Episode #136: A Firefighter's Journey! Featuring David Hollenbach
“In the macho environment of the fire service, I learned very early on in my career that you just don't talk about how you're feeling. That's not part of the job. Your job is to go and help people and you don't have time to experience those emotions.”
David Hollenbach
Retired Battalion Chief | Speaker | Author
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Trauma is the response to something – usually an event that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. We all experience and respond to it in different ways and unresloved trauma can cause feelings of distress, fear, helplessness and loss of control.
The good news is that there are very effective ways to cope with and treat the stressful effects of trauma. Leaning on your loved ones for support if you feel like you might talk to them about your experience and your feelings.
Facing your feelings is a good approach. While it’s normal to want to avoid thinking about a traumatic event. Things like isolating yourself from others, avoidance or substance abuse are temporary escapes and not the healthiest way to cope, so you ultimately have to face your feelings and their impacts.
Prioritize self-care and take care of yourself by eating properly, getting proper rest and incorporate physical activity into your regiment.
Be patient. Remember that it’s normal to have a strong reaction to a distressing event. Take things one day at a time as you recover.
“The University of Central Florida put together a program for firefighters and law enforcement officers and really what they did was adapt a program that was developed for combat veterans that were struggling with PTSD. They made that program available to firefighters and first responders because they were seeing like, hey, you know, this isn't far off from the experiences of a combat veteran that was involved in a firefight.”
Battalion Chief David Hollenbach (retired) is the author of “Fireproof: Your Grand Strategy for Transforming Failure into Fuel for Your Future.” He is an international best-selling author, professional speaker and member of the National Speakers Association. Additionally, David is a John Maxwell certified speaker, coach, teacher, and DISC Method Trainer. He owns and operates David Hollenbach Consulting, LLC, and hosts the popular podcast “From Embers to Excellence.”
David is a guest on The Audacious Living Podcast to share insights from the perspective of a firefighter and some of the traumatic experiences they face on a regular basis, learning how to become fireproof to overcome life’s challenges and his personal struggles with PTSD and some of the pitfalls of not addressing issues early on.
David Hollenbach is up next on The Audacious Living Podcast!
#Firefighters #Trauma #Stress #PTSD#Leadership #Experiences #Successful #Motivational #BestLifeEver #AudaciousLiving #BeAudacious
