Law enforcement personnel come in contact with some of the worst experiences in life and consequently are vulnerable to the severe stress reactions that may follow a critical incident.

Support personnel and family members can also experience secondary stress reactions.

Timely interventions provided to persons involved with a critical incident have proven to be an effective tool to combat the averse reactions caused by traumatic events.

The goal of the Critical Incident Response Team is to minimize the effects of any professional or personal critical incident exposure.  This is done by working with the affected personnel directly as well as with all support personnel and family members.

The Critical Incident Response Team has members stationed across Texas available to provide peer support to any employee and family members when needed.  The Team also includes mental health professionals, chaplains, and spouses.  Designated team members, known as Regional Contacts, will activate the team when notified that a critical incident has occurred and a response is needed.

CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS REACTIONS

BEHAVIORAL

PHYSICAL

• Change in Activity
• Change in Communication
• Withdrawal
• Suspiciousness
• Hyper Alertness
• Startle Reaction
• Emotional Outbursts
• Pacing

• Fatigue / Exhaustion
• Insomnia
• Sleep Disturbances
• Nightmares
• Change in Appetite
• Digestive Problems
• Physical Problems
• Headaches
• Nausea

Things To Try:

COGNITIVE

• Spend time with the family members and friends.

• Identify a few trusted people with whom you can talk comfortably.

• Keep your life as normal as possible

• Write about what you've been through and how you're feeling; no need to show it to anyone.

• Continue daily routines, especially for children in the family.

• Monitor your caffeine intake especially if sleep is a problem.

• Minimize the use of alcohol.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Eat healthy.

• Exercise.

• If you can't sleep try putting the thoughts running through your mind down on paper.

• Give yourself permission to feel rotten.

• Check on those around you.  Everyone is under added stress.

• Lack of Concentration
• Flashbacks
• Difficulty with Decisions
• Memory Disturbance
• Amnesia
• Confusion
• Poor Problem Solving
• Disturbed Thinking
• Poor Abstract Thinking
• Change in Alertness

EMOTIONAL

• Fear
• Guilt
• Emotional Numbing
• Over Sensitivity
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Feeling Helpless
• Anger
• Irritability
• Frustration

                                   COMMON REACTIONS
There are certain reactions that people typically experience in response to loss or severe stress.  Most reactions, though distressing and upsetting, will pass within a few weeks.  This information is designed to give you some understanding of these typical reactions and some methods to resolve them that have been helpful to others.

UNWANTED THOUGHTS
Intrusive images and thoughts that keep popping back into your mind.

• Write down events, thoughts and feelings every day; notice changes in thoughts and reactions over time.

• Identify a thought or action that can distract you from an unwanted thought; when the thought appears, switch your attention to the distracting thought or action.

UNCOMFORTABLE    "NERVOUS" REACTIONS
Feeling jumpy, easily startled, worried, fearful, irritable, waves of emotions.

• Physical exercise or being productive

• Distractions, like hobbies or movies

• Letting the reactions be there and carrying on

• Relaxation exercises

• Deep breathing exercises

PHYSICAL REACTIONS
Difficulty sleeping, change in appetite, aches and pains, tense muscles

• Hot baths, massage, stretching, relaxation & deep breathing exercises

• Exercise, even a 20-30 minute walk will help greatly

• Establish a relaxing routine to bring on sleepiness BEFORE getting into bed; if unable to sleep after 10 minutes, get out of bed and find a way to relax again

• Eat regular healthy meals: high fiber and high vitamin foods (fruits, whole grains, vegetables) are best; don/t overdo foods high in fat or sugar

• Avoid excessive use of caffeine or alcohol

• If you use medications, use only as directed

AVOIDANCE
Avoidance of places, people, things, etc. that remind you of the loss; avoidance may be a useful way to cope at first; if over utilized, it can delay return to usual functioning

• Reestablish your routines as naturally as possible

• Expect some discomfort as you begin to face what you've been avoiding; it is normal and will pass as you experience success

• Face whatever you've been avoiding in stages; examples are to imagine facing it first, or ask someone to go with you

• If talking is a method of coping that you often use, find someone you trust to talk it out with

• Write about it as you would if you were talking with someone