A Georgia First Responder’s Journey Through Trauma, PTSD, and Recovery

September 14, 2025

West Palm Beach, Fl - Dennis Pishock spent much of his life running toward danger when others ran away. First, as a firefighter in Georgia’s suburbs, and later as a police officer, he served his community with courage and dedication. But behind the uniform, he carried an invisible weight, the kind that comes from facing tragedy, trauma, and loss on a near-daily basis.

“After thousands of traumatic calls and seeing friends and families fall apart, I knew I had to start telling my story,” Pishock explained. “I want others to know that recovery is possible, even when you’re still serving on the front lines.”

Today, Pishock is sharing his journey as a guest on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms. His story is also told in his book Demons & Angels, where he documents the battles first responders often fight long after the sirens fade.

The Traumas Behind the Badge

One of Pishock’s most haunting memories came during his time as a firefighter. His swift water rescue team was called to a river where an 8-year-old girl had gone missing while tubing.

“Even though she was right there, just below the surface, we couldn’t get to her because of the current,” he recalled. “That moment stayed with me for years.”

The trauma deepened when one of his teammates, who also had a young daughter on the river that day, briefly feared the girl might be his own child. The fear passed, but the tragedy left scars that would never fully heal.

These experiences weren’t isolated. Fatal accidents, drownings, violent crime scenes, the calls kept coming. When Pishock transitioned from firefighting to policing, the demons followed him into the new uniform.

Police and Firefighters: Different Uniforms, Same Demons

The shift from fire service to law enforcement is unusual, but for Pishock, it was a natural continuation of service. As a police officer in Georgia, however, the trauma only intensified, shootings, suicides, and violent incidents left marks that couldn’t be seen, but were deeply felt.

“My family life began to fall apart,” he admitted. “I didn’t recognize how much the job had changed me until I went to Peer Support Training. That’s when I finally realized, I needed help.”

The turning point came with devastating news: the suicides of several close friends, fellow first responders who had been silently battling their own trauma. For Pishock, it was a wake-up call. He knew he had to confront his demons before they consumed him.

Facing Demons, Finding Angels

In his book Demons & Angels, Pishock opens up about his darkest moments and the path to recovery. The book is not just about his survival, it’s a message of hope for others.

“This book isn’t just for me,” he said. “It’s for every police officer, firefighter, and military member who has spent sleepless nights wrestling with trauma. It’s for anyone who has chosen to serve America and knows the cost that comes with it.”

He describes the bond among first responders as similar to military brotherhood, a deep and unspoken understanding forged through shared sacrifice. “Servitude is where it’s at,” Pishock explained. “To those who serve, I love you. To those who don’t understand, you’ll never truly get what you’ve missed.”

Understanding PTSD in First Responders

Pishock’s story sheds light on a reality many outside the profession don’t realize: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects first responders at significantly higher rates than the general population. Studies estimate that between 10% and 35% of police officers and firefighters develop PTSD.

PTSD physically alters the brain, impacting memory, emotional regulation, and decision-making:

Hippocampus: shrinks, impairing memory and learning.

Amygdala: becomes hyperactive, intensifying fear and emotional responses.

Prefrontal cortex: weakens, reducing the ability to regulate emotions.

The symptoms, nightmares, flashbacks, emotional detachment, hypervigilance, often spill into family life, damaging relationships and mental health.

“Most people don’t realize that PTSD isn’t just about war,” Pishock noted. “It’s about the accumulation of traumas, what we see, what we experience, and even what we can’t change.”

The Road to Recovery

For Pishock, recovery has been a journey, not an overnight fix. He stresses that healing requires time, professional support, and, most importantly, peer connection.

“Talking to someone who has been there, who truly understands, can make the difference between holding on and giving up,” he shared.

Peer support training became his lifeline, helping him realize that while the scars remain, healing is possible. Today, through his book, interviews, and speaking, Pishock is passing that message of hope forward.

His words are clear and urgent: “Don’t wait until it’s too late. PTSD is real, but recovery is possible. You are not alone.”

A Journey Shared

Through Demons & Angels and appearances on podcasts and social media platforms, Dennis Pishock is helping break the silence surrounding trauma in first responders. His story is one of resilience, vulnerability, and a determination to turn pain into purpose.

He reminds us that even when the demons are loud, angels can still be found.

👉 Read more, or listen to the full interview with Dennis Pishock on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast website. Also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most major podcast platforms.