Page 44 - FOP Magazine March 2019

Mental Health and Wellness Support
Advice from professionals to promote better mental healthcare
When we say spirituality, we’re talking more about a relation- ship with God, not so much a religious platform or a religious duty.
We all have to consciously make a decision about whether we’re going to live carnally, which means living by our senses: sight, touch, taste, smell – basically, what’s in front of us. That de- termines our actions, what we’re going to do. Police officers al- ways have their senses working. But at times, we have to focus on things unseen.
When you are in the 12-step program with AA, Step 3 asks you to make a decision to turn your life over to the care of God as we understand him. Don’t act to what’s in front of you; maintain awareness of what’s going on. Your relationship with God can be as personal as a close friend. It’s more a consciousness and awareness of God present in your life.
For me personally, and for police officers, we’ve all faced situ- ations and circumstances where we realize everything humanly possible failed and we are left with no other options. So, we say, “Oh God, get me out of this.” As soon as we’re done, though, we move on and continue to run our lives ourselves.
One of the things I have used to bring spirituality into my life is the serenity prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.” Another word for serenity is peace.
See if you can stop and make that connection. Many times, you
cannot change what’s going on in your life and on the job. That near-fatal accident or hearing bullets pass over your head — if you are an alcoholic like me, you look at those things and realize you cannot change them.
But you have the courage to change the things you can: I can change my thinking. I can change my actions. I can change my beliefs. The courage to change the things I can, that’s spirituality.
The serenity prayer does not mean you are not going to have any problems. The truth is, I have problems right now. But I look at them a lot differently because of the wisdom to know the dif- ference.
You think, “This is a problem. OK, I know I have God. I have a friend to help me maintain my peace, my serenity throughout it.” This requires work. It doesn’t happen overnight. For me, it’s been an 18-year-plus process. You have to make that decision in Step 3 to turn your life over, to improve your conscious contact with him. Once you do, you can get right physically, mentally and
spiritually.
Look at it this way: Your cellphone was charged when you left
this morning. As you go through the day, you call, you text, you go on the internet and the charge dwindles down. Then you re- charge it to get back to 100 percent. That’s what we have to do, something to keep us charged. Spirituality will enable us to do it.
Spiritual Reality
Officer Andre Bullock
Drug and Alcohol Counselor
CPD Professional Counseling Division/EAP
The Courage to Change
Is it time for you to make a major life change?
If alcohol or drugs are affecting your work, family or personal life, there is a solution.
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Amita Saint Joseph Hospital Chicago •2900 N Lakeshore Dr. Chicago, IL 60657 773-665-3398: Intake – Carol Brophy • 773-665-3371: Unit – after hours and weekends
44 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MARCH 2019