Steve Buscemi reveals 9/11 PTSD after volunteering in the aftermath: 'I couldn't make a simple decision'
2021 marks 20 years of the devastating attacks
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Steve Buscemi opened up about the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) he suffered after working as a volunteer firefighter on 9/11.
The 63-year-old actor had previously worked as a firefighter in the '80s, and volunteered for search and recovery efforts after the terrorist attacks in 2001, according to comments made during a recent interview with Marc Maron for his "WTF" podcast.
"I kept calling the fire house the day before and of course there was no answer. Because I knew that they would be there," Buscemi told Maron. "And then I eventually learned that five of them were missing. One of them was a good friend of mine I used to work with."
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"I was driven to the site that day, walked around for hours and then found my company, found Engine 55 working there," he continued. "I asked if I could join them. I could tell they were a little suspicious at first, but I worked with them that day."
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Buscemi would volunteer for several more days.
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Despite not having any long-term health issues from his time volunteering, the "Fargo" actor does suffer from PTSD.
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"I haven’t experienced any health issues, and I get myself checked out, but definitely…. Post traumatic stress? Absolutely," Buscemi said during the podcast.
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"I was only there for like five days, but when I stopped going and tried to just live my life again, it was really, really hard," he added. "I was depressed, I was anxious, I couldn’t make a simple decision. All those things. It’s still with me. There are times when I talk about 9/11 and I’m right back there. I start to get choked up and I realize, ‘Ah, this is still a big part of me.’"
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He emphasized that the 20-year mark of the attacks could be a "trigger" for those who survived 9/11.