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Comment by Capt./Chaplain Mike Petrosky on January 26, 2010 at 4:18pm

Christian-having identified that you may have PTSD and asking others about it is a good start. Learn as much as possible about it and find a support network that will help you. Remember that this is sometimes going to be hard to understand and deal with, but you can work through the tough times. I do have to disagree that everyone goes through "it". We all go through stress, but we don't all develop PTSD. Get a second opinion if you're not sure, and talk with your local CISM team members, they could be a good outlet and support network too. Trust that God will help you and see you through. I wish you well.

Comment by Joey "BigShow" De Piano on January 23, 2010 at 10:47am

Hey we all go through it and we all deal with it on various levels, as the saying goes we joke about it as a way to deal with it when inside we might be torn up..anyway, you have options here see more docs..but no pill in the world will make the images that haunt you go away you either bury them (which in some if you see enough of it they fade into subconciease) or you take a desk position and see it no more..you can take a walk on a beach no one around and clear your head talk to friends ..stranger it comes down to what works for you..my gut and this is my view don't over read to much into it, drs. get paid to fill you a rx and most times the meds give you a worse side effect then the original cure..you have to deal with it some way or depression can set in..don't be that person..this is what we do be it police ..ems ..fire ,..military and no one (if they did they are fools) told us we wouldn't eal and see horrors..its a fact of life one we chose to be in the game for compared to watching from the yellow taped sidelines

Comment by Shannon H. Pennington on January 22, 2010 at 4:32pm

Hi Chrisitan.....about the ptsd thing....what to do...well education is the key...also if you have been diagnosed then check in with west coast post trauma retreat out of san francisco...they are awesome...also listed on the north american fire fighter veterans website...at firefighterveteran.com.....lots o information about ptsd....Now...you do not say what type you have...ie type one type two or type three....i suspect your in the type one catagory and the initial stage ie gone through the a.s.d. or acute stress stage and been looked at post trigger event....say 30 or 35 days after your initial trigger....so...your in the one to six month stage. You can take cbt and emdr and then be re tested after six months...lots to get up to speed on but education about what it is is the key...your reacting to abonormal events with normal human reactions...so...lets see if you can reset. Testing with the mmpi for firefighters and the Beck Stress anxiety test along with emdr and cbt intervention once a week over 12 to 15 sessions and then a retest.....anyway...look at the web site for firefighter veterans with ptsd also key in the following on google search: shannon pennington ptsd
Your going to find between seven and ten pages of information written on the subject by myself. Here are some phrases to help: H.O.T. meaning hazardous overload of thoughts.....W.E.T. meaning wasted emotional thoughts....A.I.R. meaning accept individual responsability for your outcome....H.E.A.T. meaning heavy emotional after thoughts. Take this very seriously...it can kill you....See if your dept will pay for visit to west coast post trauma...they can take you and help you directly......email me if you want more on this after you look at the web site.....take care....shannon pennington ptsd firefighterveteran 26 year career firefighter IAFF
F.I.R.S.T. S.T.E.P. H.O.P.E.
care for lthe caregivers

Comment by Oldman on January 22, 2010 at 2:33pm

"I have no idea what to do for it"

You've already started the process and maybe didn't realize it. Go back to when you were a toddler learning to walk. You tried to take two or three steps at a time and fell on your division C. You finally learned to walk by taking one step at a time. It is the same with dealing with PTSD.

"So I spoke with a department psychologist"

Step 1:Apparently you or maybe someone else thought there might be a problem.
Step 2: You spoke with a professional. Continue this step as often as needed.
Step 3: (This by the way is a giant step.) You are talking (blogging) about it and in public. etc. etc.

This is a very simplistic view of how to handle this, and is not intended to make light of a serious disorder. This can ruin your life, both family and career if it is ignored. Understand that you will have good days and bad days, but as long as you maintain an open and positive mindset, and take it one step at a time, you can and will overcome it.

Comment by Mark Klaene on January 22, 2010 at 1:21pm

First off, yes take it seriously, Second trust your department psychologist. You are not alone the bravest of the brave, the strongest of strong can suffer from PTSD. Why ? Because they care.

As a CDF member you no doubt have seen a lot of big fire and major destruction. You also likely had the feeling of helplessness because there was nothing you could do about it. That is normal. Suffering from PTSD is part of caring and often times feeling like you were not helping. Well you are helping because you are there, and we should care about what we do.

I don't have the answers for you but I am sure the department psychologist will. Don't feel a shame or think less of yourself because of it..


Stay strong and hang in there. It gets better