STRESS AWARENESS AND MANAGEMENT

MID TERM EXAMINATION

PAUL SINCKLER

1. Researchers have identified three phases of stress in humans. Identify each phase by
incorporating an example of a real-world stressful incident in your explanation. What can be
done for the individual if the emotion-provoking situation cannot be easily discharged?

As indicated in our readings in “The Stress of Life”, (Hans Selye), the identified phases of stress
are a) the Alarm Stage, b) the Resistance Stage, and c) the Exhaustion Stage. The phases are
linked in “G.A.S.”, the general adaptive syndrome.
In the “Alarm Stage” the body readies itself for an upcoming event. Regardless of the nature of
the event, i.e. physical, mental, the body will undergo changes in preparation for entry into the
incident. I can use myself as an example. When detailed to an incident such as a burglary early
on in my career, I would experience a “tightening” of my chest muscles, akin to an impending
asthma episode. It stemmed from my “fear” of not being perfect or right and the reflection on
my squad and coach. There was also the glaring reality that I was the only Black trooper in the
station and I perceived additional judgments on that point.
In the “Resistance Stage” the body seems to develop a “memory” in relation to the stress that
originally and constantly ramped it up. The body adapts to the stress that is introduced. The
tensions, muscular responses and general reactions in the “Alarm Stage” are accepted as nearly
normal conditions. I have been assigned to traffic posts on a few presidential details. The secret
service agents assigned to the President are always on edge. My perception is that they have to
stay in the “Alarm Stage” throughout the entire detail. I would think that they are an example
of this “Resistance Stage”.
In the “Exhaustion Phase” we have a circumstance where there have been continuing
repetitions of stressors, to the point that the body is overwhelmed at the “Resistance Stage”. If
this deluge of stressors persists, and the coping mechanisms fail, there are dire consequences.
The severe consequences can include physiological and psychological problems. An example of
this is the unfortunate result of death via heart attack one or two years after retirement. Such a
scenario was exhibited by single (never married) police officer who had squirreled away a
handsome sum of cash by working incessantly, including overtime details and taking minimal
time off. His home was paid off and he had no known debt. He was discovered on the “throne”
dead of a heart attack 14 months into retirement. I am not aware of any existing health issue.
For all of the examples I have cited there is a common thread. All individuals are building or
have built careers by choice. None of them opted out due to personal incompatibility. The
question of what can be done if the emotion-provoking situation is not easily discharged may
not have a true answer. The seemingly easy answer is supervisory recognition of the problem,
extended training, and employee assistance, coupled with objective personal introspection. The
 reality is that we are resistant to acknowledging that anything is beating us for fear of judged as
deficient, along with the potential loss of peer trust and approval.

3. Police work has always been considered one of the most exciting and rewarding occupations.
If this is true, why is the job so stressful? If the job is so stressful, why are so many men and
women attracted to it? What can be done to make the job less stressful or at least reduce the
influence of stressors on police officers throughout their careers? What are some of the
consequences if we fail to do this?

In examining my attraction to police work, I know that I was always impressed with the image of
police officers as a youngster. Not the television image. They were all dynamic and always right
unless they were corrupt, disgraceful characters. In real life though, they were respected parts
of my community, in Brooklyn, NY. Even though there was a profound absence of Black officers,
I always thought that I could fit in and make a career of police work. I think that my generations’
outlook on the job was just that, a career. Subsequent generation desires for salary and
benefits have become more of the lure, but I think that is a societal shift. Speaking from my
experience, I think I think that the stress that affects all of us, is a result of failing to analyze the
job correctly. The job demanded and still demands conforming to its norms. We were and still
are applying our pre-entry life outlooks and awareness to a job that is so much more. Police
work is a way of life. Your entire life calendar and rhythm change when you enter. In addition,
these changes which can be as subtle as a powerful yet undetectable disease stay with you for
the rest of your life. The endeavor to lessen the stress would require consistent debriefings on
all levels. The fight to stave off conforming can be continuous stressful battle for an entire
career. The attractiveness to the job is really an inner challenge to see if you can run the course
and remain intact. Yes you want to help others and protect your neighborhood, but you also
feel that you can maintain your grip on who you are, while performing these tasks. Better said,
“In practice, when it comes to guiding human conduct, it seems that we must all bow to the
great law which says that what is in us must express itself; in fact it must express itself at a
speed and in directions predetermined by our own inherited structure” (Selye, “The Stress of
Life” p435).
Engineering less stress and reducing stressors would necessitate greater supervisory oversight,
coupled with employee assistance programs and objective personal introspection. While we
have talked and read about Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, I am suggesting that a lower level
of the same system could and maybe should be implemented to manage the cumulative
damage that afflicts officers. I am not confident that the old guard would be interested in
offering further insight into themselves. I say that with the knowledge that the most important
structure of the departments are the squads. At this level in the past, the relationship was that
of “family”. The newer officers however are more outwardly individualistic. This is a definitive
cultural shift for this profession. The consequences of failing to reduce stress and stressor
influences will be dysfunctional police departments. They will cease to effectively serve the
public and themselves. The tragic scenario in New York City on Thursday night is an example.
 If the victim off duty police officer who was individually fixated on running down the
perpetrator, had recognized the anticrime unit vehicle and signaled them to aid him, the result
is different. Or if the any of the anticrime unit officers had observed the fleeing perpetrator and
intuitively put the moment together, instead of themselves fixating on the pursuing off duty
officer, such a horrible moment would have been avoided.

