The Firefighter Deconstructed

Christy Warren
  • 4.9 (110)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Firefighter Deconstructed

Christy Warren, PTSD Survivor and retired fire captain, digs into how the job can affect our mental and emotional health, the ensuing physical symptoms, and how to deal with it. Whether you’re just feeling crappy or have full-blown PTSD, or if you want to know the signs and how to help a brother or sister, we'll talk about it here. A part of Mental Health News Radio Network.

  1. ATF/NYPD ret Peter Forcelli - Don't Wait to Ask For Help

    JUL 17

    ATF/NYPD ret Peter Forcelli - Don't Wait to Ask For Help

    This is an awesome episode! This guy has done so much and has gone through so much. 9/11 left him with PTSD and he faced the ultimate departmental betrayal. Despite everything he has gone through, he has made it to the other side with his family intact, his heart full, and the ability to see all the good that exists. This week's guest is Peter J. Forcelli is a retired Deputy Assistant Director from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Prior to joining ATF he served for 15 years with the N.Y.P.D. He is a survivor of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the World Trade Center, and the lung cancer that he later developed because of his work in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero. He wrote a book called The Deadly Path: How Operation Fast & Furious and Bad Lawyers Armed Mexican Cartels peterjforcelli.com POPPA (Police Organization Providing Peer Assistance) NYPD Copline  1-800-COPLINE

    53 min
  2. Gary Hayes, ret. United Kingdom Police Officer, a Roughy Toughy Bloke with PTSD

    APR 19

    Gary Hayes, ret. United Kingdom Police Officer, a Roughy Toughy Bloke with PTSD

    Gary Hayes comes to us all the way from the United Kingdom! He is the Co-Founder of PTSD999, a charity organization that raises money to provide therapy and services for first responders. They also provide training to help educate and spread the word that PTSD is real and can affect anyone. He is a former police officer and constable in London, United Kingdom and he was a member of the 3rd Battalion Royal Green Jackets. He was a semi-pro football player. After spending most of his life being a “roughy toughy bloke”, the years of trauma began to add up and brought him within inches of taking his own life. Now he shares his story with his fellow officers and first responders and works his butt off to help those who are struggling. Gary is an amazing man who you don’t want to miss.  PTSD999 Gary Hayes on LinkedIn Gary Hayes on IG

    51 min
  3. Nicki Impastato - The First Responder Life Total Package

    MAR 3

    Nicki Impastato - The First Responder Life Total Package

    This episode is with the amazing Nicki Impastato! Nicki and I sit down and talk about her life working as a dispatcher while raising two kids with her Battalion Chief husband. And then we talk about doing all this while struggling with PTSD. Nicki also worked in a system that didn’t know what to do with her when she started struggling. She says, “There was something seriously wrong with me, and they knew about it, and nobody took care of me.” We so often depend on those around us to point out that we are struggling because sometimes we cannot see what is going on around us when we are just trying to survive. Nicki also talks about finding a life and purpose after a long career as a dispatcher. One place she landed was in an equine therapy program called Zenerosity and she became an equine specialist. This woman is truly amazing - I promise you will feel better about everything after listening to her. nickii@me.com Zenerosity Equine Therapy Christy's article about Equine Therapy at Zenerosity Christy's Website and Link to book Flash Point: A Firefighter's Journey Through PTSD

    1 hr
  4. FF Egan de los Colbos: How PTSD can manifest into physical illness

    FEB 8

    FF Egan de los Colbos: How PTSD can manifest into physical illness

    Veteran firefighter Egan DeLosCobos sits down with the firefighter deconstructed and talks about how the body holds on to stress and what happens to our bodies if we don’t deal with it. Egan and his 3 year old son somehow survived a crazy car accident and although they both walked away with only a few bumps and bruises, the stress of it all ended up attacking Egan’s body. After going round and round with doctors, he finally learned that the key to becoming healthy again was to deal with his PTSD. Using everything he’s learned, he is now a wellness coach making incredible impacts in people’s lives. @eganfirstwellness (Instagram) www.firstwellnesshealth.com (Website) @EganFirstWellnessHealthCoach (YouTube)

