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    Tattoos and Trauma: The Healing Power of Tattoos for Emergency Responders
    Tattoos and Trauma: The Healing Power of Tattoos for Emergency Responders
    Tattoos and Trauma: The Healing Power of Tattoos for Emergency Responders
    Ebook123 pages1 hour

    Tattoos and Trauma: The Healing Power of Tattoos for Emergency Responders

    By Dr. David Griffin

    ()

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    About this ebook

    As I travel in a metal cylinder going about 500 miles per hour, living in hotels, eating strange foods, and meeting hundreds of thousands of emergency responders, I’ve noticed something. Tattoos are increasing on us; including me. I’ve also noticed something else. Many people have little knowledge of the historic correlation between tattoos and mental health. But not just mental health, the many different reasons people have been getting tattoos for thousands of years.
    Considering this, Tattoos and Trauma is a book to help educate others about how tattoos can assist emergency responders in healing from traumatic incidents, traumatic careers, or traumatic life experiences. To do this, numerous examples from military personnel, firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical service personnel are presented in an easy to read and enjoyable format. No technical jargon here. Real talk for us, emergency responders.
    I wanted to go deeper though. So, to provide even more information, 148 current or former emergency responders expressed their perception on tattoos related to trauma via a 10-question survey. Over 87% of the 148 participants had the opinion that tattoos help individuals heal after traumatic incidents, traumatic careers, or traumatic life experiences. But that’s just the beginning. Wait until you read their actual words, feel their passion, learn of their heartbreak, embrace their thoughts, shed tears with them, and most importantly, learn from people who were brave enough to express their feelings to help others.
    Remember, judging is easy. Understanding is harder. See you on the inside...if you’re brave enough to think differently.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDr. David Griffin
    Release dateApr 8, 2019
    ISBN9781733968300
    Tattoos and Trauma: The Healing Power of Tattoos for Emergency Responders
    Author

    Dr. David Griffin

    Dr. David Griffin is a Battalion Chief and Deputy Director of Training in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the operator of the first due engine on June 18, 2007 when nine of his fellow firefighters perished in the line of duty. He has a Bachelor of Science in education from The Citadel, a Master of Science in executive fire service leadership, and a Doctorate of Education in organizational leadership and development. He is the author of the Best Seller, In Honor of The Charleston 9: A Study of Change Following Tragedy, ACTION: 9 Missions for Personal and Professional Growth, and From PTSD to PTG: A Firefighter’s (My) Journey After A Multiple LODD Incident, and Tattoos and Trauma: The Healing Power of Tattoos for Emergency Responders. David is also an international speaker and instructor, a certified Chief Fire Officer and Chief Training Officer with The Center for Public Safety Excellence, a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program at The National Fire Academy, and owner of On A Mission, LLC at drdavidgriffin.com.

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      Book preview

      Tattoos and Trauma - Dr. David Griffin

      TattoosAndTrama_CVR_Snap.jpg

      Tattoos

      and

      Trauma

      The healing power of Tattoos For Emergency Responders

      Dr. David Griffin

      Copyright © 2019 by Dr. David Griffin

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

      First Edition

      This book represents the author’s research and does not represent the views of his employer in the fire service. This is solely his work. Furthermore, ideas presented in this book are not to be viewed as a medical diagnosis or recommended treatments for mental health conditions. This is a study of how tattoos can possibly help individuals heal whether they have experienced a traumatic event or not. The author is not recommending or advocating for tattoos, only providing information of their possible healing effects. Tattoos may not be good for everyone. Please contact your healthcare professional to ensure you are healthy enough to get a tattoo. All of the responses to the survey were anonymous. Therefore, the author has no knowledge of anyone’s name that participated in the survey or any other personal information regarding them whatsoever.

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      It’s go time…

      I cannot teach anybody anything.I can only make them think.
      -Socrates

      Tattoos

      and

      Trauma

      Foreword

      By: Melissa Griffin

      When David first shared with me his vision for this book, I wasn’t sure that I could relate. After all, I’m the wife of an emergency responder whom is covered in tattoos (2 full arm sleeves, 2 full leg sleeves and a significant back piece) while I have none. That’s right, zero. How could I relate? How could I wholly immerse myself in this new project if I didn’t understand? Well talk about not judging a book by its cover. All it took was our start on the cover design and I was hooked.

      Whether you know our story, or if this is the first time you’re being introduced to us, the message is the same. Growth as an individual. Growth as a couple. This book is no different as it represents another chapter of our lives. Or rather should I say a piece of our lives that spreads throughout many chapters.

      As the wife of the engineer on the first due engine of the deadliest firefighter disaster in the United States since 9.11, I could never have imagined what was to come. The bad, the ugly, the worst, and everything in between. Years later came the good. Even over a decade later, I continue to learn more about that day as well as its aftermath. Both on a personal and professional level. The toll it took immediately and the effects that still remain to this day and will for years to come. What does that have to do with tattoos you ask? Well, now that brings me back to the premise of this book. The healing power of tattoos.

      To be honest, I don’t ever recall thinking of tattoos in a way of having a healing power. I suppose I’d always just thought of them as pieces of body art and not much more than that. I mean, I certainly thought about the fact that tattoos mean something to their owner, but I never contemplated their power. Rather, I always looked at tattooing as something you truly must love, to have it last on your skin for a lifetime. I’d never paid much attention to their story or even, I guess, took much notice. David has had tattoos since I met him, and you will learn a bit later, he has added dozens over the years. I certainly recognize what he was tattooing but never really the true why. Until now.

      As many of you who read this book will likely attest to, the pain of the process can be sickening, or so I hear. There have been many days when David comes home with the tattoo flu. I know now and admit to my naiveté over the years as my response was always the same ~ how can you complain when you choose to do this to yourself. Again, my mindset was, until now, always focused on the what as opposed to the why. It never crossed my mind that the pain was part of the healing. His healing.

      Working through this project and truly digesting all of the responses and feedback received has provided me the opportunity to wholly see ink now. To be curious of the story. To be respectful of the possible journey that coincides.

      I now understand David’s why. It is completely and utterly clear. Sure, it’s been right there all along, however, I never took the time to consider it. To me, I see his craving for the pain, his desire for the story, his story, to be imprinted forever on his being. I see the release and the passion as well as the tribute and memory spill out in every direction. Does he like how it looks? Of course, without a doubt. But it’s so much more than that. So much more than someone such as myself could ever truly understand but I can absolutely appreciate it on an entirely new level upon the completion of this book.

      I greatly welcome the opportunity to introduce you to this book and share with you my connection to its author and its story. I have no doubt, no matter your current perception and thoughts of tattoos on the surface, the chapters ahead will allow you the same moments that it has provided me. The moments to seek first to understand.

      Oh, and before I go, I leave you with this. Is it now my personal tattoo time?! Stay tuned and cheers!

      Author’s Note

      We’re going to start this journey with some very clear information. I am in no way, shape, or form advocating that people should get tattoos to heal their mental health issues or that tattoos will even heal their mental health issues. Everyone is different. What works for some may not work for others. I’m simply presenting a viewpoint to open people’s minds. Yes, I have tattoos and yes, I believe they’ve helped me heal and grow stronger throughout my journey with post-traumatic stress. Therefore, I was curious if there were other people like me. Please remember, new ideas tend to scare and intimidate people. With that being said, I ask you to continue reading with an open mind and thirst for knowledge.

      Alright. So here we go. Why did I write this book? Where does my motivation come from? Great questions that I’m sure you’re asking as we begin this journey together. Well, as I travel millions of miles in a metal cylinder going about 500

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