Stress in Police Service

Stress in the Police Force.

Following the news that Ian Tomlinson’s family has won an apology from the Metropolitan police over his ‘unlawful killing’ in 2009, tells us a lot about the stress and strain facing our modern day police force.

PC Simon Harwood, while in riot gear, struck Ian Tomlinson on the leg with a baton before shoving him violently to the pavement, minutes before his fatal collapse, during the G20 protests.

Having learnt the Simon Harwood had a string of previous disciplinary hearings, makes you question what makes a man lash out with such anger.

As with millions of men and women across the country, anger strikes at any moment and against anyone in the firing line.

It’s a tough job.

The cost of Police stress to the taxpayer is incalculable. Having to save £40m by 2015, more and more job cuts are being announced, and police officers have never felt so under threat. The Metropolitan Police, the largest force in England and Wales, lost 27,437 working days to stress in 2012. 

More shocking is that 8,000 police officers were receiving full salaries while working as little as one hour a day on ‘restrictive or recuperative duties’, due to stress, with a total wage bill of £248 million a year. 

In Essex alone, police officers took 9,139 days off due to stress last year – a sharp rise on the 4,594 sick days recorded in 2010.

Cuts to front-line police officers in Nottinghamshire have resulted in more officers taking time off work with stress, up to 3,806 days lost in 2012, compared to 2,023 in 2008.

Stress in the police force is something we all suffer from.

First Responders.

Police officers suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as much as the Army, Ambulance, doctors and nursing staff. Responding to traumatic events, such as fatal road traffic accidents, murder scenes and domestic abuse, significantly increases the chances of chronic stress in their lives.

Police & relationships.

With the high levels of stress, come high levels of divorce. The police divorce rates are more than double of the national average, taking into account the shifts police officers work and the dangers they face.

Police Dangers.

Mike Fisher from the British Association of Anger Management teaches us that stress is the cause of anger. Lashing out at a passerby is never condoned but is predictable given the statistics of domestic abuse in the UK alone, affects 1 in 4 women.

Combating Stress in the Police force.

Police chiefs understand the demands on the police service are enormous. They are getting better at identifying what is stressful to its officers and trying to stop these things becoming problems, by addressing their roots causes.

The British Association of Anger Management (BAAM) courses.

Mike Fisher, founder of BAAM has helped over 16,000 people since 1996, by teaching them the tools to control anger and lower stress levels. Police chiefs across the country would be wise to pay attention and police officers would be wise to sign up to Mike’s courses under their own innovative.

For more information about BAAM and their programmes, check out the www.angermanage.co.uk, www.beatinganger.com and www.stressexperts.co.ukwebsites.

The more we understand about stress and anger the more we can protect ourselves and the general public from its unhealthy and often fatal, consequences.

Is Stress Making You Fat?

Stress Eating!!

Recent scientific studies have shown that stress has a direct result on weight, be it over eating or under-eating. Experiments on volunteers at the Cambridge University found serotonin levels affect the amygdale region in the brain, which makes us angry.

The experiments involved recording the brain’s reaction while viewing angry, sad and neutral facial expressions. Feed with diets which either raised the level of serotonin, or lowered it, they were able to conclude that when the body starts to feel hungry, levels of serotonin fall, causing a flux of emotions to burst forward from the amygdale part of the brain which causes us to become anxious, stressed and angry.

The conclusion is quite simple really. To stop your serotonin levels from falling and as a consequence, making us angry and stressed, stock up on foods which boost the serotonin levels, such as pumpkin seeds, walnuts, avocado, dates and bananas.

Making the right food choices?

At a recent British Association of Anger Management intensive weekend course, Mike Fisher commented that all the biscuits were being eaten, while all the fruit wasn’t. This is predictable because when stressed, the body craves food that is high in fat or sugar.

Serotonin is a chemical which makes your body feel good, and this is exactly what we want to feel when we are stressed, angry and depressed. All too often, we’ll reach for the carbohydrates in the form of muffins, doughnuts and biscuits to comfort ourselves, when we should be reaching for fruit and nuts. This is where the conflict arises. When we are stressed we don’t make the best choices and this includes what we eat.

Getting angry and stressed takes up a lot of energy and we eat into our natural reserves. As stress is being linked with weight issues, we need a greater understanding of the connection between stress and weight to combat the obesity epidemic facing the country.

Stress is a part of modern day life and by understanding the mechanics of our minds and bodies, we are more equipped to deal with our stress and see it for what it really is.

What is the connection between stress and blood sugar?

