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All The Wiser

94. The Silent Mental Health Battle of First Responders

All The Wiser

Kimi Culp

Society & Culture, Education, Health & Fitness, Self-improvement

4.9652 Ratings

🗓️ 17 January 2024

⏱️ 73 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Matthew Fiorenza, a former firefighter and paramedic turned mental health advocate shares how the traumas encountered on the job silently chipped away at his mental health. He bravely battled through the depths of depression, PTSD, suicidal ideation, traumatic brain injury, and substance abuse. We discuss the pivotal moments that ultimately led him to seek help and the healing modalities that made all the difference, including a promising new treatment: the stellate ganglion block. Other life-saving practices include meditation, the Save a Warrior program, and his profound spiritual connections. Matty's story serves as a beacon of hope for first responders facing similar battles and the importance of addressing mental health in high-stress professions. 


In this episode:

  • The impact of distressing calls on mental health.
  • The lack of behavioral health support for first responders.
  • The struggle with alcoholism and the discovery of transformative meditation.
  • Attending the Save a Warrior program and its life-changing effects.
  • Matty’s advocacy work and teaching his practice to others.
  • The positive impact of accountability, peer support and “karma butterflies”.


Links & Resources:

PTSD911 Movie:

http://www.ptsd911movie.com/ 


PTSD911 on Amazon Prime Video


National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Charity: www.nextrung.org


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Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:58.8

You know, a car fire is like, we get them all the time, and it's like, you hope that there's

1:02.9

no one in there, you know, but sometimes there are. And it was just my first experience

1:08.2

with what burnt, you know, human beings look like.

1:13.2

Maddie Fiorenza spent 22 years as a firefighter, paramedic in Southern California.

1:20.0

I wanted to feel my feelings, but at the same time, there's the stigma around, you know,

1:27.1

and the shame around not being able to, quote, unquote, handle it.

1:30.8

He became drawn to the profession when at 19, he was invited to a barbecue at a local firehouse.

1:38.3

He saw firsthand the warm, good-natured, and close camaraderie between the firefighters.

1:45.4

And he imagined himself fitting right in.

1:48.7

It was a great job, and there were good benefits, and, you know, I could get paid to help people.

1:53.8

But over the years, the traumas he encountered on the job slowly chipped away at his mental health.

2:04.9

Depression, PTSD, a traumatic brain injury,

2:14.4

substance abuse, a suicide attempt. Support was scarce. Programs virtually non-existent.

...

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