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#019 Steve Orr: Warning Lights on the Dashboard: When Your Job Is Killing You
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"The greatest job in the world is actually destroying me." These powerful words capture the hidden struggle many first responders face behind their heroic image. In this raw, vulnerable conversation, former firefighter/paramedic Steve Orr bravely shares his 22-year journey through the fire service and the toll it took on his mental health.
Steve opens up about the gradual onset of compassion fatigue and PTSD – how his nervous system became so dysregulated that even putting his son in pajamas felt like an emergency. He describes the warning signs he initially missed: uncharacteristic angry outbursts with patients, bringing rigid firehouse standards home, and emotional withdrawal from his family. With remarkable candor, Steve reveals how he contemplated suicide, sharing that his son became his primary reason to stay alive.
What makes this conversation truly valuable is Steve's insight into the cultural barriers preventing first responders from seeking help. The shame associated with mental health struggles, the pressure to maintain the "hero" image, and the fear of career consequences all contribute to a dangerous silence. Having lost his father and two colleagues to suicide, Steve speaks with authority about why breaking this silence matters.
The episode takes a hopeful turn as Steve details his healing journey through various therapy modalities, nervous system regulation practices, and lifestyle changes. His ability to enjoy live music again after years of avoidance stands as a powerful marker of his recovery. Now working as a community risk reduction specialist, Steve has transformed his painful experiences into a mission to help others.
Whether you're a first responder, love someone who is, or simply care about mental health advocacy, this conversation offers profound insights into trauma, healing, and the courage it takes to ask for help. Steve's parting message resonates deeply: "It's okay to not be okay. Help is available, and you're not alone."
🔥Let's Be Friends
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By Ashlea DillardSend us a text
"The greatest job in the world is actually destroying me." These powerful words capture the hidden struggle many first responders face behind their heroic image. In this raw, vulnerable conversation, former firefighter/paramedic Steve Orr bravely shares his 22-year journey through the fire service and the toll it took on his mental health.
Steve opens up about the gradual onset of compassion fatigue and PTSD – how his nervous system became so dysregulated that even putting his son in pajamas felt like an emergency. He describes the warning signs he initially missed: uncharacteristic angry outbursts with patients, bringing rigid firehouse standards home, and emotional withdrawal from his family. With remarkable candor, Steve reveals how he contemplated suicide, sharing that his son became his primary reason to stay alive.
What makes this conversation truly valuable is Steve's insight into the cultural barriers preventing first responders from seeking help. The shame associated with mental health struggles, the pressure to maintain the "hero" image, and the fear of career consequences all contribute to a dangerous silence. Having lost his father and two colleagues to suicide, Steve speaks with authority about why breaking this silence matters.
The episode takes a hopeful turn as Steve details his healing journey through various therapy modalities, nervous system regulation practices, and lifestyle changes. His ability to enjoy live music again after years of avoidance stands as a powerful marker of his recovery. Now working as a community risk reduction specialist, Steve has transformed his painful experiences into a mission to help others.
Whether you're a first responder, love someone who is, or simply care about mental health advocacy, this conversation offers profound insights into trauma, healing, and the courage it takes to ask for help. Steve's parting message resonates deeply: "It's okay to not be okay. Help is available, and you're not alone."
🔥Let's Be Friends
https://www.facebook.com/share/1EjJ6tMtyk/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.instagram.com/sitaroundthefire.co?igsh=MTN2OTljNTNqYjJwaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
https://www.tiktok.com/@sitaroundthefire.co?_t=ZP-8zNMiGL9hl8&_r=1