When we are stressed our body works overtime to cope, by releasing a mixture of hormones, namely epinephrine and adrenaline, which gives us the energy to reach the end of the day.

The body also releases glucose which is of special interest to diabetics, because for diabetics the amount of glucose in their blood is too high.

Even though stress hasn’t been proven to cause diabetes, it has been proven to trigger changes in blood sugar levels which can be a problem for people with diabetes.

Mental or emotional stress has mixed effects, depending on the type of diabetes you have. For type 1 diabetes, mental stress can increase or decrease blood sugar levels and for type 2 diabetes, mental stress generally increases blood sugar levels.

Dealing with your stress?

It’s now evident that dealing with stress is the biggest obstacle we have in finding our inner peace and happiness. Stress comes at us from all angles and it’s only natural that the challenge may seem daunting.

But think again: Other than regular exercise, mediation and Mike Fisher’s intensive weekend courses; your diet can play the ultimate role in reducing stress.

Like millions in the UK, we reach for high-fat, high-sugar snacks when we’re feeling down. But don’t think you are alone in doing so. You aren’t. We are all prone to comfort eating.

The good news is that you now have the information to break the cycle and to break the habit.

It really is as simple as making better food choices.

Find out further how to minimize the stress in your life by visiting Mike Fisher’s British Association of Anger Management websites such aswww.angermanage.co.uk, www.stressexperts.co.uk and www.beatinganger.com.

By focusing on your diet and the choices you make when you are angry and stressed, you can change your life, beat stress and keep your figure in shape.

The Glasgow Effect.

Addiction to drink and drugs are prevalent throughout UK cities, but Glasgow’s mortality rates far exceed any in the UK.

As home to 10% of Scotland’s population, Glasgow’s problems are very much Scotland’s problems. With heroin deaths accounting for 35% of all deaths, and alcohol linked to 22% of all deaths, Glasgow has got issues.

What can be done?

The first step is acknowledging your drink and drug problems.

Mike Fisher from the British Association of Anger Management (B.A.A.M) would call anyone who does as ‘heroic’.

Having worked with over 16,000 people since 1996, he would say ‘It’s heroic of anyone to acknowledge their addiction and to take steps to beat it.’

Mike’s philosophy is that we turn to drink and alcohol to numb ourselves from the trauma of our anger.

Beating anger is the key to changing your life.

As someone who’s been on a B.A.A.M weekend workshop, I can testify that Mike’s methods change lives.

As he said on the first day to us ‘This will change your life’ and as a client said on the last day ‘WOW Mike, you have changed my life’.

His methods work.

Mike Fisher has the skills, experience and know-how to teach you the tools to beat anger once and for all. He’s not promising to eliminate your anger, he’s guaranteeing to teach you the tools to control your anger and in the process change your life forever.

Mike Fisher is now taking bookings for his Glasgow workshop.

For anyone who suffers from anger or knows someone who has anger problems, they would be well advised to check out his websites www.stressexperts.co.uk,www.beatinganger.com and www.angerguru.com for more information about his programmes.

If ever there is a time to save your life from anger, now is the time.

Heat-waves and anger!

The whole country is basking in a heat-wave. The beaches are full, the parks packed and the sales of ice cream are going through the roof.

But is this heat-wave leaving people cool calm and collected or is it leaving them hot under the collar and ready to blow?

A person’s level of anger and stress is a response to their environment. Police chiefs and medical staff are more than aware of this as heat-waves are associated with an increase in violent crime.

But how do heat-waves affect families and individuals?

As the temperature gets hotter, so do our tempers. Summer heat-waves make us act like cranky, whiny toddlers, ready to lash out and apportion blame.

Any doctor would explain that an increase in body temperature causes an increase in physical arousal – your heart rate goes up and your blood pressure rises as your body tries to cool itself off.

Its all very well sitting by the seaside, licking an ice-lolly and sipping a cool drink, but for many of us, heat-waves mean being uncomfortable, irritable and more prone than ever, to anger and stress.

Normally congenial folks seem to be simmering, while others are on a slow burn. Hotter heads are steaming, and a few have even been pushed to the boiling point.

Health officials are warning people to take care as the UK continues to bake in a prolonged heat-wave, with special attention being paid towards the very young children, elderly people and pregnant women.

When it’s very hot, people have a tendency to get dehydrated or under-hydrated, and that can certainly result in becoming anxious and irritable, so it’s very important to maintain hydration.

With records for the hottest day of the year appearing to be broken on a daily basis, its best that everyone takes measures to stay cool and not to over-boil.

