BooK: "Cop Shock": Surviving PTSD

[skyblue_123]

I just ordered and received a book from a LE company called Cop Shock: Suviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder by Allen R. Kates. It looks like it is going to be a good read. It touches on everying: flashbacks, drugs, assaults, terrorism, soldiers, and has a support sources index. I'm just starting it. Thought I'd pass the title along to those on the board who may be looking for something along these lines. Anyone else out there read this yet, and any comments you may have on it? Other recommended reads?

[zlmajors]

I had heard good things about "I love a cop" and recommended my wife read it, after she finished it she asked if I had read it, which I had not. She forced me to read it and it actually deals a lot with how the on-job stresses affect family life. I liked it because it shows what my wife goes through when I bring home that odd bad day from work.

[skyblue_123]

I got that book as well and am looking forward to reading it.

[skyblue_123]

Another good site is New Harbinger Books, I don't know if I should put the link up here as it's commercial. But they publish a lot of good PTSD books and books on stress, depression, etc.

[dmclark]

I recommend "I Love A Cop" to everyone in law enforcement. I've had the good fortune of working with Ellen Krischman (author) on several occasions for DEA as a Peer Counselor and she's just wonderful. I agree it's not just for the wives....the LEOs should read it as well. It's a FAMILY book.

I've set out the URL from Amazon for the book. This is not a commerical plug, but in my mind, an directional arrow towards a extremely valuable topic. DM

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1572301937/qid=1106626750/sr=2-2/102-5598048-7473735?v=glance&s=books

[BLHutch]

This is not actually a book geared specifically towards LE, but there is one titled "On Killing"...(a graphic title, I admit). It was written by an Army Shrink who's name eludes me. But basically it gives a VERY thorough overview of PTSD, albeit from a military standpoint. But the same scenarios are there for LEs, FFs, or anyone who deals with such situations. As the title may suggest, this book is primarily concerned with people who have actually killed someone, but it still is a pretty interesting book.

I stumbled across it in grad school when I had to write a paper on the sexualization of violence in the Vietnam War film. Though I recommend reading the book, I would not recommend reading my paper. :eek:

[Worm]

Dave Grossman's book...I agree it is a wonderful resource for LE. I have had many LE members in our district who have read it and heard Dave speak at conferences, they could not say enough good things about him and his points of discussion.

[skyblue_123]

I have heard of Grossman's book as well and it is highly recommended. I have bought I Love a Cop too. Also, just ordered Stoning the Keepers at the Gate: Society's Relationship with Law Enforcement by Lawrence N. Blum, Ph.D. Anyone here read it?

On the topic of stress related to undercover work: I'd like to put out another url, if allowed, again not as a commercial plug. There is an undercover conference coming up in Vegas. You can read about it at www.undercover.org. I'm not hyping the organization. What I'd like to point out is the speakers who will be speaking there, some of them specialize in UC therapy work with LE and intel people.

UC or covert ops work or anyone who has been in and amongst the "spook mix", has its own special little 'side effects' and it's own brand of hell. Amongst them in some cases, DID (dissassociative disorder) - and the feeling as though you are two people, and sometimes, frankly...you don't know just who you are really. Also, hypervigilance sets in. Anyone who's worked serious counterintel for too long will begin to see a spook behind every tree..."Wilderness of Mirrors" is a suggested read for more on this. Yes, the dreaded "P" word: paranoia.

I have a friend in Alaska who is coming back in from a very long career in off the books covert ops for Uncle. He was just recently diagnosed manic depressive after having depression and suicidal thoughts. This guy has seen serious, dangerous action all over the world; he's a pilot and Nam vet. He is having same kind of stuff going on as I have - looks in mirror, who the hell am I really, bouts of depression, then happy, then sad, anti-social, angry, etc. Difficulty trusting anyone. Boy can I relate. I also suspect PTSD.

Anyhow, I did a search and see where DM Clark had a thread going here on the board in 2003 for UC stress.

The psychiatric community is starting to come out with more stuff on the topic. I just paid $50 for a paper online from a scholarly publisher about UC stress. It blew my mind. I read it and it was like Oh Mah Gawd...this is me, this is what I have been going through. Cripes. Tripped me out. Set me on a mission to find out more and get over some of the stuff that I have been going through.

Anyone want a copy, PM me with an e-mail address and I will send it to you, gratis. It literally put me on a path to self discovery and for help. In fact I have scheduled a session with one of the therapists giving the upcoming seminar in Vegas, that's how much of an impact it made on me.

I mean you never know what will hit someone or turn a light on or help them. This has really set me on a path of healing for some issues I have had due to some of the work I used to do, both in and out of the G. If reading that paper will open one person's eyes and do the same for them, I will feel like I helped someone, and maybe this will make up for missing Mass last Sunday (ha).

Also, I found a paper put out by UCLA on REJECTION and how it actually does more to you (negatively) than thought before. For all of us who have been through the horrid rejection experience by a fed or LE agency lately, this is another must read to help you get over it. Coming from an FBI 'reject' here. Anyhow I will gladly PM you the url to that one, too. Again this was online and I found all this stuff doing some exhaustive searching into the wee hours one night.

Bottom line: this is often such a taboo subject in LE circles. I thank God for this forum because it lets people share what wonders they've found out there and pass them on. You never know who it could save or help.

[Cascade]

This is not actually a book geared specifically towards LE, but there is one titled "On Killing"...(a graphic title, I admit). It was written by an Army Shrink who's name eludes me. But basically it gives a VERY thorough overview of PTSD, albeit from a military standpoint. But the same scenarios are there for LEs, FFs, or anyone who deals with such situations. As the title may suggest, this book is primarily concerned with people who have actually killed someone, but it still is a pretty interesting book.

I stumbled across it in grad school when I had to write a paper on the sexualization of violence in the Vietnam War film. Though I recommend reading the book, I would not recommend reading my paper. :eek:

He's not just a shrink, but also a Ranger. This book is OUTSTANDING, IMO. Mr. Grossman is currently, I believe, a college Professor somewhere in the south (Alabama?)

[skyblue_123]

Arkansas. He has a website. OK mods if this crosses the line please delete but wow, some powerful stuff he has put out: http://www.killology.com/

[Cascade]

Wow. Thanks, sky.

[ArcangelDurango]

I just saw one called "Cops Don't Cry". Does anyone know anything about that one?