| The law enforcement profession is legendary for | | | | an important job, but the human mind just isn't |
| its high stress. It is repeatedly in the top ten of | | | | designed to exist in a continuously shrinking frame |
| most stressful jobs. And there's nothing like police | | | | of reference and the full-blown cynicism that |
| work to make a candidate for 'bringing your work | | | | comes with it. Try to get out when you can, |
| home with you', because you naturally encounter | | | | keep socializing in your civilian life, stay current |
| things on the job that take some processing in | | | | with the culture. Maybe have a hobby or interest |
| the off hours to deal with. | | | | that takes you far away from the job. It helps |
| The first tip is to lose the macho exterior. As | | | | you remember that the whole world isn't one |
| John Wayne said, courage isn't not being scared. | | | | huge drama, and that there's still a lot of things |
| Courage is being scared as heck - and saddling up | | | | worth living for. |
| anyway. Acknowledge that you have picked a | | | | Take advantage of your force's stress |
| tough job to do, and that you're only too human. | | | | management and counseling services. No matter |
| Expecting huge reserves of guts from yourself, | | | | how tough you think you are, the procedures and |
| going around denying it by saying, "It doesn't | | | | practices your department puts in place are there |
| bother me.", this doesn't help you psychologically | | | | for a reason. Employee assistance programs were |
| work with and move past the issue. Being able to | | | | put in place to respond to the high incidents of |
| face the fact of stress helps you vent it to your | | | | stress disorders affecting officers in the field. |
| peers (or doctor, if need be), and move past it on | | | | Especially after a critical incident, you are, indeed, |
| your own. | | | | either in shock or dealing with some stage of |
| Second, it may be perfectly OK to have a drink | | | | grief. Even if you think you can handle things just |
| when you feel like it. But if you find yourself | | | | fine on your own, talking to the councilor never |
| stopping for a drink every single day after you | | | | hurt anything. |
| get off your shift, that's a big trouble sign. Police | | | | Learn when the time comes not to sweat the |
| work has one of the most frequent instances of | | | | details. Police work seems to bring out the |
| alcoholism, with police more likely to develop | | | | perfectionist nature. After all, attention to detail is |
| alcoholism than nearly every other profession. The | | | | a survival skill. Not only that, but you're |
| problem is not so much the alcoholism itself, as | | | | surrounded by perfectionists. Your peers and |
| that after a while it becomes your automatic | | | | superiors all had the same rigorous training you |
| answer to everything. Anything, even water, is | | | | did, and there's still a little drill sergeant left in |
| bad for you if you do it too much. The key is to | | | | everybody from their academy days. But going |
| moderate. By all means, if you just went through | | | | around expecting everything to be perfect all the |
| a scene where weapons were drawn and you | | | | time is just unrealistic. We do live in an imperfect |
| need a drink to stop your nerves shaking, that's a | | | | world, which is why you have your job, after all. |
| different matter. | | | | Revel in your family. The families of officers |
| Don't take it personally. This especially applies to | | | | receive a lot of residual stress from your job; it's |
| the pressure you get from the top. No matter | | | | tough for them, too. If you have a spouse and |
| what, every officer feels they deserved that | | | | kids, there's almost no limit to how much time |
| raise or promotion every time it comes around. | | | | you should spend with them, and it helps all of |
| Every officer gets frustrated when they see | | | | you keep a stronger family unit. Family problems |
| another not doing his or her job with perfect | | | | are another famous occupational hazard of police |
| ethics, or feel stressed out at the inherent | | | | work. Most especially infidelity is a frequent result. |
| inadequacies of the system. These are natural | | | | You should realize that serial affairs, like alcoholism, |
| problems, but if they didn't happen to you, they'd | | | | are just another escape mechanism that is likely |
| just happen to somebody else. It just happened | | | | to have you mentally trapped. It doesn't even |
| to you this time. An officer's career is likely to | | | | necessarily help if your spouse is also an officer; |
| have many ups and downs, and officers do tend | | | | what you actually need is the perspective of |
| to experience emotional drama over things that | | | | somebody who doesn't wear a uniform every |
| affect their career. It's just how things go | | | | day. |
| sometimes. | | | | The bottom line is, police work is a special job |
| Take a step back from the monoculture. After a | | | | that is prone to some of the greatest challenges |
| while, officers tend to identify so much with their | | | | of any profession. You are in the role of trying to |
| job and their peers that they become unable to | | | | be a hero to society, but don't forget to be a |
| see things from any other perspective. You do do | | | | hero for yourself. |