Lifestyle of paramedics with bipolarity and psychosis

John Klein is a good friend of mine and I met through the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Connection Support Group program. We have been promoting local Nami Support Groups together for years. He has a fascinating story of experiencing bipolarity, Psychosis What does a break and emotional recovery look like? He also tells his prolific story. Career As a paramedic and how his bipolar experiences shaped his career and his personal life.

Sarah Merritt Ryan: How did your illness start and when did you get diagnosed?

John Klein: I was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was 18 years old. During my first semester of college, I was taken home after receiving a mentally ill break. I slid LSD into the beer when I wasn’t looking. In the emergency room, I was basically in a coma. I don’t know who I am or where I am and when my mother finally enters the room, I don’t think I recognize her.

LSD trips caused my illness, but I would have had that episode at school anyway, as my dad had a really bad bipolarity. I was treated with schizophrenia medication for about four years before being re-diagnosed with bipolar I.

SMR: You dealt with a partial break that must have been very frustrating throughout your life. How did you handle these and what did you do about them?

JK: After these two breaks I have a partial break. It’s not a complete mental illness break you need to be in the hospital, but I think you’re calling, partial nerve fractures and nervous breakdowns that I wasn’t very functional. I really couldn’t go to work and couldn’t socialize. I’m tied up at home.

Every time I had these breaks or these nervous breakdowns, I was on fire anger This happens many times every year, almost like clockwork. I had to do something about it.

SMR: Explain your big break professionally and explain the work you put in order to become an emergency.

JK: I worked full time as a cemetery shift, ambulance EMT, but for two years I worked full time at the school of paramedics. I still had bipolar episodes, but they were pretty calm. I was being treated and I know how to handle them and would take a break whenever I need to.

I graduated and I was one of the first 100 paramedics certified in New Jersey. That has become my mission. Saving a life has become mine. In my career, I have answered over 10,000 calls.

After a broken heart that had a serious mental illness and was not going well at many jobs, I was actually doing something I gave to me Confidenceincredible pride and the feeling of belonging to a tight knitting community.

SMR: How did you deal with your illness professionally?

JK: When I started as an EMT, I felt that the bipolar episodes would probably continue to come as they didn’t stop for my life. I had to put emotional strength as money in the bank. So I consciously became the best EMT and ultimately tried to be the best paramedic I could. So if I have an episode and people say, Well, it seems John isn’t doing the right thing at all.” or”A little off“I wasn’t asked because I’ve always done a great job.

SMR: I’ve heard you say that both of your illness help you and hurt you at work. Why?

JK: Bipolarity can help when you live a little on the man disease side of the scale, as opposed to the depressive side of the scale, when you are working in a rescue service. That little Mania It gave me a bit of extra sharpness, focus and energy. This is something you need at 3am and needs to be respected by other first responders and the public. In that respect, bipolarity helped me. There were a lot trauma Phone, I developed it PTSD. when depression The occasional combination of bipolarity and PTSD made the job even more difficult.

SMR: I was there Stigma Because of your illness at work?

JK: there was. When I was working as a civilian, I might mention someone that I am bipolar. And certainly, I realized that I was fired quite quickly afterwards. Alternatively, you can show symptoms of depression or having bipolar episodes of enthusiasts.

SMR: Your Memoir, Rescue Mind: Bipolar and PTSD Self-help Memoir is available under the pen name John Towns on Amazon, offering insights to others with bipolarity. What do you say to someone else who suffers from chronic mental illness when they were young?

JK: Go ahead and continue living your life. No matter what, try to live and enjoy it. Be grateful for the good and make sure you get help, whether it’s from friends, family or professionals, if something bad happens. Get help that allows you to live an even better life. As you improve, you will find that things are more satisfying. If you find your passion and what you want to devote your life to, you will experience joy in your life.

SMR: What do you say if someone is struggling with emotional pain and despair due to mental illness?

JK: Well, I remember that phrase, even if I’m not religious and haven’t read much of the Bible.Everything has a season. ” You have to realize that whatever illness you have or the bad time you suffer, it will eventually pass. It’s looking forward to you, whatever the deepest despair you have in your life, or what the worst feelings you have had in your life are.

SMR: How do you pay it upfront in terms of your life experience?

JK: Now I have two missions in my life. The first one is to give assistance if it appears somewhere necessary. If the first responder has not yet arrived, it may be stopped due to an accident and will provide help. My other mission is to work with the National Alliance of Mental Illness as a support group facilitator to help others with mental illness.