Stress coping and anger management

[barca101]

My outlet is to go shooting. I usually go almost every weekend. I really enjoy it. I have gotten really good w/ my hand gun, rifle, and shotgun. I bring 2 of my friends, who are non Leo, so I don't talk about work. We just talk about our hobby.

[Watchur6]

Faith, working out, reading, driving around, music, fishing, shooting and believe it or not, chores. Mowing the lawn, taking out trash, cooking, dishes and so on. Things that require little effort but are distracting, very therapeutic for me.

[SVT-40]

Amnesia is a good thing...I was just able to not let stuff really get to me, and let it pass by.

Focusing on what is in front of you instead of behind...

You make your own world. The dirt bags and dead bodies are only temporary.

[Bainter1212]

My uncle has been an LEO for a couple of decades and he has definitely struggled with issues, especially anger issues.
The worst was when he was a detective. He was put into a special unit assigned to investigate crimes against children. My uncle is a pretty sensitive guy who has two daughters and I think that was kind of a breaking point for him. His marriage to my aunt broke up about that point in time.
He asked to be put back on the street and they let him. Pretty much took him out of the running ambition-wise but he seems to be emotionally handling the street a lot better than dead/abused kids all the time.
Watching my uncle go from being a happy-go-lucky guy into a ball of resentment pretty much sealed the deal for me......no way would I ever be a cop.
If you can handle the really bad stuff and leave it at work, you are gifted or just lucky.

[IrishJoe3]

My uncle has been an LEO for a couple of decades and he has definitely struggled with issues, especially anger issues.
The worst was when he was a detective. He was put into a special unit assigned to investigate crimes against children. My uncle is a pretty sensitive guy who has two daughters and I think that was kind of a breaking point for him. His marriage to my aunt broke up about that point in time.
He asked to be put back on the street and they let him. Pretty much took him out of the running ambition-wise but he seems to be emotionally handling the street a lot better than dead/abused kids all the time.
Watching my uncle go from being a happy-go-lucky guy into a ball of resentment pretty much sealed the deal for me......no way would I ever be a cop.
If you can handle the really bad stuff and leave it at work, you are gifted or just lucky.

Yup. A lot of the stuff LEOs deal with is pretty caustic, and I think its safe to say that very few make it through a career without scar tissue. The job has its rewards comes with benefits, but its really hard to put a price on the permanent damage.

[Ron-Solo]

The stress almost killed me, messed up my blood pressure and my heart rhythm. I saw a lot of ugly and evil in my day, including one of the "Night Stalker" crime scenes. Add in having to shoot four people, and it builds up and takes its toll on the body.

Had to get a pacemaker to keep it running. After that, I learned not to hold it in. Hobbies help bleed off the stress.

Some guys self medicate with booze. Never went that direction.

[1CavScout]

^^^ Hope you are doing good now.

[Ron-Solo]

^^^ Hope you are doing good now.

Thanks. Things are good now. I still have nightmares sometimes, but I've learned to cope with them. A mild form of PTSD according to one doctor I spoke with, but nothing to worry about.

[1CavScout]

Good to hear. Hopefully things will get better as more time goes by.

[LocalsOnly]

Good friends to be able to talk to that actually listen to what you're saying. I can't/don't want to talk about it with the wife. She can't handle listening to that stuff and I don't want her to dwell on any of it either.

[9mmepiphany]

Peer Support was pretty successful on my department for addressing stress.

I'd be interested in the perception of the program of officers from other departments.

[Spyder]

I'm on our CISM team. Strong believer in it.

[pitbuljake]

The stress almost killed me, messed up my blood pressure and my heart rhythm. I saw a lot of ugly and evil in my day, including one of the "Night Stalker" crime scenes. Add in having to shoot four people, and it builds up and takes its toll on the body.

Had to get a pacemaker to keep it running. After that, I learned not to hold it in. Hobbies help bleed off the stress.

Some guys self medicate with booze. Never went that direction.

Sounds like you went through a lot, that's tough. I wish you nothing but the best!


BTW, don't know if you're a religious person, but I personally found comfort in speaking directly to the lord himself, it helped.

[BigStiCK]

Being blessed with a great wife & family sure helps. We were married 10 years before I joined. I have shared most of what I've seen with her, and thats a huge help. Being a human jungle gym for my boys is also therapy. Weights/exercise is also theraputic. I also tend towards edge of envelope type hobbies that really cleanse the soul. Faith & prayer.

[Rockit]

Lots of hobbies to keep the mind occupied.
Awesome wife, also LE, that understands.
The mindset that whatever issue I'm dealing with, personal or work, it can ALWAYS be worse.