5 Tips for Managing Anxiety and Depression at Work
For law enforcement officers, emotional ups and downs are the norm. Heightened awareness on the job and high stress are necessary to stay safe, and when the worst happens, it is normal to experience very low lows in response. When feelings of anxiety and/or depression persist, however, the situation can become dangerous. The good news is that increased education and awareness of threats to mental health among police officers have helped to decrease the stigma associated with getting help.
If you are struggling with depression or anxiety on the job, here are a few tips to help you get the problem under control:
1. Talk to someone who can really help. This is not a secret you want to keep. Dealing with anxiety and depression on the job can be deadly — not just for you but for your coworkers and the people you serve as well. It is also not necessary. Trying to hide the fact that you need treatment to address issues of anxiety and/or depression is only going to worsen the problem and make you feel more isolated and alone.
2. It is important to address co-occurring substance use disorders. Substance use and abuse are often a form of “self-medication.” In order to escape the uncomfortable emotions — calm anxiety or change feelings of depression — many police officers turn to the perceived “quick fix” and drink or get high. Unfortunately, when this becomes the coping mechanism of choice, it can cause problems of its own.
3. Find out about the treatment services that will be most helpful for you. Through human resources, your physician, and American Addiction Centers, you can find out more about treatment that can be life-changing and take steps to get started in recovery.
4. Get treatment for all co-occurring disorders at the same time. It is important to find a treatment program that addresses both the mental health symptoms you are facing and the co-occurring substance use disorder. Attempting to address one before the other puts you at a disadvantage, especially when anxiety and depression trigger cravings for substance abuse, and substance abuse causes depression or anxiety.
5. Know that you are not alone. Mental health symptoms related to trauma, including substance use and abuse, are exceedingly common among law enforcement officers. It is not something you have to go through alone.
When Anxiety, Depression, and Substance Abuse Collide
If you are self-medicating anxiety and/or depression with drugs and alcohol, the time is now to connect with treatment. At American Addiction Centers, we offer a highly acclaimed First Responder Lifeline Program that is designed to assist police officers in their recovery process. Our renowned program offers:
· PTSD evaluation and assessment
· A treatment plan comprised of motivational therapies that are research-based and focused on first responders
· EAP/MAP interaction
· Treatments and therapies like EMDR that are specifically focused on the treatment of trauma
· Focus on the mind-body-spirit connection that is critical for long-term, sustained recovery
· Aftercare support through alumni groups, reintegration assistance, and more
Let American Addiction Centers help you make changes that will support a calmer and more peaceful experience at work and at home. Call us at (866) 53-SOBER now.
