As frustrating as some restrictions can be, officers who understand the laws are better equipped to make smart decisions—and that makes the job less stressful, McKinnon says.
You want to be able to make good decisions out there and knowing the idiosyncrasies in the law will give you more confidence. Camaraderie often runs high in police departments PDs.
But some officers still have trouble being open with their co-workers when they feel stress—or when they notice it in each other. Even beyond the general public, this can be a barrier between friends or family members. It makes you realize things like that can happen anytime. This kind of stress is something other officers will likely understand. Opening up to your co-workers will help with the things you see on the job and how they impact you.
McKenna says police departments should be honest in addressing burnout symptoms to better support the officers. Though it might be hard to explain your day to family and friends, it is vital that you maintain your support systems outside of the PD. Your family, a good group of friends or a community from church or volunteer projects can be a strong pillar of support for you.
I loved the people I worked with; they were wonderful. But I always had friends outside of it. Physical exercise is one of the most important preventative measures you can take against stress and burnout.
When you know something is getting to you, find a professional to talk to. Sometimes an issue needs more work than talking with friends or family can accomplish. Therapy is so valuable and could be a wheel to set in motion even before you hit a breaking point. It can also be helpful to get in a habit of repositioning your mindset to one of gratitude. He explains that while a good bust is hard to match in terms of thrill, the best thing about being a police officer, in the end, are the people you help.
Working odd hours is a definite stressor according to McKenna. Sleep deprivation—even slight sleep deprivation—negatively impacts mood and judgement. Police officers deal with the worst of society, McKenna says. Even when you are busy, get out of your car once in a while and get to know people—it shapes your perspective. These habits, along with a solid foundation of education and training, can help you remain successful and avoid burnout. Education especially plays a pivotal role.
Research indicates that officers with college education have a better buffer against burnout symptoms, to the point that some police departments incentivize their officers to get a college degree. Police training is pretty serious business, but it can make all the difference in the health, happiness and safety of police officers. Self-Stigma of seeking help and job burnout in mental health care providers: the comparative study of Lithuanian and the USA samples.
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Many times, we find ourselves coming out of a stressful situation stronger than before. The most important thing is to recognize when you feel stressed and work to identify what is causing it. Once stress is acknowledged, officers can work to effectively manage it and not let it consume their lives.
About the Author : Michelle L. Beshears earned her baccalaureate degrees in social psychology and criminal justice and graduate degrees in human resource development and criminology from Indiana State University. She most recently completed her Ph.
Michelle served in the U. Army for 11 years. As a commissioned officer she led numerous criminal investigations and worked with several external agencies as well. Michelle is currently an assistant professor of criminal justice at American Military University and is full-time faculty in the School of Security and Global Studies.
To contact the author, please send an email to IPSauthor apus. More Police1 Articles. More Police1 Exclusives. Make Police1 your homepage. Chief Carmen Best on the challenges facing police leaders.
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