4. Police officers who were surveyed for a 1999 research project indicated that entry level was
the period that produced the highest amount of perceived stress. Why? What can be done to
alleviate this condition in the future?

When we first put on the uniform and the power of formal authority is injected into our being,
we begin our safari on Stress Blvd. The knowledge that you now have a title, i.e. Trooper,
Officer, Sheriff, etc, belong to an organization and have authority over others subtly but
definitely begins to alter you. The stress to perform occurs with any new job entrant, but these
powerful stressor undercurrents are not the same anywhere else. The new police officers are
entering a continuing “Alarm Phase” without the realization of entry. The nature of the ever
changing environment of police work, with its highs and lows, and multiple facets swells the
stress factors. The desire to be more than the “rookie”, the opportunity to prove you have
earned the right to belong, are just two of the infecting stressors that invade the virgin officer
host. The mandated depersonalization is a trying reality for the new officer. Additionally as I
indicated in question 3, there is also the potent internal fight not to lose our individuality. The
desire to gain peer acceptance has and can cause over reaction. At this stage in our careers we
realize that we are under a microscope, being judged and watched by everyone. Add to that our
self imposed critiques, and you have a tremendous load of perceived and real stress.
As stated in Unit 3 “The need for quick, accurate judgment and heightened awareness are
common aspects of police work. This state of constant readiness has been found to be an
unremitting source of stress for the police officer.” When we get this injection of active stress,
we are virgins and therefore our perception will be that it is initially high. As we progress in our
jobs the stress does not lessen, we just norm to it, until it is undetectable to self, the “Resistance
Phase”.
An example are the typical extended conversations of fellow “rookies”, who initially use terms
like crazy and nonstop to describe their patrol activity, or who recount the vivid details of grisly
incidents to one another. In a few years, these conversations have vastly lessened or totally
ceased and been replaced with matter of fact or even cynical references to the perpetrators or
victims.
Mandatory stress recognition and stress reduction training hold the best potential for new
officers. However, I must admit that the introduction of the terminology perceived does muddy
the water concerning the process. Using myself as an example, I would have said that it was
unnecessary to go through stress recognition or reduction training because I had it under
control, or it was not affecting me. I may have been wrong at that point, but the benefit to the
subject will be minimal without a demonstrated value. One of the themes in “The Stress of Life”
 is that stress has nearly infinite variations. How then do we construct a program to effectively
address countless stress variations with a population having skeptical outlooks?

6. Give an example of a stressful situation to which you were exposed.

1. Under what circumstances did you learn of the situation?
I was a squad Sgt. at Somerville Station, just finishing my paperwork on the day shift (7A –
3P) on April 2, 1992. The early afternoon patrols had gone out on patrol at about 2:15 PM.
My relieving shift Sgt. was in and I had gotten changed to my civilian attire anticipating
leaving for home. A radio call then came in. Some civilian was saying that a Trooper got hit
by a car on I-78 westbound in the Berkley Heights area. He says that he (the trooper) is
badly hurt.

2. What were your immediate thoughts?

I was worried about who it was. It could have been one of my men or one of the early
patrols. Either way, I would know the trooper. I was more than worried about the
description of badly hurt.

3. How did you react and how did you feel (physically and psychologically) when confronted
by the actual situation?
Even though I was in a sweat shirt, dungarees and a black leather jacket, I took a marked car
and headed out. My stomach was tight and I did feel a little sick. I don’t sweat but I felt
clammy. I was waiting for anyone to arrive at the scene and give a positive update. I was
driving like a maniac and the Ford was not getting me there fast enough. In actuality I got
there in under 10 minutes! I was lucky I did not have an accident myself. I parked on the
east bound side and hopped over the divider. An ambulance was there and I then saw the
crowd of EMT’s and a few troopers standing around someone on the shoulder. I then saw it
was “T”, and I then understood why there was no radio transmission on his condition.
“T” was the early afternoon patrol. I felt like I was going to cry, but I was the most senior
trooper and the only supervisor on scene, so I couldn’t. I did have to walk away from the
group to gather myself. My mission then became the management of the emotionally
distraught troopers on scene and the fatal accident investigation.

4. What were the post-situation stressful “aftershocks” you experienced?

I was initially unable to accept the death of “T” as an accident and I, like many of us was
trying to get two pounds of flesh from the driver who was responsible. That was the closest
to pure hate that I have been. The fact of the law and guidance from the Troop Commander
helped keep us on the right track regardless of our emotional outlook. I did not sleep well
for at least two weeks.
5. What coping mechanisms (appropriate or inappropriate) did you employ to help deal with
it?
For a short time, I did do the drink after work scenario. Not to get drunk, but to “remove”
the edge. I got no true relief from that and left it very easily. With the sleeping problem I
had to see my own physician to get a mild sedative prescribed. I know that I became more
withdrawn at home and did not talk about the job for some months.

6. If the same situation were to occur again, what would you do differently in terms of the
response and the subsequent coping mechanisms?
Even though I would be hesitant, I would have utilized employee assistance, (which was
never suggested or offered for anyone at the scene or anyone who knew “T”). I am still only
a social drinker. I would also not wait to find help.

7. What lessons did you learn from the experience?

I did find out that I could not forsake my ethical standards to take revenge on a person who
caused me pain. I also found out that I could handle a very difficult emotionally charged
incident.

8. What advice will you give to others if they were involved in a like-incident?
First I would hope that they would never experience such a loss. I would also let them know
that they need to immediately avail themselves of any and all assistance in managing the
stressors that are part of job related crises.