Criminology

Stress is natural and it encompasses both external and internal factors that cause the individual to behave differently. People suffer bouts of stress at one time or another in their lives in regard to the situations they are facing. External factors are basically caused by the physical environment. These may include the challenges or difficulties one is facing either at work or at home. It could be the pressure to perform so as to meet the expectations laid down. Internal factors may include the emotional well being of an individual, amount of sleep, nutritional status, amount of rest and their health in general. The human brain has a neo-cortex, a basic component that helps adapt to stressful conditions (Medicine Net, 2010). This case study is intended to look at how police officers manage and deal with stress in their line of duty.

Managing and Dealing with Stress in Police Officers
Police officers are more prone to stress since their job is not social. Most of the time they work alone or in pairs. This sets them apart from other team-motivated careers like medicine or fire fighting. They are therefore unable to share with others things that happen to them both at home and work. In the line of duty, police officers come across very disturbing scenes which may cause them trauma. They are forced to keep a tough look outside while they are in turmoil inside. People also view them as pillars of strength thereby forgetting that they are as human as everybody else. Cases of suicide, resignation from work or desertion have been registered in the police force. This has been owed to lack of an outlet whereby they can let out their frustrations. Stress management programs have been introduced in the police force. These programs encompass psychology therapy where therapists seek to know the challenges the police officers encounter in their line of duty (Franklin, 2010).

They offer solutions to these challenges which include how they can react to different stressful environments. Anger management is also addressed in stress management. Some of the situations that the officers find them in are highly charged and this can anger them easily. They may become aggressive and use excessive force which is in many instances detrimental. They are guided on how to contain the issues that trigger such aggression in them (Franklin 2010).The stress management programs trigger emotional intelligence which equips the officers with the right reactions to different stress stimuli. Psychotherapy is another phase of stress management. This is offered to those officers who have gone through traumatic experiences. Traumatic experiences may include loss of a loved one or a horrifying crime scene. Psychotherapy helps them cope with the devastating stress that confronts them. The presence of counselors in police departments is also another thing that helps police officers manage and deal with stress. These counselors can be chaplains and the main idea is to make the work environment more conducive. The tensions are also kept low and this way, they are able to carry out their duties smoothly (Franklin, 2010).

A program known as the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) has been put in place. This program seeks to prepare the police officers well in advance on how to handle traumatic experiences that they may meet in their line of duty. It gives them an emotional preparedness that helps them view such situations as a component of their work. This way, they are in a better position to handle stress well. They are offered several reactions that may be ideal in such an incidence. This prepares them psychologically thus the effects will be absorbed without necessarily causing trauma (Miller 2006).
According to Medicine net, exercise is a proper way to manage and deal with stress. Police officers are advised to make exercise a priority as it puts the stress producing hormones at bay. It is also viewed as an antidepressant and thus eases the stress effects on their health. Some of the situations that police officers face daily are quite traumatic. They may even find trouble sleeping at night. Exercise helps relax them and this guarantees them a quiet and undisturbed sleep. Police officers are counseled towards meditation of about 30 minutes on a daily basis. This helps them relax and puts their stress levels at bay (Medicine Net, 2010).

It helps them find their inner peace and goes ahead to restore their heart rate and blood pressure. Stress management classes teach the police officers to stay away from stimulants such as drugs (anxiety drugs) and alcohol. These are some of the outlets that some people opt for as they try to conquer their stress. This however works against them and could push them deeper into depression. To get away from chronic stress, police officers are advised to take breaks whenever they can. This could be a coffee break, lunch break or a just a walk. This interrupts the stressful condition thus helping them become more productive and in control of their stress levels (Medicine Net, 2010).

Conclusion
Police officers are faced with a very challenging job of maintaining a calm and collected face in dangerous and life threatening situations. They are expected to be tough enough to protect others and that is the front they give. They are human and thus susceptible to stress. Their jobs are demanding and adrenaline laced and this may put them between a rock and a hard place. Their being able to manage and deal with stress makes them more productive. They are also able to counter negative thoughts that may lead them to depression, suicide, early retirement or resignation from work. Being unable to manage and deal with stress leads to a condition referred to as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

This is what leads to the aforementioned life threatening situations.  With proper stress management skills, police officers are able to stand strong in any eventuality and continue with their humble duty of enforcing the law. They are able to deal with their varied emotions. Stress is very harmful to peoples health and being able to put it under control is vital.