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Firefighters, Cops, Medics
Hi Doctor and people on the forum, I am a Fire Captain and I have been recently diagnosed with GAD. I started experiencing symptoms about 6-8 months ago. I have been working in the fire service since I was 18, and nothing from the job ever got to me. Recently, while talking to a co-worker, I found out he was diagnosed with a mild case of GAD and he also said he knew of one other firefighter on our department that had it as well.
My question: Is this more common in the emergency services field than I think. Certainly no one ever talks about it. In your practice, have you heard of this before? Are there any others on this forum that work as emergency responders?
Any Feedback would be great.
MMG
Answer:
Firefighters, Cops, Medics
Hi MMG,
Its probably more prevalent than you think for the reason you stated, no one ever talks about it. I think a lot of it is the machismo culture surrounding those jobs that makes it difficult for people to admit they have a problem or they're afraid that their work "getting to them" is a sign of weakness or that they can't do the job. But its a perfectly normal response when you're around trauma and tragedy all day to have anxiety and similar problems, and its not at all a sign of a personal shortcoming. If anything, realizing you feel this way will make it easier for you get help and to react healthfully to your feelings. Since you're discovering that many of your colleagues are dealing with the same thing, it may be helpful to speak to them about your feelings. Many agencies provide counseling services for this type of thing, so it may be a good idea to look into what's available. Good luck with this and let us know how things are going.