Some Police Work Stress

I've had a abnormally busy few weeks with a lot of work, overtime and nights with little sleep.  My first night of a long work-month opened with a gang shooting and a death (http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=128550735921901300).  This has led me to the topic of stress.  Obviously we all experience stress...work, death, arguments etc..  We've all experienced it.  I'm no expert on this topic but I believe that my job as a deputy sheriff allows me to witness some of the most stressful things that anyone will ever witness.  Here's an example:  this past summer I had a particulary stressful week with a huge number of calls at work that included a 4-year old that nearly drowned and seeing the upset family, pulling an injured suicidal transient out of the river and later that same day, trying to help a 14-year old live after he collapsed on the beach.  He died.  Then watching his mother touch her son and cry over his body.  Then thinking about my own family and worrying.  There were other incidents too but I think you get the picture.  This stress adds up.  Throw lack of sleep, irregular work hours, other activities etc. into the mix and you have a real stress volcano brewing.

Recently I spoke with a friend of mine that recently retired as a deputy sheriff.  He told me that ironically, upon his retirement, instead of feeling excited to enter a new chapter in his life, he actually felt a huge sense of loss and hopelessness.  He felt that he no longer had anything to contribute to society.  His life had no meaning.  Well, without going into too many details, he overcame this by getting a part-time job that he enjoys.  He likes helping others.  

After this hopelessness was lifted, he also felt something else lift.  The shackles of stress.  Strangely, he didn't even realize this stress was there until it was gone.  He said that it's a sad fact that he didn't know how much stress he carried on a daily basis until the stress was gone.  It was like an actual weight was lifted and he no longer had to carry it around.

I wish I could help you all reduce your stress, but honestly, I'm not sure I know how quite yet!  I'm still in the phase of recognizing it and trying to be aware of it.  I hope you all can too.  Obviously things like shifting your focus to doing things you like can help: taking a well-deserved mini-vacation or even 30 minutes of alone-time, doing your favorite hobby etc. is all nice but you ahve to make the time for it.  That's key.  Talking about what's stressing you out is helpful too.  Somtimes making a MoJoe blog and venting to cyberspace helps :).  

Another key is maintaing your own health.  If your body were a video game character this would be your "health points".  Too many hits and your body fades until it beeps...then oops, new life or dead.  Game over.  When a "life zinger" gets thrown at you, your body will expectedly become stressed and open you open to minor ailments or prolonged sickness.