Stress in the Law Enforcement Community

For those of us in the law enforcement community one of the biggest problems that we face on a daily basis is stress. Stress from the job, from home, from deadlines and many other internal and external stressors. So what are some of the ways that we can combat this evil force?

Before we delve into this serious problem, we must first understand where it comes from and how we normally deal with it. People have been dealing with stress for ages and we all deal with it in many different way. Stress is the wear and tear on our bodies as the direct result of  both internal and external factors in our daily lives. Internal stressors can be family issues or other internal issues that we may or may not have direct control over. External stressors can be problems with neighbors, friends, financial problems and other issues that we may not have direct control over.

How do we deal with stress? It is lamentable that some people suffer from so much stress that it will lead to a severe case of clinical depression, and as a result, turn to suicide as a way to escape this unbearable pain that they feel.

Stress can also lead to a series of other serious issues such as:

• chronic pain
• heart disease 
• high blood pressure
• drug/alcohol abuse
• divorce
• high turnover rates at work
• increase in leave usage

We have all suffered from stress at some point in time or another. We have also been depressed about something throughout our lives. The person that says that they have never suffered from either is only lying to themselves. Stress can be either a positive event or a negative event. Examples of stress as a positive event would be a wedding (unless the bride is bridezilla), a birth or a promotion. We can all think of examples of negative stress.

Stress can also provide some positive outputs:

• Gives us energy. Some people, when stressed, will find a way to expel all the energy that they have built up inside.  Whether its cleaning house, rearranging furniture, cleaning out garage, we find that we get to it and get it done even if we didn't have the predisposition to do it in the first place.
• Communication.  Stress can open up lines of communication that may have not otherwise opened up. We feel the need to talk about what it is that is bothering us and lets it all out in the open. Even if we have short-term negative effects from this, the end result is almost always positive.
• Determination. Sometimes stress will give us a determination that we may not have experienced before. We want to prove that the stressor will not overpower our will to succeed. Nothing makes me more determined to succeed than someone telling me that I can't do something or that it can't be done.

Combat the Stress

There are many ways to combat stress. Here are some tips:

• if the cause is something that you have no control over, and can't do anything to change it, don't let it get to you. Let it go.
• Have a hobby. No matter what you choose to do as a hobby, be faithful to it. It could be as simple as reading a good book, cooking, bird watching, it's your choice what you want to do.
• Get plenty of rest. If you wake up in the morning and don't want to get out of bed, you're not getting enough. Go to bed 30 minutes earlier and see if that helps.
• Have a nightly routine. Read a book, take a bath, watch TV, write in a journal. Your choice as long as you do it on a regular basis.
• Get some exercise. We all have time to get a little exercise done. This does not mean that you need to go to the gym. A walk around the neighborhood will do. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk a little faster at work. Park a little farther away from the entrance. Its simple little things that we can do to improve ourselves. Make sure that it is something that you enjoy doing so that it doesn't feel  like work. Exercise 15-30 minutes 3 times a week will do the trick.
• Become involved in community events. Whether it is through your church or another social group, become involved. The self-satisfaction that we get when we do something for someone else is very gratifying and a great stress relief method.
• Communicate. Talk with your loved ones. Don't shut them out of your life. The moment that we shut them out is the moment that we start to loose them. Too many Law Enforcement Officers have had their lives torn apart through divorce due to a lack of communication.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. How do you deal with stress?