamed internally by other Parts and externally by ourselves.
The truth of the matter is that Firefighters are often times our most loyal Parts. They are committed to jobs and roles that no one else in the system wants to do.
Similarly to Managers, Firefighters are not “bad” Parts. They perform their jobs to the best of their abilities to protect from emotional overwhelm. Firefighters will burn the house down to put the fire out.
Unfortunately for our Firefighters, their roles may create additional problems including experiencing shame, relationship strain, health concerns, or reinforce cycles of avoidance. This in turn can activate our Managers to work even harder in their roles.
Understanding our Firefighters and approaching them with curiosity helps them feel understood and less alone in their protective roles. Similarly with Managers, once Firefighters begin to trust the Self, real healing becomes possible and they no longer feel the need to rush in aggressively when emotional distress arises.
If you are curious to learn more about EMDR, IFS-informed EMDR, or are interested in beginning your EMDR/IFS-informed EMDR therapy journey, please reach out to me via the Contact Me page on my website. You can also learn more about EMDR as well as additional EMDR therapists in your area by visiting the EMDR International Association’s website here. You can learn more about IFS by visiting the IFS Institute’s website here.
Reminder: these blog posts are meant to be purely educational and/or entertainment tools and do NOT replace psychotherapy and/or other medically necessary treatments.