stress
Stress... Killer or Protector of Law Enforcement Personnel? By Joseph M. Stromsness February 1998Stress is a term used by many, is somewhat misunderstood, and often used to describe a negativecondition or emotional state. People experience various forms of stress at home, work, in socialsettings, and when engaged in activities to simply have fun, such as playing sports. Police officer'sexperience stresses the same as others, but also in ways much different than the average citizen. Thedangers, violence, and tragedy seen by officers result in added levels of stress not experienced by theWhat is Stress? Stress is not a new phenomenon; it has been experienced throughout history. Stress isa biological response to some stimulus. Fear, panic, anger, tragedy, and even something as simple asbeing competitive can cause it. Stress can result in the competitiveness needed to succeed in business,achieve an education, foster social relationships, and win at sports. Is stress bad or good? It is both.The proper level of stress can benefit people in daily living. Well, what is bad stress and
All four factors aresymptoms that can stem from an officer's stress levels (Brown). , if you ask the average cop "Hey, what's been the scariest experience during your policecareer?" They will answer "My first marriage (Finn)!" All research shows police suffer a substantiallyhigher divorce rate with estimates ranging from 60 to 75% (Finn). Although an effective solution, most often it is not the solution that can be sought, and sometimesseems to be ridiculous advice. In police officers, stress can make the differencebetween injury or death, and going home at the end of the shift. The most common advice on managing stress is to avoid the stimulus that causes it. The greater the stress, the greater theneed to apply maximum thrust into this resistance! For the average person, possibly the hardest job ofstaying healthy is to admit that he/she has a problem. Police suicide is more directly related to relationship problems than to job stress! Of the last 14 suicidesamong the police officers in New York City, 12, or 86%, had to do with divorce or relationship breakup(Brown). Confidein a friend, relative, or fellow officer. The medical community has attributed stress to such biological responses as heart malfunctions, bloodpressure variations, gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, pain, depression, muscular discomfort, strokesand a host of nervous system related problems (Adams 401). Other factors (including possible medical conditions) could be affecting your ability to dealwith stress. During thistraining, the counselors focus on helping managers recognize how their own work styles can impactsubordinates. (Most officers who commit suicide have no history of having sought counseling). The stress of competing in athletic contests oftenworks in your favor by stimulating performance. The bottom line is that policeofficers cannot afford to let stress get out of hand.
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