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Stress Management Stress Management for Peace Officersfor Peace Officers
Chief David Rider
Fort Bend ISD Police
ObjectivesObjectives
Recognize and differentiate between positive and negative stress
Diagnose personal and organizational stress and stressors
Identify specific problems and apply treatments Gain practical knowledge about techniques that
can be readily applied Practice, discuss and problem solve
What is “Stress”?What is “Stress”?
A mentally or emotionally disruptive condition in response to adverse external or internal influences and capable of affecting physical and mental health.
“…a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.”
-Merriam-Webster, 1998
What is “Stress”?What is “Stress”?There are different kinds of stressThere are different kinds of stress
Distress
Eustress
DistressDistressThe The “bad”“bad” kind of stress. kind of stress.
Work demandsDeath of a friend or family memberCar troublesFinancial issues
EustressEustressThe The “good”“good” kind of stress. kind of stress.
Job promotion Purchasing a new homeMarriageBirth of a babyThe Holidays
Distress versus EustressDistress versus Eustress
The “dis” and “eu” refer to the stressor, not the impact of the stressor.
Both can be equally taxing on the bodyStress is cumulative in nature.
Job Stress: External to Job Stress: External to AgencyAgency
Lack of respect from traditional LE agencies
Frustration with Juvenile Justice SystemCourt SchedulingPerceived Lack of Public SupportNegative / Distorted Media CoverageDecisions of Powers That Be
Job Stress: Internal to AgencyJob Stress: Internal to Agency
Offensive PoliciesPoor Training / No Career OpportunitiesLack of Recognition for Good PerformanceBenefits,Work Conditions, EquipmentPaperworkInconsistent DisciplineFavoritism
Stressors in Work ItselfStressors in Work Itself
Shift WorkFrequent Exposure to Misery and BrutalityBoredom to Sudden ActionFear / Dangers of JobResponsibility of Protection of LifeFragmented Nature of JobWork Overload
Stressors on Individual OfficerStressors on Individual Officer
Job Competence, Success, SafetyNecessity to ConformSecond Job / Further EducationSocial Status Change
Stages of StressStages of Stress
Alarm Stage – At onset of event, physical and psychological changes occur. Perception disrupts your body’s normal balance and body reacts as best as possible.
Resistance Stage – Body tries to cope or adapt by beginning to repair damage.
Exhaustion Stage – Stressor not being managed effectively and body / mind are not able to repair the damage.
Emotional Symptoms of Emotional Symptoms of StressStress
DivorceAlcoholismSuicideAbrupt change in typical behaviorRapid mood swingsOverly suspicious
Emotional Symptoms of Emotional Symptoms of StressStress
Overly hostileAlways blaming others for problemsBecoming argumentativeDepression
Physical Symptoms of StressPhysical Symptoms of Stress
Digestive disordersHeadachesExcessive illnessesBlood pressureSleep disorders
Post Traumatic Stress Post Traumatic Stress DisorderDisorder
Anxiety disorder that can occur after someone experiences a traumatic event that caused intense fear, helplessness, or horror.
Usually sudden and unexpectedOther names include Post Traumatic
Incident Stress and Critical Incident Stress
PTSD - HistoryPTSD - History
Dates back to Civil War
World War I and II Korean War Vietnam War Desert Storm Iraqi Freedom War
PTSD – Triggering EventsPTSD – Triggering Events
WarWitnessing or experiencing violenceChild abusePartner abuseShootingsAuto accidentsAir crashes
Psychological Reactions to a Psychological Reactions to a Shooting IncidentShooting Incident
The Shooting:View the event in slow motionSenses keenly attuned to the eventSome can see the bullet leave the gunSome see the bullet hit the suspectThey see the blood come out of the body
and the body bend and fall
Psychological Reactions to a Psychological Reactions to a Shooting IncidentShooting Incident
Flashbacks:Event is re-lived in dreams and nightmaresNightmares reflect unexpressed feelingsConscious recognition of event can occur
(ex: Officer may drive past location of event and re-live the event)
Psychological Reactions to a Psychological Reactions to a Shooting IncidentShooting Incident
Fear:Of the violent nature of the eventOf insanity when they can’t shake the
memoriesOf real or imaginary retributionOf criminal or civil charges filed on themCause to avoid future confrontations so as
not to show a pattern of unjustified violence
Transition PhasesTransition PhasesFive phases a person goes throughFive phases a person goes through
Denial PhaseAnger PhaseBargaining PhaseDepression PhaseAcceptance Phase
Denial PhaseDenial Phase
Tendency to reject the traumatic incident occurred
DisbeliefMay be brief or non-existent in shootings
Anger PhaseAnger Phase
Feeling of anger or resentment that the traumatic event “had to happen to me”
Feeling of anger toward the suspect who “forced me to take action”
Depression PhaseDepression Phase
Often the longestIt’s severity depends on:The individual’s basic personalityThe nature of the eventThe reaction of the departmentThe reaction of the communityThe officer’s support system
Acceptance PhaseAcceptance Phase
The officer returns to a normal routineThe officer “gets over” the total
preoccupation with the eventAccepts the fact that the event occurredResumes normal lifeMay still have periodic times of depression,
anxiety, and insomnia
Possible SymptomsPossible Symptoms
Heightened sense of danger Anger Nightmares Isolation / withdrawal Fear / anxiety about future situations Sleep difficulties Flashbacks Emotional numbing Depression Alienation
Possible SymptomsPossible Symptoms
Guilt / Sorrow / Remorse Problems with authority figures, rules, regulations Family problems Feelings in insecurity / loss of control Sexual difficulties Alcohol / drug abuse Suicidal thoughts Similar to victims
What Influences Stress What Influences Stress Levels?Levels?
