Page 32 - FOP August 2019 Magazine

STOP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31
It appears so.
“I think it’s great that they provide something like this because deep down, officers need it,” confirms Mark Bradley, a 19-year veteran who works in 019 and attended the seminar for the sec- ond consecutive year. “They need some type of stress reliever, somebody to talk to. I think that’s the main problem. Officers get that macho thing about themselves and don’t want to talk to anybody about their problems. So bringing people together like this, I think it’s really good.”
Cumulative build up
The reluctance to talk about stress that inhibits most officers dissipates when coming to the seminar. Bradley considered the question of how bad the stressors have become for Chicago Po-
lice Officers.
“Terrible would be the word,” he responds. “It’s like we can’t
do anything right. Whether you’re right or wrong, you’re wrong.” Under such a climate, the causes of stress are intensifying. Job pressure, money, health, relationships and family, poor nu- trition, media overload and sleep deprivation are some of the
top causes of stress in the U.S.
For police officers, add line-of-duty deaths, critical incidents
and changing shifts as multipliers. For Chicago Police Officers, add the fear of a lawsuit and fatigue, not to mention the Depart- ment-driven stressors such as feeling inadequately supported, unfair treatment, inexplicable disciplinary action, civilian over- sight and the arbitrariness of new general orders being issued.
Consequently, stress might be building up to a boiling point if you experience any of the following behaviors:
• Anger
• Argumentativeness
• Blaming others
• Drug and/or alcohol abuse
• Excessive violence
• Irritability
• Inability to concentrate
• Lack of control
• Nail biting
• Obsession with work
• Rage
• Uncontrollable urges to cry
• Withdrawal
Stress also takes a toll on the body in the form of heartburn, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia and low sex drive. Rice articulates how it all adds up.
“With that cumulative buildup, we never get a chance to fully recover,” he details. “You need 24 hours of calmness to recover,
Al Ferreira, the peer support program manager, coordinates the seminar for the Department’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
32 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ AUGUST 2019
HANLECYENTEARTORIGINSTM HANNAH'SHOUSEBYORIGINSTM HEADWATEARTSORIGINSTM ORIGINSRECOVERCYENTERTM TRANSITIONASTORIGINSTM
Origins Behavioral HealthCare is a group of age and gender-specific substance use and co-occurring disorder treatment programs. With locations in Florida and Texas, Origins offers sophisticated
clinical, medical, and spiritual care for adults.
• Extensive experience with first responders • Advanced psychological testing
• Medical care for acute conditions
• Multiday family programming
• Concierge-style admissions • Trauma-informed
~ ~a ~ ~~
ORIGINS
OriginsRecovery.com
I 844.452.9959