Copshock, Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) [Paperback]

Allen R. Kates (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0966850106 | ISBN-13: 978-0966850109 | Publication Date: May 1, 1999

Through gripping stories, extensive research and over 200 support sources, CopShock helps law enforcement officers, their families and all other trauma sufferers survive PTSD. A book for active duty or retired cops, police recruits, war veterans, corrections officers, paramedics, firefighters, nurses, doctors, security guards, crime victims--anyone suffering from trauma.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A powerful book! It's well written, fast paced.... I was glued to each story." Peter Schweitzer, Law Enforcement Coordinator, Seafield Center.

"One of the first to dramatically expose the stresses on some of the most important people in our society: police officers." Aphrodite Matsakis, Ph.D., author of I Can't Get Over It.

"Allen Kates has done a real service for cops. His stories are compelling and you won't find a better, more complete listing of support sources anywhere!" Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D., author of I Love A Cop.

"We didn't ask for PTSD, as veterans, police, or victims of any traumatic experience, but we can ask for a copy of this book for better understanding." Rod 'Doc' Kane, combat veteran, author of Veteran's Day.

"I would recommend this book not only to police officers, but to anyone with PTSD, or anyone at high risk of developing symptoms of PTSD." Bennett A. Jennings, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, PTSD Clinical Team, Department of Veterans Affairs. -- Publisher Comments

From the Back Cover

CopShock Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) This book is for active and retired police officers, police recruits, war veterans, corrections officers, paramedics, firefighters, nurses, doctors, security guards, crime victims-anyone suffering from trauma. Nightmares, flashbacks, anger, concentration problems, emotional detachment, avoidance of people and places... These are some of the signs of PTSD. As many as one in three cops may suffer from PTSD, a condition that could lead to depression, suicidal thoughts, addictions, eating disorders as well as job and family conflict. CopShock reveals how to prevent or manage dangerous PTSD symptoms that can destroy a police officer's career and family life. Recommended by trauma experts, this easy-to-read book -Prepares police officers for the aftermath of horrific trauma -Helps families understand PTSD's effect on their loved ones -Tells true stories of officers-men and women-with PTSD -Offers over 200 international support sources "...a powerful book! It's well written, fast paced... I was glued to each story."

-Peter Schweitzer, Law Enforcement Coordinator, Seafield Center "...one of the first to dramatically expose the stresses on some of the most important people in our society: police officers."

-Aphrodite Matsakis, Ph.D., author of I Can't Get Over It "Allen Kates has done a real service for cops. His stories are compelling and you won't find a better, more complete listing of...support sources anywhere!"

-Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D., author of I Love A Cop "We didn't ask for PTSD, as veterans, police, or victims of any traumatic experience, but we can ask for a copy of this book for better understanding..."

-Rod "Doc" Kane, combat veteran, author of Veteran's Day This book is a reference for a healthier, happier quality of life. You will refer to it often.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Holbrook Street Pr (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966850106
• ISBN-13: 978-0966850109
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An introduction to PTSD, August 23, 2003

By 

Seppo Vesala (Helsinki, - Finland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Copshock, Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) (Paperback)

When I read other customer's reviews on CopShock, I got the impression that the book is the ultimate in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and it holds all the answers. I was disappointed, however, because although there is some good basic info, the book serves better as an introduction to PTSD.

The author uses a lot of real-life stories to illustrate different aspects of PTSD and related syndromes. Almost the whole book is written this way, and this structure makes the book easy to read and not too scientific. On the other hand, is makes it difficult to use the book as an reference book. If you want to search for a list of symptoms of a given syndrome, for example, the information can be scattered along the pages of the whole book.

The book has about 450 pages, but the text really ends at about page 240. The remaining almost 200 pages is filled with listings of various support sources and so on. There is also extensive reference section, and bibliography of well over 200 publications related to the subject.

I rated the book as a whole, but the book's usefulness is directly dependent to whether you need the latter half of the book, of if you are just studying the subject. To someone who is suffering from PTSD (or whose member of family is), the book could be worth it's weight in gold.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very well written and informative, June 20, 2001

By 

Carlos W. Propst "CWPropst" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Copshock, Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) (Paperback)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good resource for an under-recognised problem, August 15, 2005

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Copshock, Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) (Paperback)

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.