Police and Firefighters, Trauma and Recovery. From Demons to Angels: A Georgia First Responder’s Journey Through Trauma, PTSD, and Recovery. Dennis Pishock served his community in Georgia with dedication and courage, first as a firefighter, then as a police officer. His career placed him on the front lines of some of the most traumatic moments imaginable, from heartbreaking drownings to violent crime scenes. He is the guest on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available for free on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast platforms.
Through it all, he carried the weight of the experiences, often silently, until he realized that recovery was possible and necessary. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawEnforcementTalkRadioShow"> Facebook </a> , <a href="https://www.instagram.com/letradioshowpodcast/"> Instagram </a> , <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjwiley/"> LinkedIn </a> , <a href="https://medium.com/@letradioshow"> Medium</a> and other social media platforms.
“After thousands of traumatic calls and seeing friends and families fall apart, I knew I had to start telling my story,” Pishock shared. “I want others to know that recovery is possible, even when you’re still serving on the front lines.” Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like <a href="https://medium.com/@letradioshow" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Medium </a> , <a href="https://lawenforcementtalkradio.blogspot.com"> Blogspot </a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjwiley/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Linkedin </a> .
The Traumas Behind the Badge
One of the defining moments of Pishock’s career came while serving as a firefighter in the Atlanta suburbs. His swift water rescue team was called to a river where an 8-year-old girl had gone missing while tubing. The girl’s body was eventually discovered trapped beneath a submerged tree.
“Even though she was right there, just below the surface, we couldn’t get to her because of the current,” Pishock recalled. “That moment stayed with me for years.” Police and Firefighters, Trauma and Recovery. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
The trauma intensified when he learned that one of his teammates, who had a young daughter also tubing that day, initially feared the girl was his own child. Thankfully, it wasn’t, but the tragedy was no less devastating.
These experiences compounded with countless other traumatic calls. Pishock thought he had processed them, but the emotional toll followed him when he transitioned from firefighting to policing.
Police and Firefighters: Different Uniforms, Same Demons
The shift from fire service to law enforcement is unusual, but for Pishock, it was a continuation of his call to serve. However, as a police officer in Georgia, he faced even more trauma, shootings, violent incidents, and deaths that left invisible scars. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
“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 wake-up call came after learning about the suicides of several close friends, all fellow first responders. It was a turning point that pushed him toward recovery. Police and Firefighters, Trauma and Recovery.
Facing Demons, Finding Angels
In his book Demons & Angels, Pishock documents his most personal battles and the lessons he has learned along the way. The book, available across social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and discussed on podcasts across Apple and Spotify, is not just about his own survival, it’s a guide for others.
“This book isn’t just for me,” Pishock explained. “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.” The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
He describes the brotherhood shared among those who wear the badge or the uniform, comparing it to the camaraderie found in military service. “Servitude is where it’s at,” he said. “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 highlights the reality that many first responders in America face, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research shows that between 10% and 35% of police and firefighters develop PTSD, a rate far higher than the general population. Police and Firefighters, Trauma and Recovery.
PTSD alters the brain’s function:
Hippocampus: shrinks, impairing memory and learning.
Amygdala: becomes hyperactive, intensifying fear and emotional responses.
Prefrontal cortex: weakens, reducing the ability to regulate those emotions.
The symptoms are wide-ranging, intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, detachment from loved ones, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, and sometimes destructive behaviors. His story resonates across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and beyond.
“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
Recovery, Pishock stresses, is not an overnight transformation but a journey. It sometimes requires professional help, and strong social support networks.
Pishock also emphasizes peer support as a lifeline: “Talking to someone who has been there, who truly understands, can make the difference between holding on and giving up.”
The stages of recovery often move from acute struggles to gradual stability, and eventually to a place where individuals can regain control over their lives.
His message for first responders in Georgia, across America, and beyond is clear: “Don’t wait until it’s too late. PTSD is real, but recovery is possible. You are not alone.” Police and Firefighters, Trauma and Recovery. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
A Journey Shared Through Book and Social
With Demons & Angels, Pishock is offering more than a book. He’s opening the door for conversations on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, while expanding the discussion to podcasts on Apple and Spotify. His journey reflects the resilience of police officers, firefighters, and military personnel who continue to battle trauma while striving for recovery.
Through his story, Pishock hopes to shine a light in the darkest places, reminding others that even when demons are loud, angels can still be found.
Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band <a href="http://darkhorseflyer.com/"> Dark Horse Flyer. </a>
You can contact John J. “Jay” Wiley by email at <a href="mailto:Jay@letradio.com"> Jay@letradio.com </a> , or learn more about him <a href="https://www.letradio.com/p/about-john-j-jay-wiley/"> on their website </a> .
The full interview is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show website.
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Police and Firefighters, Trauma and Recovery.
Attributions
<a href="https://pishockbooks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pishockbooks.com</a>
<a href="https://amzn.to/3JUhmhB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon Books</a>
<a href="https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/fire-science/firefighter-ptsd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Purdue Global</a>

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