DEALING WITH PAIN (A Submitted Commentary from Ray at Urbanfirefighter)
Ray McCormack
The Scars of Vision
Seeing something most will never see is not something you brag about, instead it is a burden. Silence defines a sacred trust that scenes you see will not be shared without good reason; however, the burden of silence is real.
If you are lucky, no severe scarring takes place as the burden sheds over time. To speed the healing and decrease the chance of permanent scarring, seek assistance.
While your experience shapes you, it shouldn’t be allowed to overtake you. Seeing horror hits hard, especially when it hits close to home. Firefighters who experience the worst life puts in front of them need to realize that there are many who can assist with burden removal and who specialize in helping to solve the confusing puzzle horror places us in.
Your ability to serve and function are part of the deal. Share your secret story to those who can truly assist you so that silence is not another scar you bare.
