“I tried to ignore the strange and sudden feeling of my world closing in on me as I got dressed in the locker room.  With my heart pounding and short of breath, I tried to convince myself nothing was wrong, hoping the feeling would just subside.   After hurrying to load up my cruiser for the day the feelings began to intensify.   I pulled away from the station and drove down the road... then it happened, I couldn’t hold it back anymore.   I pulled over into an empty lot and suddenly broken down in tears, while gasping for air.   I cried out to God in my panic ‘What’s wrong with me?’I left work sick that day not knowing it would be my last time in a uniform.   I went to peer support for help. After being referred to a Psychiatrist, I was eventually diagnosed with severe PTSD from repeated exposure to trauma.  I felt paranoid, ashamed, guilty and sad.  

My employer refused to acknowledge my injury.   I left without pay and disassociated by the town.   I felt abandoned, suspect and was treated like I had committed a crime.  Out of my pain, rose a new faith in God, and a promise for a brighter future”.