Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur when an individual is a victim of, or witness to, a traumatic incident. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, avoidance, intrusive, uncontrollable thoughts about the event, and hypervigilance. Left untreated, PTSD can impact mental health, increase irritability, weaken personal relationships, and reduce work performance.
It is estimated that 35% of law enforcement officers in the United States have experienced symptoms of PTSD. With more than 600,000 officers in the country this amounts to nearly a quarter of a million first responders experiencing one or more symptoms of PTSD. Perhaps more concerning is the number of officers that are undiagnosed and untreated who are actively patrolling the streets and interacting with the public in sensitive and often volatile situations.
Law enforcement officers are at higher risk of a lesser-known form of PTSD referred to as Cumulative PTSD (CPTSD). CPTSD occurs when an individual experiences prolonged exposure to multiple stress-related events over the course of many years. CPTSD is arguably more harmful than PTSD since the exposure is not a singular event. Consider the daily interactions between law enforcement officers working in a higher-crime community or in less populated areas where officers are conducting multiple high-risk car stops during each shift. While each tour of duty may not bring a major traumatic event, the daily high stress experiences associated with violence or crime, can result in PTSD-like symptoms.
Cumulative PTSD is arguably more dangerous than PTSD. This is since the officer is not exposed to one singular traumatic event and the gradual buildup of symptoms occurs over a prolonged period of time making symptoms harder to detect, until they manifest into the classic symptoms of PTSD. CPTSD does not have the same level of awareness and is not currently acknowledged in the DSM-5 as a form of PTSD, but is often saddled with much greater stigma in the workplace. Cumulative PTSD is also dangerous because it can be easily overlooked by the individual, family members, and co-workers.
As a law enforcement officer reading this post, consider how many of your colleagues may be experiencing one or more symptoms of undiagnosed PTSD as they head out for another shift. Perhaps you are as well. As members of the law enforcement community, it is important to recognize PTSD symptoms and assist fellow officers that might be struggling. Recognizing and addressing the warning signs of PTSD early is important for the officer, the department, the community, and the reputation of law enforcement as a whole.
Consider these four questions to determine if you or a colleague are at risk of PTSD/CPTSD:
- Were you/colleague ever involved in a traumatic event?
- Have you/colleague ever witnessed a traumatic event?
- Have you/colleague learned of a traumatic violent or accidental event that involved a family member/colleague or friend?
- Have you/colleague experienced repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event?
If you answered yes to one or more of the above, let’s consider if there are symptoms of PTSD:
- Have you/colleague experienced intrusive thoughts or images of the event?
- Have you/colleague experienced nightmares in context of exposure?
- Have you experienced flashbacks relating to the traumatic event?
- Do you/colleague avoid people, places or experiences that were once common to you, or are you/colleague isolating?
- Are you/colleague experiencing higher levels of irritability, anger and/or frustration?
- Are you/colleague experiencing hypervigilance (an elevated state of assessing potential threats)?
If there are symptoms, what should you do?
Most departments have plans and polices in place to address officer needs after exposure to a traumatic incident while in the line of duty. Ask about it (HR is a good place to start).
There is less stigma attached to support when an officer is involved in a shooting or directly exposed to a traumatic incident. If an officer is dealing with CPTSD, officers might think they can’t hack it in the profession and won’t ask for help due to fear of criticism. Outside the department, officers can talk with a therapist specializing in PTSD/CPTSD. Seek out a referral from your general practitioner or HR office in your department.
Ultimately, prioritizing PTSD awareness in law enforcement is essential for ensuring the mental well-being of officers, enhancing their ability to serve with resilience and fostering safer communities for all. Simply talking about PTSD/CPTSD is the best thing all law enforcement officers can do to bring awareness and normalize the experience. Share this article, talk to your partner and colleagues – just bring it up, and discover that no one is alone in this struggle.