3 Lessons from the Fire Hall


I have the thrill of living across from our local firestation. The workers are all volunteer except for the chief. It's inspiring, even entertaining on practise night and gives me something extra to pray about every time they leave the station.

 They have practise on Wednesday night and as many volunteers as can make it come along and clean and repair equipment. It looks like they even have a little fun while they are doing it. I live in a small town and sometimes people stop by and chat. Children love to do that.


 Do you think firemen spend more time at training, cleaning equipment and being prepared for the next call or do you think they spend more time fighting fires? Do you know how much time they spending just practising? I don't know the correct answers to any of these questions but I would guess that more time goes into being ready and getting ready than actually fighting fires.

 Unknown Object
As handlers of depression, we could learn a lot from firemen.

 1. Always be prepared for the next crisis.
Keep your tools in shape. Are you meds up to date? Is your home in enough order that if you were to have a setback right now, you could just lay back and rest and cope?

 2. Find teammates to work with you.
As isolating as depression is, there still needs to be some kind of team in your life to back you up when you are at your worst. Do you have a doctor to call, a therapist, a friend, a relative?

3. When the firebell rings, don't think, DO!
We need to have a depression crisis plan in place for the next time we crash. Put it in writing and keep it handy. Do you have one?

 Depression is a little like firefighting. It can get out of control quickly. It needs to be approached in a timely, orderly and sometimes extraordinary fashion. Managing it requires planning and practice.

 WHAT ABOUT YOU? What kind of day are you having? How are you feeling? Do you have a practise drill for the next depressive episode?

 Don't give up! There is hope for depression.


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