Mental Health for Law Enforcement

Stress – Stages and Victimization(Excerpt)

Step One: STRESSORThe event that sets the sequence in motion.

Step Two: ALARM REACTIONThe fight or flight reaction

Step Three: RESISTANCEWhere you begin to cope with the stress.

Step Four: EXHAUSTIONMind and body become weak from stress resistance stage.

Delayed Stress: The stress that we bury inside over a period of time.

Cumulative Stress: Multiple stresses from different sources dealt with during the same period of time. (Paying bills, health, college, job.)

Occupational Stress: The stress of the job.

Critical Incident Stress (CIS): One particular incident overwhelms the ability to cope. Post-Traumtic Stress Disorder

PRIMARY VICTIM: Those who are directly traumatized by an act.

+ Shot + Assaulted + Crime scenes + Accident scenes

SECONDARY VICTIM: Those that are affected by the trauma of others.

+ Family of victims + Spouses + Fellow officers

Stage One: IMPACT STAGE

Immediately following the event the feelings, thoughts and emotional responses have yet to be dealt with. Common feelings include numbness, isolation, denial and we revert to comfortable coping mechanisms (that may not be healthy).

Severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder patients never leave this stage. There is an inability to move past the initial shock and trauma. Events are often replayed in a persons mind, effectively forcing them to experience the trauma multiple times.

Stage Two: RECOIL STAGE

This stage is categorized by recovering from the initial shock. Feelings, thoughts and emotions are dealt with through expression. Anger, sadness, loathing and confusion are common emotions during this period. The healing process begins and this is when counseling is most effective.

Mental health issues will prevent a person from moving past this stage. Substance abuse and depression skew the thought process disallowing logical process of emotions. The majority of victims who cannot resolve conflict are stuck in this stage.

Stage Three: REORGANIZATION

The final stage of victimization is the reorganization of the new experience within your personal mental framework. The experience is put into perspective compared to your previous experiences and categorized into a memory. Sometimes a traumatic incident can evoke pleasant memories after reorganization.

The final stage of victimization can last the longest and may never be truly resolved even in a healthy process. A combat veteran may never fully understand or come to grips with their actions and may remain ambivalent about the trauma. Reorganization may also be done on a partial level. The veteran may adjust to their role, but never fully categorize the war effort which may produce mixed feelings.