PTSD expert speaks to Westover's first responders Published Aug. 10, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Katie Kiley and 2nd Lt. Andre Bowser 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- Noted PTSD expert Bob Delaney spoke to 30 people at the base conference center August 7, during an intimate talk with first-responders from the military and local community. Delaney said that in his long career as a New Jersey State Trooper, he learned first-hand how tough being a first responder can be, and how many police officers, firefighters and emergency medical workers face post-traumatic stress. Standing before the audience in the conference center, Delaney said he has taken up the charge of sharing his story with as many first responders as are willing to listen. "There's so much talk about post-traumatic stress disorder," Delaney said. "We can treat post-traumatic stress before it can become a disorder." His message was finding ways to cope and alleviate post-traumatic stress before it can become a disorder. To that end, Delaney wrote the book, "Surviving the Shadows: A Journey of Hope into Post-Traumatic Stress," which is forthcoming from publisher Sourcebooks. Since his days as a state trooper, Delaney has been invited to go embedded with the 25th Infantry Division in Mosul, Iraq, and he lent his wisdom about PTSD to the troops at Fort Hood after a devastating shooting rampage there. He said his main goal is to help first-responders understand that their first line of defense is talking to each other, because no one can relate more to what they're going through than someone going through the same thing. "I'm a big believer in peer-to-peer therapy," Delaney said. "Cops need to talk to cops; firefighters need to talk to firefighters; military need to talk to military." Delaney said the potential gains are worth it. "That's what will prevent PTS from becoming PTSD," he said. The former state trooper said he developed PTS after going undercover as part of a three-year operation to infiltrate the mob. "Everyday -- I felt like I was going to get whacked," he said. "I was on an emotional roller coaster." After completing his assignment, and seeing many of the mobsters he'd become friends with get sent off to jail for long prison terms, Delaney said he eventually left the career field to place himself in more positive environs. He became an NBA referee, after years of experience as a volunteer referee for various sporting associations. "I knew I wanted to be around something that was good," he said. "For those of you who serve in uniform, I encourage you to find that inner peace." ----- Editor's Note: Lt. Col. James Bishop contributed to this article.