First Responders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic mental health disorder that can cause immense distress for someone that has experienced trauma. Symptoms can vary and can range from mild to severe, even possibly debilitating.1 Certain groups, such as Veterans, are more likely to suffer from PTSD, though the condition can affect anybody who experienced a […]
Our addictions are funny things; that which is killing us is actually what saved our lives. If the things we do did not make us feel better, we would not be addicted to them. We are self medicating a misunderstood disease. There are no guidelines, no doctor’s orders, no warning signs or contraindications, just us […]
People talk about suicide, and how first responders are particularly vulnerable. They talk about PTSD, and peer counseling, and the importance of mental health. They talk about how to avoid the pitfalls that so many of us get tangled up in – things like isolation, compartmentalizing, denial, poor eating and sleeping habits and depression. Substance […]
They say that addiction is not a disease. I say take a little look inside my noggin. I was truly insane. And it kept getting worse. I do not have a lot of empty space in my head. It is full of stuff. Good stuff. Fun and useful stuff. Stuff I need to get the […]
Funny how finding sobriety after a long and very active illness cleared up so much. Not only do I feel better and think more clearly, but I also look better, my eyes are not as sensitive, my nose has lost the redness and bumps that worried me so much, and I have a lot more […]
I used to think that people beyond my close circle were really paying attention to my “epic” struggle to quit drinking. In my alcohol-fueled self-importance, I imagined that my mere existence was a major concern for everyone. The truth was, my drinking habits were as unimportant to my acquaintances as theirs were to me. Fortunately, […]
The sense of freedom gained from stating that sentence in public is a better high than every substance designed to avoid living ever was, or ever will be. Had I not said those words, my life would be far different from the one I enjoy today. Looking back over the events that led to my […]
Being a firefighter comes with a ton of tremendous rewards. The brotherhood we share is unparalleled in any other profession. We sacrifice our time, family, personal relationships and family to be part of the fire service. I know for myself, not being an active Captain anymore, I’m still completely involved in the fire service in […]
