Mindfulness For Warriors: Empowering First Responders to Reduce Stress and Build Resilience

by Kim Colegrove, Becca Anderson (Foreword)

“Mindfulness for Warriors is a work of major importance that offers practical approaches to self-care and serenity for our first responders...” — Louise Harmon , author of Happiness from A to Z
#1 New Release in Military Families
A traumatic way of life.  First responders have the incredibly difficult job of running toward danger while the rest of us run away. No training prepares them for what they see and endure. Kim Colegrove understands what it’s like to watch someone go through that. After 30 years in law enforcement, her husband took his own life. This agonizing experience opened Kim’s eyes to the desperate need for an effective form of stress-relief and support for first responders.
The power of meditation.  Taking care of our mental health is a priority. For first responders, like cops and EMTs facing trauma, ensuring that their heads are in a healthy place is crucial. Kim is here to propose meditation as a resource for first responders.
A source of hope.  In 2017, Kim founded The PauseFirst Project, Mindfulness for First Responders. Kim offers the PauseFirst block of training to organizations across the country; teaching techniques that help reduce stress, regulate emotion, and improve overall health and well-being. Her work to bring awareness is a tribute to both her husband and the countless other first responders struggling with the realities of their jobs.
In Mindfulness for Warriors
If you’ve looked for encouragement from books like  Bulletproof Spirit, Bullets in the Washing Machine,  or  I Love a Cop (Third Edition) ; you will find a further source of healing in  Mindfulness for Warriors .

Genres: Health, Psychology, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2020

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was one of the better one’s I’ve read related to mental wellness and first responders. It is an easy read with a real sense of urgency behind every word. It’s later chapters are a great first step for anyone looking for a healthier way of life, with real easy strategies and tools that you can use right away. My only complaint is that the majority of the book is made up of telling the horror stories of first responder after first responder. I think this is done on purpose, knowing that the target audience is not one who will take mindfulness or meditation seriously without strong testimonies for it from those who are “walking the walk.” However, for me this part was a little too much and I ended up skimming over a few stories. Overall, it was good but not exactly what I was hoping for.

[Kenneth Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a clear picture of the effects of trauma that all first responders face in their careers. The author presents case studies of the experiences of first responders, along with her own experience of losing her husband to suicide shortly after his retirement from law enforcement. It is a personal read, with a passionate appeal for first responders to give attention to their mental health, and the experience of their friends and loved ones affected by (unprocessed) work-related trauma. Meditation techniques are presented as a tool for managing stress and remaining a healthy first responder, and a healthy mother, father, friend, son, sister, etc. The book is relevant, a quick read, and gives some great tools for first responders. I graduated from paramedic school in 1982, and issues of PTSD, mental health, etc., were known about, vaguely, but were veiled by terms like "burn-out," losing the edge," etc, and those were not the way a paramedic wanted anyone to think of him/her! Nice to see the issue being addressed in clear terms, with solid meaning!

[Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was more of a memoir than a how-to. A small portion of the text at the end of the book provides practical, applicable mindfulness skills, and that section is a bit redundant. If I were to recommend this to my clients it would be with those caveats in mind. The personal anecdotes shared by first responders in the first part of the book could definitely be useful to normalize and de-stigmatize mental health in the first responder community. As a guide for mindfulness practices, it is a good intro, but that content is relatively lean and somewhat disappointing.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy.

You will never know the struggle of another until you have been in it as well. Thankfully for most people you will never have to endure the raw emotional pain and strength of this beautiful human. The author takes you deep into a world that many will never appreciate and in a time when it is so important to learn. Thanks for the amazing read and to everyone of the many people who put or have lost their lives to save ours.

[Fred Leland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding resource and must read for first responders

Finished this book in 2 sittings. Love the personal and candid stories from the first responders interviewed. The lessons learned and what needs to change are great tools to help learn the benefits of mindfulness.

The stories are written and such fluid and candid way they’ll be very helpful to anyone reading and utilizing the methods discussed the book.

[Davina · Rating 5 out of 5]

By page count, I imagine more time is spent trying to convince warriors to practice mindfulness vs time spent in instruction. However, she's right, and provides plenty of examples to bolster her argument. Her instructions are clear and concise when it comes to instruction, and includes plenty of techniques to fit almost any situation. I think this would be a good intro for any first responder, including community volunteers.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that brings awareness to the trauma and secondary trauma that First Responders experience on the job. This trauma and long-term stress can lead to family problems, health problems, and ever-growing incidents of suicide. From first-hand experience, Kim gives research results and obtainable tips on dealing with the past and the stress it causes. I am a spouse of a First Responder and will say she is spot on with her descriptions. This was a great source of information.

[Cory Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is a widow whose husband took his own life after a 30+ year career in law enforcement. The information is mostly anecdotal as it’s intended to motivate law enforcement and first responders to meditate. It’s a great introduction to mindfulness for LEOs and first responders.

[Nicholas Zimet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, it really landed well with my own experiences with depression and in dividing my mental health from my work. Recommended for other Healthcare workers and first responders!

[Billie Heide · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheated on this 1 and got the audio disk. Very telling for those who have a 1st responder in their family. They did well with a tough subject that no one really wants to talk about but needs to.

[Michael Horwath · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time paramedic, I really connected with this book. All of the stories were relatable and the methods suggested for meditation and mindfulness were easy to try out and ultimately implement. Great book for those first responders and military members that are looking for something to help them find ways to cope with the mental stresses these jobs carry.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for sharing this with the world.