PTSD

In this episode we explore and discuss the day to day duties of police

officers and the suppression of their feelings and emotions over long

periods of time. In general it’s not widely discussed how severe

stress levels are present in every officers working life, and the heavy

toll these expectations and demands take on officers, and their

families. Being at the behest of the radio when your day can go from

humdrum to life and death, to violent or gruesome situations in a

split second.

Our Crime Time Inc guest Ian tells his personal tale of dealing with a

drowning of a child and how this became a real problem for him,

later diagnosed as PTSD. How this crept up on him and the

realization through counselling that this is not about one incident,

but is the cumulative effect, a build up over time that can overflow

into a problem. Sometimes a serious problem.

In our chat we recall dealing with deaths of every description, the

anxieties this caused in other aspects of life away from the job. How

relatively simple everyday accidents and events effect us sometimes

many years later. Being on your own at the scene may be a big part

of the traumatic effect.

Treatment of PTSD. How the police service has reacted over the last

25 years and that we hope it is no longer seen as a sign of weakness

when we have an emotional reaction to an event. How having a safe

place to go, away from the police environment, is important to those

who need advice or intervention.

The rippling effect of these incidents down through generations. We

always have to be the strong pillar or support for everyone else, but

must take away some of the trauma when we go back to the office,

and likewise must take it home in due course.

Ians’ story about a tragic suicide, which started a horrific and sad

series of events for a young couple. How the sergeant and young cop

dealt with the unfolding events in different ways. How we all would

have our own method of coping, and it should always be ok not to be

ok.

You can buy the books mentioned in the podcasts by clicking the links below

Tom's Best Selling Book:

Ruxton: The First Modern Murder Paperback Edition

Ruxton: The First Modern Murder Kindle Edition

Simon's Best Selling Book:

The Ten Percent Paperback Edition

The Ten Percent Kindle Edition

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