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Police

Gary Ellis

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What Is

– “…Anything that places an adjustive (adaptive) demand on the organism (Han Selye)

– Positive Stress – Eustress

– Negative Stress – Distress

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Reaction to Stressors General Adaptation Syndrome

(GAS)

The Normal Reactive Cycle

• Alarm - Emergency reaction – fight or flight

• Resistance

• Exhaustion

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Alarm StageHYPERVIGILANCE

• Heart Rate increase• Blood pressure increase• Large muscle groups tense• Adrenaline rush• Increase blood sugar• Pupils dilate• Increased hearing acuity• Increased blood clotting• Increased metabolism• Blood flow increases to heart,

lungs and large muscles

• Perspiration• Digestive secretions slow• Dry mouth due to saliva

decrease• Bowel activity decreases• Extremities become cool• Sphincters tighten• More white blood cells enter

bloodstream• Cholesterol remains in the

blood longer• Dilation of the lung passages

and increased respiration

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Resistance Stage

• If stress continues adaptation is optimal

• The organism reacts

• Alarm stage symptoms disappear

• The person acts

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Exhaustion

• Excessive hormonal secretions have taken place

• Can cause physical maladiesulcers, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, heart attack, and other symptoms

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PRIOR TO POLICING

Friends Family Values Hobbies

Job SELF SELF Interests

Goals SELF SELF Beliefs

Dreams Hopes Innocence Optimisim

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THE POLICE VICTIM

JOB JOB JOB JOB

JOB SELF JOB JOB

JOB JOB SELF JOB

JOB JOB JOB JOB

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The Biological Rollercoaster

• Overinvested at work = Alive, alert, energy, involved, humour.

• Underinvested at home = Tired,detached, isolated, apathy.

• Where do you feel best?

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Causes of Police Stress

• Organizational practices and characteristics• Criminal justice system practices and characteristics• Public practices and characteristics

• The nature of police work itself- shiftwork---alienation.

• Suicide Rates have doubled since 1950 for Police Officers.

= HYPERVIGILANCE

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Ten “Condemn-nents” of Police Stress (J. M. Violanti)1. Give officers rigorous military

style training and completely reorient their lives.

2. Dress them in a conspicuous uniform and place them in a public place.

3. Allow the court system to scrutinize their every action as an officer and seldom grant them favorable results.

4. Demand that they be disciplined, orderly, and patient, no matter what others do to them.

5. Have them walk a narrow fence between departmental discipline and public condemnation.

6. Offer little support for them, their families, or their personal problems.

7. Call them jerks when they give you a ticket, and then complain that they are never around when needed.

8. Criticize or gawk at them while they are eating in a restaurant. Disturb their meal.

9. Force them to live their occupation 34 hours a day in a glass house.

10. Give them a gun and ask them to make life or death decisions in a split second.

6. HYPERVIGILANCE Kevin Gilmartin PhD.

7. Constantly on the ‘biological roller coaster’8. Over invested in work to feel alive,

energetic, and involved. (Needed for safety)9. Leads to exhaustion. (Skips resistance

phase)---Tired, detached, isolated, apathetic.10. Leads to singular identity as a police officer

and may forget about being a husband, parent, son, daughter, friend.

11. The officer then becomes vulnerable to:

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HYPERVIGLENCE OUTCOMES

• Feeling of victimization.

• Rationalizing and justifying behaviour.

• Blaming superiors or those in power.

• Sense of powerful hopelessness---no-one else understands ---the supercop syndrome.

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RESULTS OF HYPERVIGILANCE

• Acts of Omission---Cutting corners, avoiding duties..

• Acts of Commission---Deciding which rules to follow based on their own criteria.

• Entitlement vs. Accountability---Believing that officers are entitled to special privileges.

• Loyalty vs. Integrity---The blue wall. We have to take care of each other because no-one else understands.

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Stress Symptoms Checklist• Trouble getting to sleep or

staying asleep• Nightmares• Feeling anxious and tense• Sweating (when not exercising)• Blurred vision• Skin rash• Irregular menstruation• Restlessness• Itching• Biting Nails• Shaking or trembling• Chest pains

• Impatience• Irritability• Thoughts of hurting others• Feeling inferior to others• Feeling unattractive• Feeling lonely• Decreased interest in social

activities• Blaming self• Oversleeping• Awakening too early in the

morning• Grinding Teeth

Continued

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Stress Symptoms Checklist Continued

• Tightness in jaw• Tension headaches• Muscular stiffness and aches• Nervous tics and mannerisms• Cold hands or feet• High blood pressure• Racing heart or palpitations• Dizziness or lightheadedness • Diarrhea• Constipation• Nausea, upset stomach• Vomiting• Appetite loss/or gain• Increase in alcohol or

medication

• Upper respiratory cold• Shortness of breath• Difficulty breathing• Memory blanks• Rush of ideas• Daydreaming• Confusion• Poor concentration• Indecision• Worrying• Persistent intrusive thoughts• Feeling of impending danger• Desire to escape or hide• Feel tight bands around head or

body

Continued

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Stress Symptoms Checklist Continued

• Sense of choking or tightness in throat• Numbness in parts of the body• Muscular weakness in part of the body• Decreased sex interest• Feeling guilt, shame, or embarrassment• Thoughts of death or suicide• Fatigue, lack of energy• Apathy, complacency• Lack of pleasure in things• Feeling depressed• Crying spells• Feeling trapped• Future looks hopeless

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Police Stress Problems

• Alcoholism

• Drug use

• Anabolic Steroids

• Suicide

• Domestic Violence

• Violence or Aggression

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Indicators of Stress• Alcoholism/Drugs• Sudden Behavior Changes• Slow change in behavior,

deterioration of positive behaviors

• Erratic work habits• Increased Sick Time• Can’t maintain a train of

thought• Excessive Worrying

• Grandiose behavior• Fatigue• Peer Complaints• Citizen Complaints• Consistently Picking on

People• Sexual Promiscuity• Excessive Accidents• Excessive Injuries• Manipulation of Other

Officers or Citizens

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Responding to Stress• Exercise • Proper diet (not the 5 cop food groups -- grease, coffee,

spice, salt, and donuts)• Adequate rest• Leisure interests (hobbies)• Meditating and praying• Avoid smoking and drinking• Establish support groups• Network of friends (including people outside cops)• Monitoring yourself and your problems/opportunities• Relaxation techniques• Reasonable expectations (career and life)

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If you look at another and cannotsee yourself,

then you haven’t looked deep enough.