A Resilient Life: A Cop's Journey in Persuit of Purpose
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David Berez had a secret. He put up a brave face - as many cops and first responders do - but for two decades he carefully hid the emotional toll of his job, even from those closest to him. A Resilient Life follows his story of being driven into darkness, his desperate search for the light and how he discovered his second chance for happiness and fulfillment.
The average person will experience five traumas in their lifetime, but a police officer can experience an average of 20 in a year. These cumulative traumatic events build into the shadows of the brain. If left untreated, they manifest into post-traumatic stress injury, showing up as isolation, depression, and ultimately suicide.
Through his compelling and emotional story Berez helps readers understand the challenges of policing and the struggle we all face to remain resilient in the face of life’s adversity. Resiliency techniques are the leading modality by which an individual can raise their baseline of mental and emotional strength. Through his personal experiences, Berez provides readers with the tools to manage adverse events and bounce forward into post-traumatic growth.
A Resilient Life provides anyone who knows a cop, veteran, first responder or anyone coping with the emotional toll of trauma a greater understanding of how to best support them. Berez’s insights arms readers with the strength and grace to live healthier, whether they’re part of a law enforcement family or not. He knows we can be freed from the pain we may not even know exists.
The average person will experience five traumas in their lifetime, but a police officer can experience an average of 20 in a year. These cumulative traumatic events build into the shadows of the brain. If left untreated, they manifest into post-traumatic stress injury, showing up as isolation, depression, and ultimately suicide.
Through his compelling and emotional story Berez helps readers understand the challenges of policing and the struggle we all face to remain resilient in the face of life’s adversity. Resiliency techniques are the leading modality by which an individual can raise their baseline of mental and emotional strength. Through his personal experiences, Berez provides readers with the tools to manage adverse events and bounce forward into post-traumatic growth.
A Resilient Life provides anyone who knows a cop, veteran, first responder or anyone coping with the emotional toll of trauma a greater understanding of how to best support them. Berez’s insights arms readers with the strength and grace to live healthier, whether they’re part of a law enforcement family or not. He knows we can be freed from the pain we may not even know exists.
Reviews
“The average person will experience three or four traumatic events in their lifetime. The average police officer will experience 400–600 traumatic events. Nevertheless, we expect our law enforcement professionals to be perfect and indestructible. David Berez, a 20-year police veteran, opens his soul in this riveting book, ‘A Resilient Life,’ to remind us that cops are human, and while policing is honorable and purposeful, there is a hefty price to pay. Confronted with the suicides of two police officers he was very close to, a parental and police leadership structure that failed him, and battling suicidal thoughts of his own, David found a way to survive—and to thrive—as a husband, parent, police officer and friend. For those of us who have never worn the badge, David lets us know what the journey is like—the good, the bad and the ugly. Having read his story, we owe David and all who serve and protect a heartfelt ‘Thank You.’”
--Craig W. Floyd, President and CEO of Citizens Behind the Badge and Founding CEO (Emeritus) of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund "I can say that you truly do not know where someone has been or what journey they have been on until you read a book written by them. I have known the Author for over 20 years and I truly didn't know half of what I know now about an amazing Friend, Son, Husband, Father and Brother in Blue. Such an inspiration to say the least that no matter what someone else said to you, you should always lead with your heart to be the best you can be for yourself and others. Thank you for sharing your journey and living your life as you have and continue to inspire others that no road black can stop you from achieving the goals you set out for. Stay safe Brother..."
—Bryan, Retired Police Detective "David covers it all! From the joys of law enforcement to the toll it finally takes. No holds barred including his own personal sacrifices, loss and new-found life. It is an amazing journey through the eyes of an extremely talented Cop, husband and father. A must read for all...not just Cops or Firefighters but Veterans and citizens alike. The courage and vulnerability are stellar in is words and leaves you wanting to read more. Definitely a new favorite of mine and I plan to re-read again and again. Thank you David for your service and dedication to helping others find their way."
