POLICE STRESS MANAGEMENT

THE STREET STRESS FIGHTER
on CD-ROM:

STRESS at the "gut level" (actual feelings) does not involve the mental process but involves the intuitive process. It recognizes who the person is and what feelings emerge from that person.

There are TWO types of personalities:

The "Type A" personality is very outgoing, a hard charger who rarely takes a break.

The "TYPE B" personality is very laid back and maybe even lazy in comparison to "TYPE A", but often more conducive to police work.

As the police officer has changed, so have stress training formats changed. As we look at the police officer of the 1960s, we see that he or she was definitely in a completely different mindset than the police officer of the 1980s and the 1990s. The officers had to deal with the Vietnam War, the grim reality of escalating social unrest, civil disturbances and urban crisis, as well as the rocks and bottles being thrown at them by those they were sworn to protect, and the many other stressors that are very different than those which are faced by police officers today in 1997.

The police officer of the 1960s often returned the hostility in a very negative way, not only because he or she did not like the treatment being received from those members of society who continuously called upon the police officer for individual and personal emergencies. In addition, the police officer of the 1960s was improperly trained and quite unprepared to address the civil and social outbursts primarily in protest to the unfavorable Vietnam War and still other issues of that violent era.

Without stress in our lives, we could not live, but the excess of stress can be both damaging, life-threatening and fatal to the police officer of today. Recognizing stressors is the key to dealing with them. The police officer of the late 1990s needs to deal with his or her stress in a totally positive way. These ways could include athletics, the close friendship of a fellow officer, or an outside resource.

The officer's job, on the street, should not be the outlet for stress.

Along with recognizing stressors and finding an outlet for stress, the police officer and the public safety professional of the 1990s must keep and maintain a healthy mental attitude. He or she must keep and maintain a sense of humor and should use whatever 'tools' necessary that he or she finds enjoyable in order to relieve the respective stress.

Remember, however, it must be a positive tool!

The fact remains that the police officer of the 1990s, (and especially in 1997, with 1998 right around the corner, and the Year 2000, aka The New Millenium) is very different and technology has greatly changed in the time since the administrator or supervisor was on the street, as it will also change when today's officer is no longer on the street.

The administrator or supervisor needs to assess himself or herself on a regular basis and recognize whether he or she is out of touch with the street officer. This could mean working in the field for two or three weeks out of the year. It is important to note that the administrator or supervisor cannot keep in touch just by talking. When an administrator or supervisor is called upon to deal with an officer who is under severe stress, he or she must first realize that the subject officer is of quality, and then do whatever is necessary to retain him or her as an extremely valuable resource. He or she must also realize that the officer is a human being and personal problems, such as severe stress, sometimes, can and does affect overall performance on the job.

So it is important that the police administrator or supervisor know what types of EAP programs and effective 'tools' are available to help the police officer of the 1990s to deal with the problem of stress.

On Stress......

"The best way to reduce stress is to come to terms with yourself and your life.

If you truly understand that your existence on this planet is temporary and brief, then you know that most worries are a frivolous waste of time.

Try to imagine yourself on the last day of your life. Imagine yourself reviewing how you spent your time and energy. Will you feel satisfied? You will if you decide what is really important to you now and pursue it.

Those of us living in a middle-class life in today's world may be the most spoiled people in history. Modern technology has relieved us of countless hardships and stresses experienced by our great grandparents. Yet, we continue to let relatively minor concerns turn into major causes of stress. We allow ourselves to be disturbed by focusing on our worries and ignoring our blessings.

One man's paradise is another man's prison.

The difference is determined by your attitude.

You allow other people, things and events to aggravate you. You give them the power, so don't blame them.

The greatest obstacles you will ever face are inside you. How do you overcome them?

By concerning yourself only with those things in your life that are of lasting importance to you.

Lucky is the man who pursues what he has decided is important. He is pursuing his own happiness."
.........Peter D. Bullard, Ph.D.

To The Law Enforcement Officer:

*Are You Losing Sleep Over Your Law Enforcement, Public Safety, or Corrections Job?

*Are The Streets Getting You Down?

*Are You (Also) Under Stress At Home?

As a law enforcement officer, Police-Related STRESS IS...YOUR internal reaction to a disturbance. Anything that disturbs you creates internal STRESS. And since disturbances are an unavoidable part of life, STRESS is a very common experience. But not every stressful experience is necessarily unpleasant.

On the contrary, people pay money to see a horror movie and to ride on a roller coaster hoping to be disturbed.

Even pleasant events, such as a long anticipated vacation, can add STRESS to one's life. Some STRESS is necessary for good health. Yet, too much STRESS, pleasant or not, can shorten your life and even kill you!

Very shocking news, whether it is good or bad, may cause a heart attack in some people.

It is important that we learn to master the STRESS in our world in order to survive.

Let's face it, police work is full of hazards. But, the greatest hazard of life comes, not from knives or bullets, but from STRESS. That's right....STRESS! And, strangely enough, that stress doesn't come from the work environment, it comes from within.

We create stress through our perceptions of the world around us. A certain amount of stress is necessary to function to our highest capability, but, when the stress level rises so high it becomes distress, then we're in trouble. So, it's important to learn a technique that enables us to control our stress level.

That technique is called..."SELF-HYPNOSIS".

Internationally-recognized Forensic Hypnotist and Police Agency Advisor, Paul Kincaid M.A., Ct. H.A. , has created a proven-effective method by which you, the law enforcement officer, can effectively and successfully control the stressors of your work.

This method, already taught to countless hundreds of law enforcement officers, is based upon learning the techniques of self-hypnosis, along with two simple procedures you can use to deal with just about any situation you may encounter, both on-duty and off-duty, and in your future.

By learning the techniques of self-hypnosis, you can:
*Create a new pattern for performance and easily cope with stress;
*Overcome fears or phobias;
*Change habits;
*Control pain;
and even Improve your athletic performance, shooting skills or high-risk pursuit performance.

Numerous police agencies, sheriff's departments, campus police and related divisions have expressed a great interest in a unique concept of this type because it was recently revealed just how little law enforcement professionals knew about handling their own stress. These observations
and research results contributed to the making of the "STREET STRESS FIGHTER For Law Enforcement" on CD-ROM, using the techniques of self-hypnosis, in a seminar format, thus enabling and empowering officers on all levels to effectively control their respective stress.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS for the .....

"STREET STRESS FIGHTER For Law Enforcement" on CD-ROM are:

-Windows: 386 or higher DOS compatible computer, 640x480, 256 color VGA monitor, sound card and a minimum of 8mb RAM;

-Windows 3.1 or later;

-Runs better on Windows 95 in 16 bit mode; and Windows NT;

or...

-Macintosh: LC (68020) or higher, 12" 640x480, 256 color monitor, minimum of 8mb RAM, System 7.0 or later.

For More Information, E-mail uscccn@aol.com

SELF-HYPNOSIS: Creating a Doorway to a Better Life!

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