my story
By Brandon Klein
Editor’s Note: “My Story” is a first-person column OR a Q&A feature of a New Albany community member that centers on health. Have a story to share? Email bklein@cityscenemediagroup.com. Submissions should be no more than 1,000 words.
Coping with Trauma Firefighter overcomes mental health struggles
HNA: Which mental health disorders did you struggle with? SS: I was diagnosed with anxiety, depression – the big ones – and diagnosed with PTSD and suicidal ideations. I was getting to that point where you’ve got to deal with everything. If we were going to get into the substance stuff at all, I don’t know if you want to call it self-diagnosis or whatever, but I was a functioning alcoholic. I look at the substance stuff as more of a coping mechanism for me, trying to get over the mental health issues.
Photos courtesy of Shawn Stauffer
S
hawn Stauffer is a Plain Township firefighter. He shared his struggles with mental illnesses with Healthy New Albany. He’s now a mental health advocate for first responders. This interview was edited for clarity and space. Heathy New Albany: What made you interested in being a firefighter? Shawn Stauffer: The service kind of runs in my family. We have a few in the military, a few in the fire service. I’ve always just Shawn Stauffer kind of been around that. Right when I got out of high school, I got talked into going to college for a year, even though I wanted to go to fire school instead, but I went through regular schooling and it was kind of like, what am I doing here? You know, taking English, chemistry, stuff like that. And I (had) taken the Columbus fire civil service test, (and) I was kind of waiting on that (to) see what happened there. (I) was going to school but then, like I said, I decided to just go on my own through schooling because I knew that’s what I (wanted) to do. I’m a guy where I like that, it’s not the same thing every day. I’m always on the move, which is exactly what this job is. HNA: Did you struggle with mental health before becoming a firefighter? SS: Over the course of time, getting older and getting on your own and dealing with stuff on your own, (and) there’s a family history down my line that struggled with mental health, anxiety and depression, stuff like that. So, I guess I’d probably have a little predisposition of it already. I would say even five, six, seven, 10 years ago, I didn’t know that, but then just the impact of this job and the bigger stuff we’re put through. If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. 8
www.healthynewalbanymagazine.com
