Blake and K-9 Monte

I grew up in Minnesota and served 13 years as a firefighter/paramedic for a suburban fire department, while simultaneously working for the busiest county and private ambulance services in the twin cities metro area including rural and critical care services. Along the way I picked up various skills and specializations, from dive tender to crisis intervention, and many more certifications and classes along the way. I thought my career was going pretty well, until it wasn’t.
When I first went to the informational meeting about becoming a firefighter/paramedic, I was fully aware of the risks to my physical health and was ready and willing to put it all on the line to serve. While the job did result in minor injuries to the body, what I wasn’t aware of or prepared for was the toll it could take on my mental health and overall well-being. The demands of the job in an ever-changing environment with limited resources and lack of support eventually took its toll in ways I hadn’t imagined. Over the years, many aspects of my life started to fall apart and eventually it all led to what felt at the time like two very dark and difficult options, take an early exit from life, or seek help.
For the sake of those I love, I chose to seek help, which was one of the most challenging, yet pivotal moments of my life. The challenges continue, and surely always will. And while the many years of therapies, wellness programs, and daily practices have kept my head above water enough to see hope and keep going, I still tend to slip backwards. My therapist has mentioned Soldiers 6 to me a couple of times and it took me a while to see it clearly, but now I believe part of what I’ve been missing are the many benefits of a companion that is attuned to my nervous system and offers their own, as support.