Why I Am Here | Drew Grice

Why does The Things We Carry exist?For the first episode, I felt like I needed to answer that question myself.I hate talking about myself. I’m much more comfortable sitting across from someone else, listening to their story and asking the questions. But I don’t think it would be fair to build a podcast asking other people to be vulnerable about the things they carry if I wasn’t willing to go first.In this episode, I talk about who I was before EMS, becoming an EMT and eventually a paramedic, and how quickly things most people would consider abnormal became normal.I talk about the calls that followed me home, losing my grandfather and working his cardiac arrest myself, years of putting things away instead of dealing with them, and what happened when carrying everything became normal.I also talk openly about my mental health, suicidal thoughts, a suicide attempt, getting professional help, and one of the hardest things I eventually had to learn:Getting help and actually allowing someone to help you are not the same thing.This episode isn’t the entirety of my story. It’s enough of it to explain why I’m here and why I created The Things We Carry.This show isn’t therapy. It isn’t a trauma competition, and it isn’t about glorifying being damaged.It’s a place for honest conversations about what people carry long after everyone else thinks the moment is over.Real Stories. Real People. Real Weight.Content warning: This episode includes discussion of trauma, depression, suicidal thoughts, and a suicide attempt. No method or graphic details are discussed.If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger, call 911.