CopShock, Second Edition: Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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 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, and offers over 200 support sources.
In the second edition of this much praised book on police trauma survival, almost 50 percent of CopShock has been expanded, revised and updated with new material, including self-tests for PTSD, Anxiety, Stress, Panic Disorder, Depression, and Resiliency, as well as information on treatment centers.
The new chapters in the second edition include stories about police officers and firefighters on 9/11 trying to save survivors from the rubble of the World Trade Center; and stories about police dispatchers and police wives who suffer from vicarious trauma, but are often ignored because they did not witness the critical incident firsthand. In another new chapter, the second edition describes how police officers can develop resiliency to horrific events to help prevent PTSD. Stories from the first edition of CopShock are also included, as they have become sacred to many readers. These are stories about police officers trying to cope with PTSD as a result of brutal assaults, shootings, death investigations, previous careers as combat soldiers, terrorism, and even PTSD as a result of not shooting.
Law enforcement officers throughout the United States, Canada, and 8 other countries have used this book in their peer support programs, police academies, and post-trauma units. Psychologists, psychiatrists, first responders, police and support organizations recommend the book to their patients and members.
Since the publication of CopShock's first edition in 1999, the book has been reviewed and praised around the world. The A&E Television Network produced a documentary based on CopShock that is shown today in police academies and peer support groups.
In this new second edition, and in the aftermath of 9/11, the war on terror, and the consequences from natural disasters like hurricane Katrina, CopShock will help many more police officers, firefighters, first responders, and war veterans cope with the damaging effects of PTSD.

Allen R. Kates, BCECR, MFAW, is a trauma expert and journalist. He is Board Certified in Emergency Crisis Response (BCECR) by the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, and has earned certificates in critical incident stress debriefing and management, suicide intervention, PTSD therapy, resiliency, crisis intervention and victimology. He was trained in crisis intervention by the Pima County Attorney's Victim Witness program, and helped victims of crime cope with tragedies such as robberies, beatings, rapes and murders. In this capacity, he worked closely with police officers.
Kates is a member of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), and is author of the book CopShock, Surviving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), first and second editions, and co-author with Sharon Knutson-Felix of Gifts My Father Gave Me, Finding Joy After Tragedy, a book on grief, loss and healing. He has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing (MFAW), and is a writing coach, editor and writer who helps others succeed with their book manuscripts.