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Posttraumatic Stress Is Very Common

Dr. Peter Salerno Author Interview

Fit for Off-Duty is a self-help book targeted at firefighters but is a useful resource for anyone dealing with PTSD and their families. Why was this an important book for you to write?

Having been raised by a firefighter, and having a brother who is a firefighter, I experienced the impact that work-related trauma exposure had on my family members and how even subtle changes in thought, feeling, and behavior impact the family system. This book was inspired by that as well as the thousands of first responders I treat in my practice, and I wanted to offer a resource that could help first responders and their families make sense of some of the conflicts that arise as a result of traumatic stress.

What is a common misconception you feel people have about PTSD?

That it is not common. Posttraumatic stress is very common, not just in first responders, but within the general population. People refer to it as many other things, but we certainly underestimate how many people are living in survival mode as a result of unresolved traumatic stress.

What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?

I hope the book will help people give themselves permission to heal from the unnecessary suffering that posttraumatic stress causes.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I published a Law Enforcement version of the Fit For Off-Duty book which is currently available on Amazon, and I will be publishing another self-help/self-improvement book that is aimed more toward the general population that will be available sometime in May or June of this year.

Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website

Every firefighter is a trauma survivor. Even veteran firefighters may not realize this. But constant exposure to traumatic events takes a serious toll. The body is affected, so is the nervous system, and so are the firefighter’s personal relationships. Off-duty days can become something to dread rather than look forward to. It doesn’t need to be this way. This book— written by a trauma therapist from a firefighter family—is a definitive manual for healing from trauma exposure for those who serve in the fire service and for those who love them. Feeling fit, healthy and unburdened by the effects of trauma can be a short-term therapeutic process. And there are steps firefighters can take on their own, immediately. This book is a good place to start.
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