The pressures of law enforcement put officers at risk for
high blood pressure, insomnia, increased levels of destructive stress hormones, heart problems, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide
, researchers have found through a decade of studies of police officers.
What stressors do police officers face?
Excessive aggressiveness
(which may trigger an increase in citizen complaints) Alcoholism and other substance abuse problems. Marital or other family problems (for example, extramarital affairs, divorce, or domestic violence) Post-traumatic stress disorder.
What are the major causes of police stress?
Lack of rewards for good job performance, insufficient training, and excessive paperwork
can also contribute to police stress. The criminal justice system creates additional stress. Court appearances interfere with police officers’ work assignments, personal time, and even sleeping schedules.
What are the sources of police stress and burnout?
The causes of burnout include
increased stress due to the extensive and ofter conflicting demands made of police officers
, the higher expectations among young police officers, excessive rules regarding minor matters, and a lack of clear performance standards.
What are some of the warning signs of stress for police officers?
Studies have shown that the 15 most prevalent stress warning signs for police officers include
sudden changes in behavior, erratic work habits
, increased sick time due to minor problems, inability to maintain a train of thought, and excessive worrying.
What are the common sources of stress?
- The death of a loved one.
- Divorce.
- Loss of a job.
- Increase in financial obligations.
- Getting married.
- Moving to a new home.
- Chronic illness or injury.
- Emotional problems (depression, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, low self-esteem)
Is police work stressful?
Research has demonstrated that
policing is a stressful occupation
and that this stress has a negative impact on police officers’ mental and physical health, performance, and interactions with citizens.
What are the pros and cons of being a police officer?
| Being a Police Officer Pros Being a Police Officer Cons | You learn how to deal with difficult people Plenty of emotional stress involved | Police officers have a good fitness level Your family will worry about you | Good job prospects Being a police officer can be stressful |
|---|
What are the most stressful jobs?
- Physician.
- IT Manager.
- Anesthesiologist.
- Financial Manager.
- Marriage and Family Therapist.
- Lawyer.
- Surgeon.
- Compliance Officer.
Can you be a police officer if you have heart problems?
Generally no
, unless you have some deformity or impairment of function as a result. Your assessing doctor will help you to determine if this is required.
What are common signs and symptoms of police officer burnout?
Emotional symptoms most common to police burnout are
anger and frus- tration
, which cannot be effectively expressed. This may lead to depres- sion, characterized by sleep and eat- ing disturbances and a feeling of pessimism at work and at home.
How does stress affect police families?
How Stress Hurts Law Enforcement Families. Stress has a direct impact on the personal lives of officers. Research shows that
police officers are at an increased risk of divorce due to stress from the job
(Galatzer-Levy et al., 2013). Officers also have higher rates of divorce than other occupations (Russell, 2014).
What are the types of stress?
- anxiety.
- cardiovascular disease.
- depression.
- high blood pressure.
- a weakened immune system.
What are 5 warning signs of stress?
- Heaviness in your chest, increased heart rate or chest pain.
- Shoulder, neck or back pain; general body aches and pains.
- Headaches.
- Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw.
- Shortness of breath.
- Dizziness.
- Feeling tired, anxious, depressed.
What are the 5 signs of mental illness?
- Excessive paranoia, worry, or anxiety.
- Long-lasting sadness or irritability.
- Extreme changes in moods.
- Social withdrawal.
- Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping pattern.
How do you know that you are stressed?
Emotional symptoms of stress include:
Becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and moody
.
Feeling overwhelmed
, like you are losing control or need to take control. Having difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind.
