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Former deputy sheriff Bill Maher describes OCD, first-responder stress and urges men to seek help
Summary
Bill Maher, a former deputy sheriff and current business owner, described panic attacks on duty, a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and treatment through exposure and response prevention; he urged men to be open about mental health.
Bill Maher, a former deputy sheriff who now runs a health insurance business, described how frequent emergency calls and cumulative stress triggered panic attacks and obsessive-compulsive behaviors that disrupted his work and daily life. He said he would sometimes go to the emergency room repeatedly early in his illness and that emergency departments are not well set up for sustained mental-health care; he credited specialized therapy with helping him manage symptoms.
Asked how men can combat stigma, Maher said cultural expectations about masculinity make it harder to seek help: "It's okay to not be okay," he said, urging leaders to model vulnerability. He also described specific coping strategies, such as exposure and response prevention therapy and deliberate small steps to remain engaged in community and family life.
