Understanding Police Stress

James N. Hendricks is a retired police officer and FBI special agent with 28 years of service. He was active in building trusting relationships between law enforcement and the communities he served and continues to be a strong proponent of law enforcement stress management.

Police Officers face dangerous situations daily, and the danger lurks not on the streets alone. The pressures of law enforcement put officers at risk for high blood pressure, insomnia, increased levels of destructive stress hormones, heart problems, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide, researchers have found through a decade of studies of police officers.

A number of factors lead to increased stress for the law enforcement professions: poor management, excessive overtime, frequent rotating shifts, and regular changes in duties. These factors can all lead to strained relationships at home, financial difficulties, health concerns, and depression.

Stress management professionals recommend planning meals with healthy options instead of high calorie fast food, scheduling vacations and downtime to rest and relax, and creating a realistic exercise program. By finding a work/life balance, police officers can decrease the impact of stressors faced daily on the job.