Ability to laugh at one’s selfAttitude towards one’s jobSelf conceptAttitude toward those we encounter
Stress ReductionStress Reduction
Is there such a thing? We can reduce our
stress in two ways: Verbalizing our
feelings and… Relaxation techniques
VerbalizingVerbalizing
Talk with co-workers Peer counseling Talk with significant others Talk with supervisor Talk with clergy member Seek professional counseling Assertiveness information Aggressive characteristics
Relaxation Relaxation
You must be able to relax
Experience relaxation techniques:
Deep breathing Yoga Meditation
Life StyleLife Style
What role does your life style play in stress management?
Smoking Drinking Sleep and rest
RecreationRecreation
What role does recreation play in stress management?
Get hobbies Have friends outside
of law enforcement
Coping With StressCoping With StressAppropriate or Not?Appropriate or Not?
Drinking Kicking the dog Drugs Exercise Hunting, fishing Needlepoint Sleeping Time off from work Eating Reading TV / Movies
Problems, Symptoms, and Problems, Symptoms, and Responses to Substance Abuse Responses to Substance Abuse
in Law Enforcementin Law Enforcement
Alcohol and Drugs at WorkAlcohol and Drugs at Work
A significant number of US workers abuse alcohol and / or drugs.
Alcohol and / or drug use occurs on the job as well as off the job
Alcohol and drug use endangers the health and safety of these workers, their co-workers, and the public
Law enforcement is not immune
Alcohol and Drug AbuseAlcohol and Drug AbuseFindings:Findings:
Abuse in the U.S.
Abuse in Law Enforcement
Personal Experiences
Work Place Alcohol / Drug Work Place Alcohol / Drug Abuse in U.S.Abuse in U.S.
It is estimated that; Approximately 10% can’t do their job due to
alcohol abuse. Approximately 3% can’t do their job due to drug
abuse. Approximately 10-23% use drugs (illicit or
prescription) on the job. Up to 65% of new work force members have used
illegal drugs.
Law Enforcement Law Enforcement Alcohol / Drug AbuseAlcohol / Drug Abuse
Survey of 2,200 officers in 29 departments in US revealed 23% of officers had serious alcohol problems.
Study of 6,182 Canadian police officers: 11% drank more than 5 drinks a day 13% drank more than 3 drinks a day 37% used illicit drugs in their lifetime 14% used illicit drugs in the past year 7% used illicit drugs in the past 30 days
Law EnforcementLaw EnforcementAlcohol / Drug AbuseAlcohol / Drug Abuse
Questionnaire to Chicago police officers revealed 40% drank while on duty.
Mid-western state study revealed 53% came to work with a hangover…
And an “average” officer drank alcohol on the job 16 days a year.
Personal Alcohol /Drug AbusePersonal Alcohol /Drug Abuse
Evaluate your own use of alcohol and drugs.
Assist co-workers who are experiencing alcohol and/or drug problems.
Responsibilities to Responsibilities to Co-WorkersCo-Workers
Should you intervene if you suspect a co-worker of abusing alcohol and / or drugs?
Why?
Responsibilities to Co-Responsibilities to Co-WorkersWorkers
You You CANCAN Help! Help!Be aware and recognize the problemUrge the person to seek help Encourage the person after they seek helpAvoidance leads to serious physical and
emotional problems by user.
Evaluation of Personal Evaluation of Personal Alcohol/Drug UsageAlcohol/Drug Usage
Do you use alcohol and/or drugs? (Include all prescription and non-prescription drugs.)
Why do you use alcohol and or drugs you listed? Are there medically sound alternatives to using drugs?
(Note: see your physician before discontinuing any medicine.)
What drug taking practices are broadly accepted in our society? Which are generally disapproved of? What practices are ambiguous?
How do you feel personally about alcohol and drugs?
““The amount of preparation and training The amount of preparation and training that takes place prior to a critical incident that takes place prior to a critical incident
will, to a large degree, determine the will, to a large degree, determine the cognitive, emotional, physical, and cognitive, emotional, physical, and
behavioral impact of the critical incident behavioral impact of the critical incident not only for the individual but for the not only for the individual but for the
organization as well.” organization as well.”
-Maggio and Terenzi-Maggio and Terenzi