Veteran shares resilience tips for tough times
How to survive and thrive through trauma – a fitting topic to get to grips with as we drag ourselves back into work after two weeks comatose in front of whatever Netflix and the bottom of the Quality Street box could serve up.
Unlike January’s credit card statement, however, this book is definitely one to savour amid the new year comedown – especially if life is proving a bit of a struggle.
Written by retired colonel Ash Alexander-Cooper (ex-RGR) in partnership with world renowned trauma specialist Dr Jessica Miller, the title combines real-life experiences inside and outside the army with the ‘clever sciency bit’ to help readers navigate life.
From a traumatic childhood to the sharp end of elite ops in the Herrick era, the author examines his responses to fear, loss and self-doubt to draw out lessons in resilience.
Second-guessing yourself as a leader is probably something that will chime with any soldier in command of others, even if it didn’t happen in the context of firefights with insurgents.
A veteran of eight Afghanistan tours, Alexander-Cooper found himself in the thick of combat on multiple occasions, losing comrades and surviving near-misses along the way.
These are recounted in heart-pounding detail – as well as the psychological after-effects he observed in himself and colleagues – making the book part military memoir, part self-help manual.
And away from the professional sphere, just about everyone will recognise some of the personal setbacks the former officer describes, not least an acrimonious relationship break-up.
The difficulty when dispensing any form of advice based on your own experience – especially when your life is outside most people’s frame of reference – is making it relatable to the average reader.
But by delving into the scientific thinking behind the concepts he is discussing, Alexander-Cooper shows how anyone can apply the same techniques.
Introspective without straying too far towards navel-gazing – another pitfall of the genre – this is a well-written, easy-to-read offering that should prove useful to anyone facing adversity or just generally wanting to understand more about mental health, be that their own or other people’s.
And let’s face it – in these turbulent times, we need all the help we can get.
Review: Becky Clark, Soldier
