When Colors Became Words
Written by Joanna Overton, Founder, Stress Relief Through Arts – First Responder Stress Relief Program
Howdy and hello. I'm Joanna Overton, a retired first responder with more than 26 years of service as a firefighter, paramedic, emergency dispatcher, and instructor. This is the story of how a simple love of art followed me through every stage of my life and eventually led to the creation of Stress Relief Through Arts.
Like many people in emergency services, this was not the career path I originally planned. My goal was to become a medical examiner. Life, however, had other plans.
While still in high school, I earned certifications as a Certified Nursing Assistant and an EMT-Basic. After a short time working in a senior care facility, I applied to my local EMS service. Two applications later, I was hired, and my journey as a first responder began.
The work itself didn't surprise me nearly as much as the learning did.
I struggled with some of the coursework and found myself wondering how I could be certified and still have difficulty understanding certain concepts. What I eventually realized was that I wasn't learning the same way everyone else seemed to be learning. To make sense of the information, I began turning lessons into cartoons and sketches. Suddenly, complicated topics became easier to understand.
At the time, I thought I was simply doodling in my notes. Looking back, I realize I was discovering how my mind worked.
Over the years, my career took me through EMS, firefighting, paramedicine, emergency communications, and instruction. Along the way, I learned that success doesn't always come from doing things the way everyone else does. Some of my greatest challenges became some of my greatest lessons.
Failing out of paramedic school was one of those lessons. As someone who had always done well in school, that failure hit hard. Years later, as a single mother working long hours, I returned determined to succeed. This time, something clicked. Medical concepts became visual stories in my head, and before long my notebooks were filled with cartoons and illustrations that helped me learn. Those same notes would later help classmates and future students understand the material as well.
What I once viewed as a weakness became one of my greatest strengths.
The funny thing is that art had been helping me long before I realized it.
As a child, I drew during Bible study to help remember lessons. As a student, I used sketches to understand difficult concepts. As an instructor, I used drawings to teach. Throughout my career, I found myself turning to creativity whenever words weren't enough.
I sketched portraits for coworkers, created artwork for families during difficult times, and used drawing as a way to communicate care and support when I wasn't sure what to say.
Later in life, while caring for my mother, art took on an even deeper meaning.
My mom and I started holding weekly painting sessions together. What began as a simple activity became something we both looked forward to. My father would often wake up to find a new painting waiting on his desk, usually inspired by his love of Star Trek. Those evenings reminded me that art wasn't really about the finished painting. It was about connection.
Throughout my years in emergency services, I also learned that stress looks different for everyone. Some stress comes from difficult calls. Some comes from responsibility, long shifts, or simply carrying the weight of the job day after day.
Like many first responders, I learned how to keep moving forward. What I didn't always know was how to slow down.
For me, creativity became that pause. It became a healthy outlet, a way to reflect, and a way to express things I didn't always have words for. Over time, I realized that colors were becoming words. Art was helping me process experiences, emotions, and stress in a way that felt natural.
That realization eventually led me to ask a simple question: If creativity could help me, could it help other first responders too?
Around 2020, while preparing artwork for an exhibit at the International Museum of Art, that question continued to grow. The sense of calm, focus, and accomplishment I found through acrylic pouring was something I wanted others to experience as well.
That question became the foundation of Stress Relief Through Arts.
The program was never intended to be therapy or counseling. Instead, it was designed to provide a safe, positive space where first responders could create, reflect, and reconnect without pressure or judgment.
Watching participants see their artwork for the first time and witnessing the pride on their faces remains one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. In many ways, it reminds me of the lessons art taught me years ago.
If there is one thing I hope readers take away from my story, it is this: creativity is not reserved for artists. Whether it's drawing, painting, singing, dancing, writing, photography, or any other form of creative expression, creativity can be a powerful way to reconnect with yourself. Not every thought, feeling, or experience can be explained with words. Sometimes, it can be expressed through color. For me, that realization changed my life. After twenty-six years of serving others, it may be one of the most valuable lessons I have learned.
Thank you, Joanna, for sharing your experience with us. Next month, Joanna shares the program her story inspired and what it looks like to care for yourself between “I’m fine” and burnout. STAY TUNED!
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