In this episode of the Burnout podcast, Richard Gallegos shares his journey from being a paramedic to becoming a mental health advocate. He discusses his struggles with addiction, the turning point that led him to seek help, and the therapeutic conversations he had while working at the IAFF Center of Excellence. Richard also talks about his book 'Recovery Run', his motivation for ultra running, and his new business, Rescue and Recovered. He emphasizes the importance of addressing stigma in mental health and encourages those struggling to seek help and speak up.

Takeaways

• Richard Gallegos is a veteran ultra marathoner and mental health advocate.
• He struggled with PTSD, depression, and addiction during his EMS career.
• The turning point for Richard was the threat of losing his family.
• He emphasizes the importance of supportive relationships in recovery.
• Richard's book 'Recovery Run' details his journey and the struggles of EMS workers.
• Ultra running became a metaphor for perseverance and overcoming obstacles.
• He started a business called Rescue and Recovered, focusing on auto detailing.
• Richard aims to combine his passions for ultra running and mental health advocacy.
• Stigma in the EMS field is a significant barrier to seeking help.
• Richard encourages open conversations about mental health and finding trusted individuals to talk to.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Richard Gallegos
01:02 Richard's Journey in EMS and Mental Health
06:22 The Turning Point: Acknowledging Addiction
10:48 Therapeutic Conversations: Helping Others
11:42 Writing 'Recovery Run': A Personal Journey
15:05 The Motivation Behind Ultra Running
19:47 Starting a New Business: Rescue and Recovered
22:08 Combining Passions: Ultra Running and Mental Health Advocacy
24:04 Confronting Stigma in Mental Health
28:40 Finding Help: Encouragement for Those Struggling




PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PODCAST BY TAKING A LOOK AT OUR SPONSORS

• Throttle & Thrive First Responder Addiction Recovery: https://throttleandthrive.com/
• AdvoCast: https://advocast.media

PODCAST WEBSITE:

• https://burntoutpodcast.org

BURNT OUT CREW:

• Host: Skip O
• Mental Health Minute: Melissa H
• Sunday Support Zoom Meeting Facilitator: Jeff D
• Bonus Episode Host: Capt. Chuck Bray
• Executive Producer: Shawn P Neal
• Brought to you by AdvoCast

EPISODE HASHTAGS:
#firefighter #firstresponder #ems #emt #police #lawenforcement #military #trauma #mentalhealth #USMC #military