Customer Reviews

An Operators Manual for Combat PTSD: Essays for Coping

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Bruce's book is one that all PTSD Veteran can use every day. I have PTSD and use this book every day to reinforce my coping strategies and help me focus on the effect my disease has on me and how to deal with it in order to live a more productive and effective life. My wife, my kids, and my close friends have read it to help me in my relationships with them and to help them understand what has and is happening in my disease. It was through Bruce's understanding, care, concern, and help that I came to know some importantant self-messages that help me cope. After 25 years of pain in divorce, business failures, family and relationship failurs, I have found real help to find my way back from the edge. I strongly and fully recommend this book to any Veteran, with or without diagnosed PTSD. Bruce is the best.

This book is the best reading material for those of us who suffer from combat PTSD, and it's a must reading for the wife or girl friend, to better understand why we act and do the things we do. I find that if I'm having a bad day and don't know what's causing this, I use the operator's manual and read the meaning behind my stinking thinking. It gives me a great feeling knowing that I can reference this great book and get the relief I so desperatly need. Thanks to Dr. Hart for writing such a wonderful and useful book designed for combat warriors from all era's

I have been reading and re-reading this book for over a year and a half now and I have yet to come across a situation that I haven't found an answer for or insight into. Being the former wife of a Vietnam Vet, I highly recommend this book for surviving PTSD, period! The Vet, the spouse, the family, everyone will benefit from it. This book is powerful in the way that the information is presented; brief, clearly stated and right to the point. It is indeed a manual for dealing with trauma. Your book has stood the test of time and I am much healthier because of it. Thanks again Dr Hart.

I am a licensed professional counselor and work with individuals suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and/or those who love them. I originally reviewed this book when working with women whose husbands were combat veterans. This book proved to be an invaluable resource for understanding what their husbands and boyfriends were experiencing. The information provided about ptsd symtpoms and its effect on life functioning equally apply to all types of trauma. I have repeatedly used concepts from this book in helping clients who have experienced a wide range of traumas. I highly recommend this book for both professionals and individuals seeking understanding of this disorder.

I have just started reading this book, but I can already tell I love it. I work with Vietnam combat vets doing individual and group therapy as a Social Worker with the V.A. I try to read many different books about PTSD and working with Vietnam vets so that I can improve my skills and be better at helping my vets. I have already recommended this book to my PTSD combat group. I really like how the book is set up as a collection of essays and chapters are kept short, sweet, and to the point. I think that it will keep the attention of some of my vets (as well as my own!) better than some of the "drier" texts I have read!

I read this with a certain skepticism but I have to say this is an outstanding book on PTSD for military folks. The author gives you short, readable content with practical suggestions. From one who has suffered PTSD and gotten few answsers since my days as a Marine sniper in Nam this was such a pleasent surprise. I passed it on to my team of aging snipers and they love it. Actually has stuff you can do - well worth the read. We can tell the guy who wrote it has been counseling vet's, its not academic, its actionable. Great book!

I was in denial about having PTSD after my tour in Iraq until I read this book. When I read the first couple of chapters it felt as if he had written the book about myself.

The book emphasises that PTSD is a combat injury that it is nothing to be ashamed of.

I have recommended this book to other veterans and feel that this is the first book somebody who has (or suspects they may have) PTSD should read.

I am reading this book, I spent three years in Iraq and came back a bit rattled, I am watching many of my friends' lives fall apart... My main way of coping has been hiding...
I do not like some of the descriptions in this book, trying to make them funny or silly like dinosaur dump or wild ride- that does not describe the terror I feel every time I hear a siren or a door slam- I also feel that concepts are crammed in the book but no real 'action plans' are given "get though the anger to vulnerability"- I cant understand what that means....
OK book but really, I do wish I did not read these 'great' reviews as I am not seeing them as valid.
The author does not have a real picture of a war zone or the horrors that go with that, that is very clear- I dont get a sense of 'understanding' and I cant relate to much of what she is saying.

PTSD: Pathways Through the Secret Door I thought my book was good. This book is one I wished I'd written. Like the book I wrote it is more in an essay form. Found even more solutions in (Operators Manual) this book. I wrote mine for my sanity. I read this one for even more strength in knowing my "triggers" and "anchors". Changing our references and changing our state is crucial in our recovery.

This is a good book for starter into the PTSD topic; it does help to understand the very basics of PTSD. The book is design in a way to help the regular person to deal with the disorder and understand it. Structured in chapters and several separated essays information sometimes repeat and might seem tedious (this is not often). It is VERY BASIC into the topic, so if your are a student wanting to make a report there are better choices out there: I can refer you some. Overall a good book for those wanting to read for your OWN personal benefit.