First to Respond, Always Last in Line
Chada Azar
7/13/2026 11:14:43 AM
It is often said that Beirut has been destroyed and rebuilt seven times throughout its long history. The story did not end there; hardships followed Lebanon throughout history. Lebanon rose from the ashes every single time. It happened each time, through its unsung heroes, commonly known as first responders.
But how does constantly being exposed to trauma affect them in the long term?
In an exclusive interview with MTV website, clinical psychologist Lea Abi Khalil explains through her own experience, that “repeated exposure to trauma rarely changes people dramatically overnight.”
“Humans are very adaptive, which allows them to survive, but minds and bodies were never meant to stay in survival mode indefinitely,” she says. “There isn’t one ‘correct’ response to trauma; it is a reflection of different human experiences.”
Abi Khalil points out that “the core message is about the double-edged sword of a helper's identity, because frontliners develop the unspoken belief that they must always be the strong ones, leading them to minimize their own distress and postpone rest.”
She explains that “burnout and PTSD are not the same, but for Lebanon’s first responders, they often overlap. Burnout comes from prolonged stress, while PTSD comes from trauma. When the crisis does not end after the shift, responders return home carrying the same fears as the people they help. They are not only facing the emergency; they are living through it.”
“Recovery is possible, but healing does not mean forgetting what happened or becoming the person you were before. It means learning to live alongside what was lost. The grief remains, but with time, support, and moments of safety, life can slowly grow around it.” She adds. “There can be room again for connection, purpose, laughter, and hope. The pain remains part of the story, but it no longer defines every chapter.”
She explains that recovery in Lebanon is particularly complicated because many people move from one crisis to another without having the chance to heal. In such cases, recovery is not about waiting for everything to be over. It is about finding moments of safety and remembering that life is more than survival.
“Sometimes healing can take a simple form like making plans, sharing a coffee, sleeping peacefully, laughing without fear, and allowing yourself to imagine a future again. These moments may seem small, but they are powerful reminders that life can still move forward,” Abi Khalil stresses.
“I wish that people understood that staying calm does not mean someone is unaffected,” she says. “First responders often learn to set their emotions aside to do their job, but those feelings do not disappear. They can surface weeks, months, or even years later. They are not outside the tragedy; they are living through the same fears, losses, and uncertainty while trying to support others.”
Abi Khalil emphasizes that psychological support should not be something first responders seek only when they reach a breaking point.
“Just as we provide them with protective equipment for physical risks, we should provide support for the emotional toll of their work. Regular check-ins, access to mental health care, and safe spaces to ask for help should be the norm, not the exception. Caring for first responders means protecting their well-being as they protect others,” she suggests.
“I think healing is reaching a place where pain is no longer the only thing making your decisions. It is the point where grief can coexist with love, fear with hope, and uncertainty with meaning,” she says.
Abi Khalil leaves us with a final piece of advice: “One thing living through war has taught me is that people often think healing means leaving pain behind. It is not about being untouched by suffering, but allowing life to slowly grow around it. Remember: to care for others sustainably, you have to be willing to ask for help yourself.”
Lebanese may disagree on almost everything, but one thing remains certain: their appreciation for first responders is shared by all.
To all the heroes working in the shadows, the ones who arrive first, carry the heaviest burdens, and often ask for the least support, Lebanon owes you more than words can express. Thank you for your service.
But how does constantly being exposed to trauma affect them in the long term?
In an exclusive interview with MTV website, clinical psychologist Lea Abi Khalil explains through her own experience, that “repeated exposure to trauma rarely changes people dramatically overnight.”
“Humans are very adaptive, which allows them to survive, but minds and bodies were never meant to stay in survival mode indefinitely,” she says. “There isn’t one ‘correct’ response to trauma; it is a reflection of different human experiences.”
Abi Khalil points out that “the core message is about the double-edged sword of a helper's identity, because frontliners develop the unspoken belief that they must always be the strong ones, leading them to minimize their own distress and postpone rest.”
She explains that “burnout and PTSD are not the same, but for Lebanon’s first responders, they often overlap. Burnout comes from prolonged stress, while PTSD comes from trauma. When the crisis does not end after the shift, responders return home carrying the same fears as the people they help. They are not only facing the emergency; they are living through it.”
“Recovery is possible, but healing does not mean forgetting what happened or becoming the person you were before. It means learning to live alongside what was lost. The grief remains, but with time, support, and moments of safety, life can slowly grow around it.” She adds. “There can be room again for connection, purpose, laughter, and hope. The pain remains part of the story, but it no longer defines every chapter.”
She explains that recovery in Lebanon is particularly complicated because many people move from one crisis to another without having the chance to heal. In such cases, recovery is not about waiting for everything to be over. It is about finding moments of safety and remembering that life is more than survival.
“Sometimes healing can take a simple form like making plans, sharing a coffee, sleeping peacefully, laughing without fear, and allowing yourself to imagine a future again. These moments may seem small, but they are powerful reminders that life can still move forward,” Abi Khalil stresses.
“I wish that people understood that staying calm does not mean someone is unaffected,” she says. “First responders often learn to set their emotions aside to do their job, but those feelings do not disappear. They can surface weeks, months, or even years later. They are not outside the tragedy; they are living through the same fears, losses, and uncertainty while trying to support others.”
Abi Khalil emphasizes that psychological support should not be something first responders seek only when they reach a breaking point.
“Just as we provide them with protective equipment for physical risks, we should provide support for the emotional toll of their work. Regular check-ins, access to mental health care, and safe spaces to ask for help should be the norm, not the exception. Caring for first responders means protecting their well-being as they protect others,” she suggests.
“I think healing is reaching a place where pain is no longer the only thing making your decisions. It is the point where grief can coexist with love, fear with hope, and uncertainty with meaning,” she says.
Abi Khalil leaves us with a final piece of advice: “One thing living through war has taught me is that people often think healing means leaving pain behind. It is not about being untouched by suffering, but allowing life to slowly grow around it. Remember: to care for others sustainably, you have to be willing to ask for help yourself.”
Lebanese may disagree on almost everything, but one thing remains certain: their appreciation for first responders is shared by all.
To all the heroes working in the shadows, the ones who arrive first, carry the heaviest burdens, and often ask for the least support, Lebanon owes you more than words can express. Thank you for your service.