Understanding your Firefighter in I.F.S.
First off, we need to establish what a firefighter is, within the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, and the part it plays within your inner sanctum. "Firefighters" are protective parts of the psyche that react impulsively to overwhelming emotional pain by distracting, numbing, or distracting from it through extreme behaviours like addiction, dissociation, rage, or chaos. Unlike "Manager" parts that try to prevent problems, Firefighters emerge when a problem is already present, working to "put out the fire" by any means necessary to prevent further emotional suffering from underlying "Exile" parts. Firefighters are reactive protectors. The part that comes into play when the person is in emotional distress or overwhelmed by painful feelings, to stop the feeling of the exile part coming forward. A firefighter doesn't really care about the damage caused. Its only objective is to stop the person feeling the pain from the exile. Just like a firefighter in real life, they don't care about the amount of damage caused; their job is to stop the fire from spreading. Firefighters respond immediately to the pain that managers can't see in your project. They have an attitude of "by any means necessary" or "when was else fails" The intention of the firefighter is to numb, soothe, and or disassociate. Firefighters are our most loyal “parts”, committed to their jobs. No one else in the system wants to do this job. Common strategies of the firefighter are retail therapy, addictions, such as food, drinking, sex, drugs, gambling, numbing through social media, or self-harm. Through all of this, they are often seen as the villain by being charged with their impact. Not having any concern with collateral damage.
Why are they so important? Despite their potentially self-destructive behaviours, firefighters are seen as brave protectors who are only trying to help the system. They have a positive intent. They have a positive intention to protect the person from emotions that are perceived to be too intense or unbearable. Working with firefighters in IFS is a self-led engagement. Engaging with firefighters from a calm, curious, and compassionate "self "energy, not from a place of fear or frustration. The aim of helping the firefighter it's not by controlling, but by befriending. This helps to build a relationship with these parts by understanding their purpose and respecting the urgency, rather than trying to control or eliminate them. The best way of helping a firefighter to heal is through connection by developing trust and internal dialogue; healing can occur, leading to healthy responses from the firefighters, and the greater harmony within the internal system.
How can I help?
The mind is incredibly powerful and, with the right guidance and tools, it can achieve remarkable things. All healing is self-healing if one’s mind remains focused and positive. I have the know-how to help you become pain-free, emotionally unburdened and energetically clear. Creating a better you from the inside out.