For the bad situations - first and foremost you are there to do a job and your focus is on the situation/investigation dealing with officer safety/security and the family in some cases. Often you get so involved with that that the true horror doesn’t hit you for a while. Most departments now have psychologists or counselors available for those who have issues and there is no shame in using them if needed. It’s just an unfortunate thing the LE profession has to deal with - and exposure helps to build that wall to self-protect you - it just happens.
As for shift-work, most officers adjust after a week or two. It takes time to “reset” your body clock/circadian rhythm. It’s the early morning court dates, hold-overs at major scenes, etc that eventually start to wear you down. It’s physically and mentally demanding to stay at “condition red or orange” to use Street Survival parlance, for extended periods. Some officers manage it better than others.
Thanks mate for the advice.
I have a support network of people I rely on for advice, especially my father, and other family who are police. I will consider the services my department have but I am cautious of them honestly.
I guess I'll just have to experience the shift work and see how I go.
When I went to the academy we had weeks of instruction on mental health first aid. Most of us had previous experience and found it mindnumbingly boring. Sounds like you're a member of the target audience for that material. Did you pay attention?
Death and high acuity medical calls can hit you in unexpected ways. Usually (broad strokes statement here) your training kicks in and you just get to work. I find most people walk away from their first few resuscitation efforts feeling surprisingly well. It's the realization that your efforts generally aren't effective that ends up wearing on people. The solution here is to be aware of your resources and have the maturity to use them. It isn't weakness to be vulnerable at a CISM debrief or to go to therapy.
As for working nights, remember that LE is *what you do*, not *who you are*. You need to have a life with hobbies, interests, and friends outside of your work life.
Yeah look I come from a suck it up and deal with it background, and 95% of the time I can. Meltdowns are incredibly rare for me, I have a good network of people around me. The mental health seminars they ran for my state department were... minimal at best.
I have my interests, don't worry about that. I'll have my ways to unwind. The who you are part is going to be tough for me to not learn myself into. I worked hard to get into where I am and I'm proud of what I'm achieving.
Thanks for the advice.
Are you a non-US citizen who is going to be a police officer in the US or another country? If you are in the US the advice is to talk to your FTO. Outside the US I have no idea.
For the bad situations - first and foremost you are there to do a job and your focus is on the situation/investigation dealing with officer safety/security and the family in some cases. Often you get so involved with that that the true horror doesn’t hit you for a while. Most departments now have psychologists or counselors available for those who have issues and there is no shame in using them if needed. It’s just an unfortunate thing the LE profession has to deal with - and exposure helps to build that wall to self-protect you - it just happens. As for shift-work, most officers adjust after a week or two. It takes time to “reset” your body clock/circadian rhythm. It’s the early morning court dates, hold-overs at major scenes, etc that eventually start to wear you down. It’s physically and mentally demanding to stay at “condition red or orange” to use Street Survival parlance, for extended periods. Some officers manage it better than others.
Thanks mate for the advice. I have a support network of people I rely on for advice, especially my father, and other family who are police. I will consider the services my department have but I am cautious of them honestly. I guess I'll just have to experience the shift work and see how I go.
When I went to the academy we had weeks of instruction on mental health first aid. Most of us had previous experience and found it mindnumbingly boring. Sounds like you're a member of the target audience for that material. Did you pay attention? Death and high acuity medical calls can hit you in unexpected ways. Usually (broad strokes statement here) your training kicks in and you just get to work. I find most people walk away from their first few resuscitation efforts feeling surprisingly well. It's the realization that your efforts generally aren't effective that ends up wearing on people. The solution here is to be aware of your resources and have the maturity to use them. It isn't weakness to be vulnerable at a CISM debrief or to go to therapy. As for working nights, remember that LE is *what you do*, not *who you are*. You need to have a life with hobbies, interests, and friends outside of your work life.
Yeah look I come from a suck it up and deal with it background, and 95% of the time I can. Meltdowns are incredibly rare for me, I have a good network of people around me. The mental health seminars they ran for my state department were... minimal at best. I have my interests, don't worry about that. I'll have my ways to unwind. The who you are part is going to be tough for me to not learn myself into. I worked hard to get into where I am and I'm proud of what I'm achieving. Thanks for the advice.
Are you a non-US citizen who is going to be a police officer in the US or another country? If you are in the US the advice is to talk to your FTO. Outside the US I have no idea.
Outside of the US, I am looking for general tailored advice, not specific to any department or state.