Flash Point: A Firefighter’s Journey Through PTSD | Christy Warren

James Miller | LIFEOLOGY® Radio
James Miller | LIFEOLOGY® Radio
James Miller | LIFEOLOGY®

Where you simplify and transform your spirit, mind, and body

Thank you so much for listening to LIFEOLOGY®. I would love to connect with you. Be sure to follow me on all social media platforms under the name JamesMillerLIFEOLOGY®. I am very active on Instagram and create mini videos with quick tips and tools that you can immediately implement. Be sure to say hello and follow me there.

Watch the video interview with James and Christy.

https://youtu.be/D3-YC9spFlo

Listen to the audio version of this interview.

For twenty-five years, paramedic and firefighter Christy Warren put each tragic, traumatizing call she responded to in a box and closed the lid. One day, however, the box got too full and the lid blew open—and she found herself unable to close it again. Her brain locked her inside a movie theater in which film after film of gut-wrenching scenes from her career played over and over again; she found herself incapable of forgiving herself for what happened at one call in particular. Caught in a loop of shame, anger, irritability, and hypervigilance—classic signs of PTSD—she began to spiral, even to the point of considering suicide, and yet still she was reluctant to seek help.

In the end, it took almost losing her marriage to force Christy into action—but once she began to reach out, she found a whole army of folks waiting and ready to help her. The team of people supporting her eventually grew to include an EMDR therapist, a psychiatrist, her peers at a trauma retreat, and a lawyer who made the case for medical retirement and worker’s compensation. Along the way, Christy learned the vital truths that made it possible to keep going even in her darkest moments—that post-traumatic stress was literally a brain injury; that suicide and alcohol were not the only ways out; that asking for help was a sign of strength, not weakness; and that although it was ultimately up to her to do the work to change the dialogue in her head, she was not alone.

Christy Warren is a retired fire captain from the Berkeley Fire Department in California. She has twenty-five years of service as a professional paramedic and eighteen years as a professional firefighter/paramedic. After being diagnosed with PTSD in 2014, she retired from the fire service; since then, she has become a triathlete, completed the Escape from Alcatraz swim five times, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Washington State University. She volunteers as a Peer at the West Coast Post-trauma Retreat and hosts the podcast The Firefighter Deconstructed. 

In today’s episode, James and Christy talk about her book Flashpoint: A Firefighter’s Journey through PTSD, which chronicles her career and recovery from PTSD. It gives hope and a purpose for first responders and their families who struggle with PTSD.

For more information about Christy visit ChristyEWarren.com.

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christy.warren.10
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christyewarren/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-warren-17a978186/

Tags

#PTSD #firefighters #firstresponders #lawenforcement #paramedics #dispatchers #resilency #mentalhealth #recovery #suicideprevention

You may purchase this book on Amazon.


James’ new book, LIFE LESSONS: You are the Expert on Your Life | A Workbook is your new “go-to” self-help book, especially, if you are struggling at the moment. Purchase it on Amazon today.


We all get overwhelmed and sometimes don’t know what to do. LIFE LESSONS is your new “go-to” book to help you navigate life.  

LIFE LESSONS was written to help you focus on what already works for you – to be an immediate resource. You can turn to any chapter for specific guidance when you need it or read it front to back. It’s designed to pinpoint relevant past responses to help you overcome current struggles. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel and try to come up with something new. You are already the expert in your life. 

If you are tired of struggling to know what to do when “life” happens, want to break the cycle of repeating the same unhealthy patterns, as well as give you practical tools and techniques to focus on what matters the most to you, then LIFE LESSONS: You are the Expert on Your Life | A Workbook is a must-read.


red heifer media

Are you an emerging persona or a global organization that isn’t getting recognition from the press? 

Red Heifer Media is a boutique full-service public relations agency. We specialize in tech, health & wellness, real estate, and non-profits from coast to coast.

We are dynamic, and creative, and have a comprehensive knowledge of your industry. There isn’t a magic formula to elevate your brand’s goals, so we harness the power of multimedia, publicity, and events to develop a powerful narrative, amplify your voice, and connect you with your community. Whether you are an emerging persona or a global organization, we have an industry-leading solution tailored for you!

Take your first step and visit redheifermedia.com.


Don’t miss anything happening at James Miller | LIFEOLOGY®. Sign up for the free Weekly Recap. You may also subscribe to this radio show here.

If you’d like to become a guest or a show sponsor please visit JamesMillerLIFEOLOGY.com for more information.