Copshock: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd)

CopShock hits the nail on the head, going beyond the trauma associated with "a single event," the battle cry of militant mental health professionals who refuse to recognize the long-term soul battering to which so many police officers are subjected. Instead, Kates dares to suggest that, while one traumatic incident is sufficient to set PTSD in motion, "sometimes a history of unresolved trauma will affect" the final diagnosis ('cumulative PTSD,' though he avoids the term). Officers are trained to repress their trauma and shove it away, drink it away, abuse it away for years, incident after incident. They can only do this so long before the scaffolding collapses. The lack of effective prevention programs only makes this worse. I applaud Kates for coming right out and saying that "police officers cannot manage PTSD on there own," that they should consult a mental health professional for a diagnosis, and that "therapy is essential and medication, at least for a while, may be necessary." This is the direct kind of talk that agencies need to pay attention to as they enhance their programs. CopShock reveals, however, that there is still dispute among the medical community on how to read the Diagnostic Manual's "official" definition of PTSD. Some take a restrictive, "sentence diagramming" approach, while others read it in light of modern learning, observation and realistic case observation. Personally, one might consider this when selecting between a departmental therapist and a personal one. Bottom line--some gripping case studies that make clear the potent, life-threatening dangers of posttraumatic stress in law enforcement. Andy O'Hara, Badge of Life program

For a time, Post-traumatic stress disorder was big news in the recovery of Vietnam veterans; it is becoming news again in the situations involving Iraq and Afghanistan conflict veterans. What has never been common in the news, but has been an ongoing situation, is the kind of post-traumatic stress that lingers with people who are in a sense on the front lines every day - policemen, firefighters, emergency responders, medical workers and others in helping professions. This kind of stress can even be present for victims of crime. This book is a great resource for these people. It involves personal stories, recounted sometimes by those suffering from PTSD, and sometimes by those around the suffering people in relationships of family or profession. Different elements of the syndrome are presented here - flashbacks and nightmares (both of real and anticipated events), drug-taking (everything from steroids to gain strength, ostensibly to fight better and be more secure, to opiate/narcotic and other types of drugs to mask the pain and insecurity), broken relationships and more. One aspect of the job of many civilian (i.e., non-military) workers is that they have had military training, and may be carrying PTSD baggage with them that somehow becomes reactivated. In a very moving story, the account of one Vietnam-veteran-turned-policeman is recounted with the difficulties that resurfaced over a victim similar to one of his own victims in Vietnam. While military veterans often make good police officers, they can also be walking powder-kegs of a sort. About half this book recounts stories and tales from different angles of PTSD. The other half is one of useful resources - there are extensive notes, bibliographies, support services organised alphabetically, indexes (both subject and support services) and an epilogue. Author Allen R. Kates is a journalist with extensive experience covering police matters, and is particularly interested in the issues of trauma and stress. Assisting him in this book (providing a foreword as well as other information) is LAPD detective William Martin, whose retirement work includes serving as a counselor. This is an important book for anyone who is in the emergency responder or law enforcement fields. It is also worthwhile for those who wish to have a greater insight into the kinds of situations people in these professions endure.

I was police officer working in lower Manhattan that day, I saw the second plane hit only minutes after hearing my brother-in-law was ok in that very same tower!!... I lost my brother-in-law, his best friend as well as two police officer buddys. About three months later I realized something wasn't quite right with me, mentally and emotionally, and reached out for help through my union. I saw many mental health professionals, etc., and kept seeing this "Copshock" book on their desks. I got the book and read it, cover-to-cover. It is well written in easy to understand language and also has an extensive resource section. In short, if you are suffering PTSD this book will help you to understand that what you are feeling is a normal response to a set of extraordinary circumstances. It can strike anyone, I don't care how tough you think you are. I highly recommend this book to all police officer, firefighters, etc., if for no other reason then to be able to recognize the signs of PTSD in yourself.

I am a retired police officer. I can relate to many of the stories and incidents in this book. I have PTSD. I didn't know what it was called until just before I bought the book "CopShock". It is must reading for all police officers. I only wish I would have had this book years ago. It is hard to put down once you start reading it.

Copshock is the real deal. I am a disabled police officer with post traumatic stress disorder and I easily identified with the information in Allen's book. I found myself sitting in the living room floor with a highlighter making notes as I read. It was like looking in a mirror. Excellent source listing for police and emergency service workers in need of help for everything from PTSD to alcohol dependency and drug addiction. A super job.