Fire & EMS Leader Pro The job of old firefighters is to teach young firefighters how to become old firefighters!
By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer
Some of my best inspiration for writing blogs comes from reader comments here and on my other social media
platforms. Today, that inspiration comes from two of my fire service colleagues, Assistant Chief Linda Green and former military man and now a management consultant, Adrian Clarke. Chief Green works for Cal Fire and Adrian is a friend and colleague from “across the pond” in the UK.
The other day, I shared an article from FireRescue1.com, 5 Signs Your Spouse has PTSD, over on LinkedIn. Here’s Linda’s comments:
I think if my husband had read that article last year, he would have dragged me off to the therapist, if I hadn’t already been seeing one. I was 5 for 5 on that [list from the article] when I was in the depth of my PTSD last fall.
It can be caused by cumulative stress, a single incident, or some combination of the two. My single event, on top of a 32-year career, planted the seed for my delayed onset PTSD. I sought help early because of my insomnia, but that didn’t stop the progression.
If you’re suffering, ask for help. Build your support team, because it takes a team to carry you through. You cannot do this alone.
And now, from Adrian:
See why I’m inspired? And thus, the title of this post. One of the things we all must do if we are to become more 
successful in combating PTSD is to understand it better. To become better at recognizing it in ourselves and in those we work with or live with.
I truly believe that if we can get better at that, and better at talking about PTSD, we can remove the stigma surrounding PTSD, and other afflictions that strike firefighters and EMS personnel. Afflictions like alcohol and substance abuse which all too frequently are the “self-medications of choice” for those who are suffering.
