Coming Out of the Storm: First Responder Trauma, Peer Support, and the Cost of “I’m Fine”

Lieutenant Drew Masters of the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department joins the conversation to examine the psychological toll of first responder work and the systems designed to support it. Drawing from years of leadership in peer support and critical incident stress management, he outlines how departments respond to high-impact events—from pediatric fatalities to large-scale disasters—and why early intervention and follow-up are essential to long-term mental health.The discussion moves beyond protocol into lived experience. Masters describes the cumulative impact of trauma exposure, the normalization of suppressing distress, and how compassion fatigue can develop even in those responsible for supporting others. He recounts a period marked by personal loss, professional strain, and emotional deterioration that ultimately led him to seek help—highlighting the gap between knowing resources exist and actually using them.Key themes include:Why “I’m good” is often a default defense, not a realityThe structure and role of peer support, clinicians, chaplaincy, and CISM teamsHow repeated exposure to trauma alters baseline functioning over timeThe importance of informal processing (crew conversations, decompression) after critical callsBarriers that prevent first responders from seeking help, including stigma and identityMasters frames recovery through the metaphor of a storm: gradual buildup, crisis impact, and eventual stabilization. The focus is not on eliminating exposure to trauma, but on improving how it is processed—through connection, communication, and timely support.