Battalion Chief City of Goose Creek FD, SC North Charleston, South Carolina
Steve will share his story of how he has gone beyond his PTSD diagnosis to PTG (Post Traumatic Growth) with the help of therapy, medication, and becoming a peer counselor. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a silent injury that is still not discussed as openly as it should be. Steve offers his story with others hoping they realize that there is no longer a stigma with being in pain. Gone are the days of "suck it up kid" and "we don't talk about that stuff". Talking helps empty "the box" of stored up trauma and images before it can overflow and affect you and your home life. This is not a scientific study or research but Steve’s deeply personal story and how he has "Survived the Job".
Learning Objectives:
Allow members of the first responder community to understand that what we do is not always pleasant.
Allow audience members to realize that they may be struggling with the built up trauma seen throughout their career.
Understand it is not too late to get help and offer avenues available to get help.