Originally posted: February 22, 2024
At the BCACP/CACP Leadership Conference last month, I heard OPP Commissioner, Thomas Carrique, speak about leadership. I was completely engaged; he is clearly an incredible leader with a very high emotional IQ. At the start of his presentation, he said that policing changes us.
About six years into my career, a friend asked me if policing had changed me. I remember it like yesterday– I said no, I didn’t think it had.
Maybe at that time it truly hadn’t changed me, but ask me NOW, and I would say I knew by my 15th year it definitely had.
Personal stressors had kicked into my life and responding to events where people are having the worst day of their life, didn’t help.
Exposure to trauma physically changes the brain, decreasing its ability to self-regulate. Continued exposure to trauma (police work) means the sympathetic nervous system doesn’t turn off and the parasympathetic nervous system doesn’t get a chance to kick in and allow for recovery. That leads to cumulative stress, burnout, and injury.
It’s not our fault. It is science.
Get connected to a therapist now and chip away at “stuff.” Talk to Dave TL or me – we have some names of psychologists that are accepting new clients. Build recovery into your routine.