MSI Press Blog

  They run toward what the rest of us flee—flames, gunfire, wreckage, collapse. First responders carry the weight of our worst days, often without pause, without time to process, and without the support they need to heal. Behind every emergency call is a human being absorbing trauma in real time. Paramedics who cradle the dying. Firefighters who sift through ash and grief. Police officers who witness the aftermath of violence. Dispatchers who hear every scream but see none of the resolution. These aren’t just jobs—they’re acts of endurance, empathy, and exposure. The cost? Elevated rates of PTSD, depression, substance use, and suicide. Chronic stress reshapes the brain, weakens the immune system, and erodes relationships. And yet, many responders are trained to suppress emotion, to “tough it out,” to keep going. But resilience isn’t about silence. It’s about support. About peer networks, trauma-informed leadership, and systems that prioritize mental health as much as physical s...

  Precerpt (excerpt prior to publication) from   Pathways to Inner Peace  by Diane Dreher, currently available on pre-order. STRESS SKILLS WEEK 1, DAY 3 Today’s practice is a two-step process you can use whenever you’re feeling stressed. Your natural stress reaction can help you survive in an emergency—you can run away from a wild animal or jump out of the way of a speeding car. But most of the time, this stress reaction does not serve you. Problems with work, home repairs, bills, or relationships cannot be solved with the stress reaction of fight, flight, or freeze. if your stress reaction becomes constant, it can tense your muscles, shut down your digestive and immune systems, keep you from thinking clearly, and compromise your physical and emotional health. The good news is that instead of surrendering to constant stress, you can take charge of your life. By recognizing when you’re feeling stressed and responding more mindfully, you can create a new reality for yo...

  Coming soon!  21 Ways to Stay Alive When Your Job Is Killing You  (Kingman and Wise). Book Description: Are you burned out, broken down, or just barely surviving the workday? You're not alone—and you don’t have to stay stuck. In  21 Ways to Stay Alive When Your Job Is Killing You , leadership veteran Kingman and clinical psychologist Wise team up to deliver a powerful guide for anyone drowning in toxic work culture, impossible expectations, or soul-crushing stress. Through raw, relatable true stories and practical, evidence-based insights, they offer a lifeline: 21 transformational strategies to reclaim your health, sanity, and sense of purpose. This is more than a self-help book—it’s a survival manual for modern professionals. Discover what’s really wearing you down (it’s not always what you think) Learn how to set boundaries without burning bridges Rebuild your confidence, clarity, and control Find the courage to stay—or the freedom to leave Whether you're in cor...

  EMOTIONAL INATTENTION “He who looks outside dreams. He who looks insides awakens.” --Carl Jung   “It seems like almost everyone has ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) these days!” We live on overload, constantly bombarded by information and driven by the fast pace of life. Adult Americans on average spend ten and a half hours a day watching TV, listening to the radio, or using their smart phones and other electronic devices (Nielsen’s Total Audience Report, 2018). We are driven to succeed and push ourselves to keep busy and productive. To survive, we learn to multitask. We strain to keep all the balls we are juggling in the air. We want more and more, yet never seem satisfied. While technically only a few of us, about 6 percent, can be diagnosed with ADD, our culture keeps us distracted, impulse-driven, restless, and running in circles. So preoccupied, we never learn to listen to ourselves. I propose that the high-stress and instability of the American family contribute to ano...