    1h 16m
  5. Former Firefighter James Geering Now Fights For Your Wellbeing

    JAN 1

    Former Firefighter James Geering Now Fights For Your Wellbeing

    Pirate to stuntman to paramedic/firefighter to podcaster and back to stuntman. He’s traveled and worked around the world. He saw the fire culture's damaging effects on its members and that with becoming a single parent, he decided to choose his son over finishing his career. I find this very brave as so many of us say we would choose our family/kids over anything in the world, being a firefighter fulfills a deep need we have that the fear of leaving the job is too overwhelming. I remember wondering who in the hell leaves this job by choice? It’s almost like I didn’t even know that was possible. James shows what a firefighter who grew up learning good coping skills looks like versus those of us who grew up just trying to survive as a kid and are still currently using coping mechanisms that just don’t serve us anymore as adults. We talk about sleep deprivation, and what the fire service needs to do to make us healthier and have better longevity on the job. jamesgeering.com Behind The Shield Podcast One More Light By James Geering

    1h 11m
  6. Olivia & Josh: Putting Their Marriage and Lives Back Together

    12/20/2023

    Olivia & Josh: Putting Their Marriage and Lives Back Together

    Josh and Olivia sit back down with the Firefighter Deconstructed and talk about having to put their marriage and their lives back together for the second time and why they are so much stronger because of it. This episode embodies how marriage really is about two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other. The insights they share are inspiring and applicable to everyone's lives and relationships. Below are links to each of their previous episodes on this show and tell the back story of this episode. I HIGHLY recommend listening to these episodes also. But you don't need to understand this episode. Josh first episode Olivia first episode Front Line Strong Together - First responder 24/7 Crisis line

    56 min
  7. Vol FF Rob Weisberg Hikes the Appalachian Trail for PTSD and His Unique 9/11 Story

    11/14/2023

    Vol FF Rob Weisberg Hikes the Appalachian Trail for PTSD and His Unique 9/11 Story

    Rob Weisberg is a volunteer firefighter in the state of NY. He happened to work across the street from the World Trade Center. When the Towers were hit, he made his way to a nearby fire station and offered his help. He ended up managing a fire station packed full of the injured and lost. Rob developed PTSD and after realizing how much his, “…family took it on the chin,” he decided to do something about it. He took on a mission of hiking the Appalachian Trail by himself. Rob shares with us his incredible “behind the scenes” story at 9/11 and his own personal aftermath. He also tells his incredibly and healing journey on the Appalachian trail. This one is a must listen, all the way to the end. And after, check out his incredible pictures of this journey on his facebook page listed below. www.facebook.com/RobWeisbergAppalachianTrailHike rgw164@outlook.com pawsofwar.org

    1h 30m
  8. Kerrie Murphy - Suicide Survivor

    10/30/2023

    Kerrie Murphy - Suicide Survivor

    Kyle, a firefighter with 11 years of service, is no longer on this planet because he was tormented by PTSD and had learned that it’s not ok to ask for help. Our guest, Kerrie Murphy, bravely shares her story of losing her younger brother Kyle. The ramifications of suicide are devastating to those left behind. In this episode you will learn the world is NOT better off with you gone. We must learn it is Okay to ask for help!!!! This story is heartbreaking but so much hope and life come from Kerrie’s story.

    57 min
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4.9
out of 5
110 Ratings

About

Christy Warren, PTSD Survivor and retired fire captain, digs into how the job can affect our mental and emotional health, the ensuing physical symptoms, and how to deal with it. Whether you’re just feeling crappy or have full-blown PTSD, or if you want to know the signs and how to help a brother or sister, we'll talk about it here. A part of Mental Health News Radio Network.

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