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On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, Marilyn J. Wooley researched the impact of traumatic experiences in How Heroes Heal, and their recovery journeys.
Traumatic Experiences
No matter how horrifying the crime scene is, firefighters run into burning buildings, police chase active shooters, and emergency medical technicians rush to provide life-saving medical assistance. The heroes of our time are first responders, but they are not invincible.
According to psychologist and traumatologist Marilyn J. Wooley, nearly 30% of first responders will develop PTSD, and many will experience an increase in suicidality and other mental health conditions. Additionally, a lot of people struggle in silence, wondering, “Am I normal for having these feelings?” and “Will I ever improve?”
“Fortunately, the answer to these questions is a resounding yes,” said Marilyn J. Wooley. “Yes, these feelings are normal, and yes, returning to normal is very possible.”
How Heroes Heal
In her most recent book, How Heroes Heal, Wooley focuses on treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders. She tells true stories of psychologically injured first responders and their transformation from wounded warriors to victorious heroes in How Heroes Heal: Stories Of First Responders And The Journey From Posttraumatic Stress Injury To Posttraumatic Growth.
Wooley explains in this book what happens in the mind and body during a critical incident, which makes it normal and expected to have difficult thoughts and feelings. Between the scientifically supported explanations and the moving, inspiring, and occasionally humorous stories, readers learn how to:
- Overcome addictions, isolation, rage, depression, and anxiety by regaining self-confidence
- Control emotional responses to triggers
- Rediscovering passion for work
- Develop a positive sense of purpose in daily life
- Establish a supportive network.
“First responders are not alone,” explained Marilyn J. Wooley. “How Heroes Heal offers a pathway toward recovery and growth, helping them get to the other side of trauma, learning how to function better than before, so that they not only survive, but thrive!”
Marilyn J. Wooley
Marilyn J. Wooley, Ph.D., has worked in psychology for more than 40 years. She also teaches Critical Incident Stress Management and is frequently requested by municipalities to provide prospective employees with forensic and pre-employment psychological evaluation services. She is an expert witness in a number of trauma-related fields.
Wooley received her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in 1977, and she did her postdoctoral training at the Long Beach Veterans Medical Center, where she treated Vietnam War veterans who had been injured or traumatized. In 1979, she opened a psychology practice after relocating to the remote northern part of California. She also served as a clinician for the West Coast Post-trauma Retreat and worked with the American Red Cross to assist 9/11 victims.
In professional journals, Wooley has written about posttraumatic stress injuries and recovering from critical incidents, including her own. In the nonfiction category of the 2022 Public Safety Writers Association, How Heroes Heal won first place.
Find more from Marilyn J. Wooley now:
Learn more at https://marilynjwooleyphd.com/, or connect with the author on Facebook (marily.wooley) or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyn-wooley-10817610a/).
How Heroes Heal: Stories of First Responders and the Journey from Posttraumatic Stress Injury to Posttraumatic Growth
Publisher: Wild Wooley Publishing
ISBN-13: 979-8986549804
Available from Amazon.com
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