James Geering is a Central Florida first responder who has faced and survived what he calls the “dark side” of post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I’ve lost friends who have used painkillers to try and soften the blow of what they see, and it's ended up with them passing," the 42-year-old paramedic told WKMG-News 6.
For Geering, his escape from the demons of his 12-year career was alcohol. His survival tool, he said, was physical exercise and training.
Geering said the recent influx of suicides by first responders in Central Florida and across the country inspired him to create a Facebook site he calls “The Darkside Project.”
“You’re going to have a smorgasbord of videos from people that are right on the edge, but also from people who have solutions that allowed them to cope,” he said.
In just the first week, Geering has received a handful of very personal video posts. In one, a firefighter exhales and says "I have PTSD."
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Geering said admitting that is an important first step.
The single father said divorce, depression and lack of sleep are all part of the PTSD effect.
Geering is convinced his Facebook site will provide a sort of video therapy that can be shared by first responders here in Central Florida and around the world.
“It was therapeutic for me," he said. "Once you realize by doing this you’re helping, it gives you more purpose.”
Geering also has a podcast on which he interviews first responders who have faced and beaten the PTSD demons.
For more information go to www.facebook.com/The-Dark-Side-Project-1116440418454752 or www.jamesgeering.com.