10 years of being a firefighter and emt. 10 years of volunteering my life for free has finally taken a toll. I finally went to see a doctor. I have it no doubt about it. Before I got married I lived In my firehouse for 4 years, responded to ever call, slept a couple hours a night. I was averaging 500 calls a year. Mostly medical calls. I gave my guns away a few years ago when I realized I had some issues being depressed.
The last week I couldn’t get a particular call out of my head. It was a particularly bad one with a pediatric death. Call happened years ago. I can’t shake it. I can’t loose the images. I’m a poster child for it.

I’m not suicidal. I’m seeing a doc. Honestly I just needed to put a face to the disease. It took me forever to realize it. I’m not taking meds but working through it with the doc.

Good luck and thank you! Though I've been a life-long soldier, thankfully, it is not something I have had to deal with personally.

All the training I have gotten on it says that it is short-term and treatable. (Or perhaps more correctly put; short-term if treated).

This is a problem in the military because it is also a label (that can be sometimes worn as a badge of "been there done that") and a permanent disability rating...

I wish you the best of luck, we need you around.

Check out some of these articles for treating PTSD with nutritional supplements:

http://www.lifeextension.com/S...category=[Magazines]

Short term and treatable, never forget that. Best of luck.

Yup, as a fellow FF and LEO for my Department it can take a toll. Email in profile if you want to chat off line. Prayers sent.

Wanted to say thanks for everything you've done too help people. Get well...

Been in EMS/Fire/Rescue since 2000. Similar story of eating/breathing it for years. I became severely burned out. Finally took myself off the truck last year, probably for good. The law enforcement side doesn’t affect me in the same way, oddly.

Shift your focus on yourself and your family. Hobbies and physical activity. Remember what really matters, and what is going to still be there should you ever leave the job.

I don’t have any PTSD advice specially. You’re doing the right thing though.

The stuff can hang with you. My first decade as a FF Medic was all gung ho. The second one, not so much but still a little rah-rah. The third decade I was burned out like you wouldn't believe.
I used to have dreams of calls when I was working, now retired, I haven't had one. Odd, I thought that crap would come around to say hi once in a while. Glad it hasn't.

You're doing what needs to be done. Follow through and keep going.

It’s definitely hard to shake. I have nightmares occasionally and remember bad calls. That life as a paramedic was over close to eight years ago. There are probably a half dozen calls I doubt I’ll ever forget, they just seem to get “further away” the more time goes by... if that makes any sense. Hang in there and stick with the counseling. Best of luck.

Simply, what Excam Man said. Thank you brother and get well.

I stumbled across this while researching another topic. Might be worth reading.

http://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal.

quote:

Originally posted by JimmyRayBob:
I stumbled across this while researching another topic. Might be worth reading.

http://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal.

I am a personal success story of EMDR. Be sure whomever you go to has a history of success and is certified.

I have calls that I remember but not to the point that I can’t deal with them to the back only for them to resurface once in a while. As long as you are getting some help with them you are on the right track. The pediatrics are always harder to deal with. It’s learning how to deal with the memories talking about them and knowing you are not the only one feeling as you do.

I took a week long homicide class with Vernon Gabreth a NYC homicide investigator. It was a roller coaster ride the entire week showing us different death scenes some of them were taped. He was preparing us for what we would see so we didn’t lock up at the scenes when we were needed. Also how to deal with the aftermath. I felt spent but well informed at the end of the week.

My thanks to you and all firefighters. I’ve been an EMT and didn’t care for it and I’ve done industrial firefighting and did not like that either. Those are jobs I can’t do and I’m grateful for people like you. I’m sure with treatment you will get through this.

Recognizing the problem and seeking help is the best thing you could have done. I remember many of the Vietnam era vets telling me what we deal with on the streets was much worse than war was for them. And several of them had been wounded in battle! We see and deal with what the normal person will never have to. It can get better and you are to be commended for your efforts. Any way I can assist don't hesitate to contact me. Been there and done that myself. Remember in most of your calls you made a positive difference. We tend to only remember the bad and surreal. I think it's just a natural way of Human coping to better their performance for the next time. But we just see and feel way too much. And it is accumulative.

You’re a good man for doing the job and realizing that you need help. I sincerely wish you the best and hope that you make huge progress. Keep up the good fight.

THANK YOU for all that you do. Don't ever forget we care about you and respect you. You will get better. This time of year especially, is hard for people fighting depression.

Another word of thanks, and wishing all the best for you.

My wife is a therapist, mental health type, and I understand just how tough some of these things can be.

Brother thanks for getting help. I’ve been in the fire/ems field for 10 years and have lost a few friends to PTSD. I wish they had gotten help. If I can help at all please contact me my email is in my profile.

Glad to hear you are working with a doc. I'm a retired Florida LEO who still works with those impacted by PTS/PTSD related to law enforcement, ems, and fire calls. If you like, message me and I can reach out to and put you in touch with peer to peer services available in your area.