Five ways to keep cool calm and collected.

Stay hydrated.
This one is obvious but it bears repeating: drink lots of water. Never stop drinking water.

Stay inside if you can.
We all love to bask in the sunshine, but keeping in the shade, keeps us from boiling over.

Get wet.
Stick your feet in a tub of cold water, jump in the sea or a swimming pool, or just put a soaked towel around your neck. Having a bucket full of water thrown over you always cools the temper!

Avoid alcoholic drinks.
There’s nothing better than a cold beer on a hot day, but alcoholic drinks make you urinate more frequently and that’s not good. Same goes for coffee.

Keep covered.
Wear sunscreen to avoid sunburn and try to stay out of the sun as much as possible, even if you are spending the day outside. If a sun umbrella sounds too dainty for you, at least put on a hat.

Heat-waves are there to be enjoyed and savoured but be aware of the dangers. Sunburn isn’t the only symptom of a beating Sun. Anger and stress levels are very often raised but with sound advice and a cool head; there is no reason to get too hot under the collar and no reason to boil over.

For more information on keeping your temper cooled, check out the websites of the British Association of Anger Management, such as www.stressexperts.co.uk,www.beatinganger.com and www.angermanage.co.uk.

Enjoy the sun but don’t become its victim.

Depression and Aggression

It’s common practice to greet friends, colleagues and family with the opening question, ‘How are you today?’

More often than not we reply with the short answer, ‘OK’.

Even if you are feeling depressed, would you admit it? If you are feeling sad or miserable; is it common to share these feelings?

More often than not, we are prone to answer ‘OK’ rather than be open about our inner emotions.

But is it healthy to keep such emotions bottled up? Can depression lead to aggression?

In its mildest form depression can mean just being in low spirits. To its most extreme, it makes you feel suicidal. Being depressed doesn’t stop you leading a normal life. Thousands of sufferers carry on with life regardless, with the only symptoms being mood swings, bouts of annoyance and feelings of hopelessness.

Aggression makes an appearance as a consequence of depression. It’s there under the surface ready to show its head in the most unwanted of occasions.

How often do you see mild mannered individuals grimace for no apparent reason? Or clutch their fists tight or even hit the wall or kick an object out of sight?

Whether it's uncontrollable anger towards oneself or outward aggression toward others, whether a person or object, it's clinically proven that depression and aggression run hand in hand.

What to look out for?

Symptoms of depression vary from person to person, though common threads do appear across the board.

• Feelings of sadness and gloom can either make you sleep too much or not sleep enough. If your sleeping pattern is being disturbed, it’s a sign.
• Do simple tasks become a major annoyance? If you find you have trouble concentrating and that simple tasks become major obstacles, it’s a sign.
• We all have feelings of being up and down. Everyone feels sad or has ‘the blues’ from time to time, but if feelings of hopelessness and helplessness persist, it’s a sign.
• Again, we all have light and dark thoughts racing around our minds. The Yin and Yang philosophy teaches us that you can’t have one without the other. If you find you can’t control your negative thoughts, no matter how much you try, it’s a sign.
• Losing your appetite or you can’t stop eating, is a sign.
• Feeling more irritable, short-tempered, or aggressive than usual, is a sign.
• Consuming more alcohol than normal or engaging in other reckless behavior, is a sign too.
• And the most alarming sign, which you must seek help immediately with, is having thoughts that life is not worth living.

Why am I depressed?

Life throws up a varying array of challenges which manifest themselves into depression, which in itself leads to aggression. To name but a few reasons:

• Loneliness
• Lack of support
• Life experiences, such as child-hood trauma or abuse.
• Marital and relationship problems.
• Financial strain.
• Being unemployment or even underemployed.
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Health problems and chronic pain.

What can I do?

Acknowledging your depression and aggression is the first step to dealing with depression and aggression. Whether it’s affecting your work life, or family life, help is at hand.

Mike Fisher from the British Association of Anger Management has over 16 years experience of treating depression and aggression.

Learning what causes anger and what can be done to avoid becoming angry are among the main focuses of treatment. Also important is learning what to do when becoming angry and finding positive ways to focus feelings instead of becoming aggressive in response.

By visiting the websites www.stressexperts.co.uk, www.beatinganger.com and www.angerguru.com, you will find a number of programmes from weekend work shops, to 1-1 coaching sessions, to one day courses, which are all designed to beat and overcome depression and aggression.

Mike Fisher is happy to help with any questions, queries or enquiries you may have.

Give him a call now and beat the stress once and for all.

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”