—Chris, Retired Police Officer/Author/Public Speaker |
“The war on our cops by politicians and the press has had significant consequences for public safety and for the well-being of those brave enough to protect our communities. Through his intensely personal story, David Berez captures the emotional toll that wearing the badge can have on our nation’s cops. His powerful story of service, struggle and survival is a must read for those wishing to genuinely understand what our police really face on the beat, the impact of politics on policing, the crisis of police suicide, and the national challenge of protecting those who protect us. A Resilient Life also brings a sense of hope to all those dealing with pain that clouds their future. Berez’s story is one we need now more than ever because it proves that light can triumph over darkness.”
—Tom Basile, Newsmax TV Anchor, Washington Times Columnist and Author “David is a gifted writer whose own life journey has guided him to create a book that is both powerful and timely. The law enforcement community has been battered for years, not just physically but emotionally. It is the nature of policing. David has put into words the thoughts and feelings of many who serve behind the badge, and this book will touch all who read it.”
—Lt. Randy Sutton (Ret) Las Vegas Metro Police and Founder of The Wounded Blue "I loved the expressive way that David shares his story and heart in this book. He is a good writer. David share not only the love he had for his job, but gives an inside view of the trauma and hardship that many experience being a Law Enforcement Officer and the passion to run “toward the bullets” to protect and serve, whenever most run away. The book also helps the reader understand the importance of promoting self care for our Protectors with all the trauma they face compared to our citizens. It highlights that this is something our first responder agencies can do to protect our protectors by normalizing the human need to get support - especially in this kind of arena with so much trauma."
—Sara C., Mental Health Advocate for Veteran & First Responders |
Wounds to Wisdom
Healing Through Veteran and First Responder Narratives
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Buy Now!
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I excited and honored to be part of this incredible project and contribute my story to “Wounds To Wisdom: Healing Through Veteran and First Responder Narratives” which is coming soon. Sara Correll, the founder and producer of The Power of Our Story, will be launching this book containing the stories of lived experiences, hopes and recovery of 29 Protectors. Through the sharing of these stories, you will be invited into the hearts, trauma, courage, recovery and insights as these Protectors journey into a resilient life. For those wanting to experience a powerful book, or those struggling to recover themselves, transitioning into new beginnings or healing the impacts of service or moral injury, this book will offer a guiding light in the transitioning journey forward. It will also be a book that can serve allied health professionals and families.
Research shows that having a vicarious experience by emerging yourself into the experience of another, called narrative transportation, can reduce isolation and reduce the risk of self-destructive behaviors. Additionally, through the concept of restorative narrative, one can be inspired to heal their own traumas by eliminating stigma. Both concepts are correlated to increased well-being and a reduction in suicide ideation. Come along for the journey through these stories and learn to craft your own. Your well-being will thank you!!
Research shows that having a vicarious experience by emerging yourself into the experience of another, called narrative transportation, can reduce isolation and reduce the risk of self-destructive behaviors. Additionally, through the concept of restorative narrative, one can be inspired to heal their own traumas by eliminating stigma. Both concepts are correlated to increased well-being and a reduction in suicide ideation. Come along for the journey through these stories and learn to craft your own. Your well-being will thank you!!
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E-Book Available Soon!!
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When the weight of job-related stress of law enforcement becomes too heavy, a police officer’s well-being may collapse under that weight. As such, police need to have a variety of accessible options for healthy coping mechanisms. Robust academic research is dedicated to the identification of law enforcement stress, negative coping mechanisms, and self-destructive behaviors. While some traditional tools and interventions for coping have been formalized, they often offer limited utility for both ameliorating deficits and bolstering strengths. The current paper proposes that positive psychology, and the emerging field of the positive humanities, can provide promising tools for coping through research-informed interventions involving engagement with visual art, literature, and music. This paper reviews law enforcement stress that leads to ill-fated coping and explores new offerings within the humanities as positive interventions that can supplement and go beyond conventional therapies. Future directions for the use of the humanities in supporting law enforcement well-being are extrapolated from extant research and associated interventions. Limitations of the current literature and this review are also noted.
Keywords: Law Enforcement, Police Officer, Well-being, Positive Psychology, Positive Humanities, Mental Health
Keywords: Law Enforcement, Police Officer, Well-being, Positive Psychology, Positive Humanities, Mental Health
