Warriors Healing Warriors: A Cop’s Fight Back from Trauma

Warriors Healing Warriors: A Cop’s Fight Back from Trauma She survived 15 years behind the badge. Then the trauma she buried took her career, her marriage, and the life she thought she knew. Erika Rose Unberhagen entered law enforcement to protect children who came from homes like hers. She sold plasma to pay for the academy, brought her baby to night classes when childcare fell apart, and refused to quit after being warned that the chief did not want women in the department. She became a patrol officer, detective, hostage negotiator, death-notification officer, and sergeant. Her first call after field training was a suicide. Then came an officer-involved shooting, dead children, child-abuse investigations, death notifications, and years of trauma she never processed. Alcohol became the only way she knew how to shut it off. Then one case broke everything open. A former mentor she had been ordered to investigate died by suicide and left Erika’s name in his final note. Her career ended. Her marriage collapsed. Her children no longer lived with her. Without the badge, she no longer knew who she was. But she was not finished. Erika completed 137 recovery meetings in 90 days, returned to school, earned her social-work degrees, and became the therapist she needed while she was still wearing the uniform. Today, through Warrior Wellness and Recovery Initiative: Warriors Healing Warriors, PLLC, Erika helps first responders, veterans, military members, and their families confront trauma, addiction, grief, depression, anxiety, moral injury, and the hidden cost of service. This episode exposes what untreated trauma looks like behind closed doors, why strong officers become experts at hiding it, what happens when the uniform becomes your identity, and how the right help can turn your worst chapter into someone else’s reason to survive. Her message is simple: Choose your hard. CONNECT WITH ERIKA Website: https://www.warriorshealingwarriors.com/ Contact: https://www.warriorshealingwarriors.com/contact Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/erika-rose-unberhagen-pipe-creek-tx/1240400 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warriorwellnessandrecoveryinitiative/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-unberhagen-435337102 Phone: 210-985-3107 Email: erika.unberhagen@counselingmail.com THE BLUE LINE VOICE — BLOOD, SAND & SMOKE https://www.thebluelinevoice.com Share this episode with a first responder, veteran, spouse, or family member who may be carrying more than they are willing to say. SUPPORT COPLINE: 1-800-267-5463 https://www.copline.org/ 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines Special thanks to @heroesmediagrp #heroesmediagrp #HMG #TheBlueLineVoice #BloodSandAndSmoke #WarriorsHealingWarriors #FirstResponderMentalHealth #PoliceTrauma #AddictionRecovery #BreakTheStigma