Those of us who are now in or
have retired from police work should take some notice of what we are not seeing-- our fellow or sister officers
who are hurting. They often hide behind the “mask of contentment” and,
on the outside, look like everything is just fine. Sometimes the trauma experienced
in police work is buried so deep that even we ourselves don’t know we have PTSD.
Think about it for a moment. Do
you still have memories of an event that happened to you on the job? Does it intrude into your thoughts on a daily basis?
Do you have nightmares about things that happened on the job? Do you avoid things or places that remind you of the trauma
you experienced?
If
these are happening to you after 5 - 6 months have passed since the trauma, you may have PTSD. Take some good advice from
Andy O’Hara, with Badge of Life -- go see a therapist or peer support person. Get it out- talk about it.
As for suicide, we know that there
is an association between PTSD and suicide. It is likely that it is an accumulation of traumatic events that can tax our ability
to cope effectively. When we run out of coping ability, we can crash into a state of hopelessness. I often describe suicidal
thinking as being in a “tunnel of despair”, where there are no choices left in order to get out of the tunnel
other than suicide. Remember: there is always an alternative to the tunnel.
Finally, it is good to recognize
signs of suicide, not only among our peers, but also in ourselves.
It is great to look after your
buddy and I encourage that. However, you also deserve to understand that your own life is precious. Being a retired trooper,
I can say that life after retirement can be great. Unfortunately, many retired officers get bogged down in depression after
leaving work. Don’t let that happen to you – get prepared ahead of time for leaving the challenging career of
police work. You can enjoy the things you like to do, your family, playing with your
grandchildren and having family gatherings. These make life worthwhile. Save yourself
for that happy time.
Below is an acronym, “IS
PATH WARM,” put forth by the American Association of Suicidology. It clearly lays out warning signs of suicide. Take heed in them, and live a long and happy life. Don’t let the mask of contentment
fool you, especially if it’s your own mask.
God bless all of you who serve
and protect.
Dr. John Violanti
IS PATH WARM?
A
person at risk for suicidal behavior most often will exhibit warning signs:
I Ideation à Expressed or communicated ideation
§
Threatening to hurt or kill him/herself, or talking of wanting to
§
hurt or kill him/herself; and/or
§
Looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to
§
firearms, available pills, or other means; and/or
§
Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these actions
are out of the ordinary.
S Substance Abuse à Increased substance (alcohol or drug)
use
P Purposelessness à No reason for living; no sense
of purpose in life
A Anxiety à Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping
all the time
T Trapped à Feeling trapped (like there’s no way
out)
H Hopelessness à Hopelessness
W Withdrawal à Withdrawal
from friends, family and society
A Anger à Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
R Recklessness
à Acting
reckless or engaging in risk activities, seemingly without
M Mood Change à Dramatic mood changes
These
warning signs were derived as a consensus from a meeting of internationally-renowned clinical researchers held under the auspices
of the AAS in Wellesley, MA in November 2003.
Watch for signs of them
among your peers.
More than anything, watch for
signs of them in yourself. If you sense any of them going on, seek professional
help.
