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by Beau Dooley (Author)
You, This Is Me . . . Over? is NOT another war story. It is a never-before-experienced deep dive into the furthest corners of a Green Beret's personal psyche.
When former Green Beret Beau Dooley went from elite soldier to civilian following several tours of duty, the sharp transition had a marked impact on his mental health and sense of self. On his journey to reconcile his warrior mentality with the relatively mundane nature of everyday life, he experienced significant struggles with PTSD and even endured a near-fatal breakdown. But this wasn't the end of his story. Finding a different kind of fortitude from the one he drew from every day as a seasoned veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, Dooley entered an era of recovery-and of advocacy.
When veterans get stuck between the competing inner and outer worlds of God, family, and country, these conflicts often hinder them from fully fitting back into the society they have fought to protect. Recognizing their deep need for support as they return from combat, Dooley was inspired to pen a book in which he lays himself bare, displaying emotional vulnerability to encourage others to work through their pain instead of letting it consume them. His personal essays and poetry depict a fractured person brought back together by the love of his wife, brothers-in-arms, and family as well as a rediscovered connection to the world outside himself. Most importantly, they provide a glimmer of hope for those who are in the place Dooley was when he nearly ended his life.
You, This Is Me . . . Over? offers insight into what is going on inside veterans' hearts and minds, with the hope of increasing understanding and opening up conversations that will save lives. Ultimately, readers should understand that even if they call for help in the most quiet, desperate, vulnerable voice, someone will come back over the radio to say they're there-and they aren't going anywhere.
