Customer Reviews

Copshock, Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd)

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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.

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.

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.

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

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.

CopShock is a stunning book. Although it is focused on police officers, it helps anybody suffering from PTSD symptoms to cope--crime victims, victims of disasters, cancer, loss of a loved one, and all other emergency people like firefighters, emergency room nurses, doctors, and so on.
The book is filled with excellent firsthand accounts, is based on hundreds of interviews of cops with PTSD, and is easy to read. The second chapter in particular clearly lays out the symptoms of PTSD as does the Appendix. The last chapter tells you what do do about trauma and PTSD, how to cope, manage the symptoms or to prevent PTSD. And the 6 years of research is amazing. This author did his homework. Many police officers complain that they have few or no resources to help them with their PTSD symptoms, making the hundreds of resources the author provides invaluable. This is the best book I've read on the subject.

I have been working with police officers and their families for over 20 years and have debriefed over 800 officers who have been involved in critical incidents. COPSHOCK is perhaps one of the most comprehensive and helpful books for police officers. I like the way Mr. Kates breaks down the stressors and topics. For example, there is one chapter just on "flashbacks." The book is written in such a way that officers can immediately identify items that have personal meaning for them. However, what impressed me most as a clinician was that Mr. Kates opined that police officers do not fit the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. Many clinical people have not caught on to this reality. (That's why in 1996, I authored the term, "Police Trauma Syndrome," to describe the unique reactions that police officers have to traumatic exposure.) I also like the helpful guides for officers who do not have the benefit of mental health professionals who are familiar with the unique stressors and concerns of officers. Mr. Kates has provided a much needed service for those who protect and serve.

I've known Allen for close to two years now via email and also a big supporter of him on my law enforcement website. His book ("CopShock") has helped me recognize PTSD and to resolve my personal issues with PTSD. This book is truely "Second-To-None" and I recommend it for ALL to read.

Cop Shock is a book that Police Chaplains are encoraged to read and as a chaplain and former police officer I find it to be extremely true in every sense of the word. It addresses many views of PTSD. I would recommend this for the public to read to get an idea of what law enforcement officers may go through as a result of a crisis event.

Invisible Girl
As a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, and author of a book on repressed memories as a result of sexual abuse, I work with PTSD victims and fully understand its implications. I have seen patients ravaged by the onslaught of flashbacks and nightmares. I've witnessed the life altering effects of exposure to horrific events. Unresolved cumulative trauma can lead to hopelessness, helplessness, depression and deep emotional pain. Many victims turn to drugs, alcohol, and risky behavior to mask the lingering grief and despair.

I highly recommend this well-written, powerful book. CopShock is a must-read for mental health professionals, health care workers, police officers, fire fighters, emergency workers,and their family and friends. Allen Kates compelling, real-life stories bring alive the accumulative emotional trauma that police officers encounter on the job, and the chaos and devastation it brings to their lives.

Copshock should be included in the training curriculum of law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and emergency workers to arm them with the skills to ward off the downhill spiral from on-the-job stress, and to help the psychologically wounded recover. The book also includes a comprehensive list of references for additional support.