4 answers
Rylee
Student
Lewes, Delaware
1
Question
Asked
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What’s the best way to deal with burnout or stress in high-pressure fields like law enforcement?
I will be a freshman in college this fall, and while graduation is far away, I want to have a general idea of what I want to do so that my degree will be helpful in my career. I would like to become an FBI agent after graduating from college, and I know that the job, like many others, can take a strong emotional toll, and I want to be prepared.
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4 answers
Kevin Czora
Law enforcement
35
Answers
Amherst, New York
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
Rylee,
Your question is one that I wish I had asked myself before starting my career. The toll that stress can take on a person in this field can be overwhelming. Mitigating and managing it is critical.
First, you need to identify the various causes of stress. The obvious one is from witnessng the brutal acts a person can do to another. Tied into that, the pressures of being the person who must find a way to bring justice to those victims, and to keep our communities safe. Case follow-up and completion has its own stress. Bringing a caae to court, having it approved by the DA, and then going to trial successfully brings enormous stress. There is also the stress that may be caused within the agency. Personality conflicts with peers, supervisors, and administration is real. Of course, you have the stresses of your and other peoples safety. Trying to protect yourself, your partners, the innocent people around you, and even suspects is an extreme challange. At the end of the day you have your homelife stress. Missing holidays, birthdays, special events, etc, can cause anguish with you, your spouse, and your kids.
Now, what to do about it. This is different for each person, but I'll touch on what works in general. First, making a balance between home and work as best you can. Go on vacations when possible, make special time with family and friends. Try to make friends that are NOT in law enforcement. Next... excercise, excercise, excercise. Play sports, go to a gym, do yoga, anything. Find a way to release that pent-up energy and physical stress. Dont forget about your brain. I mandated that every one of my detectives see a psychiatrist once a year. They didnt have to talk, but they had to sit in front of her. Having that option is important. Listen to people if they say they see changes in you. Moderate alcohol use. Dont use it to mask lingering stress.
I hope this helps guide you, and keeps you safe. I loved my job and take great pride in what I did. My passion didnt keep me from having stress, but it did help accept and be able to manage it. Good luck, and love what you do.
Kevin Czora
Your question is one that I wish I had asked myself before starting my career. The toll that stress can take on a person in this field can be overwhelming. Mitigating and managing it is critical.
First, you need to identify the various causes of stress. The obvious one is from witnessng the brutal acts a person can do to another. Tied into that, the pressures of being the person who must find a way to bring justice to those victims, and to keep our communities safe. Case follow-up and completion has its own stress. Bringing a caae to court, having it approved by the DA, and then going to trial successfully brings enormous stress. There is also the stress that may be caused within the agency. Personality conflicts with peers, supervisors, and administration is real. Of course, you have the stresses of your and other peoples safety. Trying to protect yourself, your partners, the innocent people around you, and even suspects is an extreme challange. At the end of the day you have your homelife stress. Missing holidays, birthdays, special events, etc, can cause anguish with you, your spouse, and your kids.
Now, what to do about it. This is different for each person, but I'll touch on what works in general. First, making a balance between home and work as best you can. Go on vacations when possible, make special time with family and friends. Try to make friends that are NOT in law enforcement. Next... excercise, excercise, excercise. Play sports, go to a gym, do yoga, anything. Find a way to release that pent-up energy and physical stress. Dont forget about your brain. I mandated that every one of my detectives see a psychiatrist once a year. They didnt have to talk, but they had to sit in front of her. Having that option is important. Listen to people if they say they see changes in you. Moderate alcohol use. Dont use it to mask lingering stress.
I hope this helps guide you, and keeps you safe. I loved my job and take great pride in what I did. My passion didnt keep me from having stress, but it did help accept and be able to manage it. Good luck, and love what you do.
Kevin Czora
Gregory Bass
Security Forces/ Law Enforcement
12
Answers
Girard, Ohio
Updated
Gregory’s Answer
This is a question I wish I asked when I first got into law enforcement. There will be many stressors long hours, case load, things you see or hear on the job. However it’s not impossible to get through and there are a lot of things you can do to help ease some of that stress.
One of the big ones I struggled with was leaving work at work. I would think about work at home or even bring work home to do on my down time. This is a quick way to get burned out. Leave work at work and use down time to decompress.
As some others have mentioned switching up what you’re doing can help you avoid burn out. If there are opportunities to learn something now or move to another specialty to do something different for a while these opportunities can be a great way to reset and recharge the motivation that can be lost due to burn out and stress.
Lastly lean on those you can when your struggling family, friends, faith, or even professional help when needed can help people process and get through the hard times that come with a career in law enforcement.
One of the big ones I struggled with was leaving work at work. I would think about work at home or even bring work home to do on my down time. This is a quick way to get burned out. Leave work at work and use down time to decompress.
As some others have mentioned switching up what you’re doing can help you avoid burn out. If there are opportunities to learn something now or move to another specialty to do something different for a while these opportunities can be a great way to reset and recharge the motivation that can be lost due to burn out and stress.
Lastly lean on those you can when your struggling family, friends, faith, or even professional help when needed can help people process and get through the hard times that come with a career in law enforcement.
Lynn Tang
Legal counsel
2
Answers
Beijing, China
Updated
Lynn’s Answer
Rylee,
Burnout is a common challenge in the high-intensity and high-pressure field of law. To prevent or recover from burnout, I find the following strategies effective:
Actively Seek Variety in Work
Taking on new areas or types of cases helps break the monotony and prevents mental fatigue caused by repetitive tasks.
Regularly Reflect on Work and Pursue Professional Growth
Conducting regular reviews of my work, attending relevant training programs, and engaging with more experienced colleagues or peers allow me to improve my skills and reduce stress by increasing my efficiency and confidence.
Make Full Use of Paid Leave
Taking time off and disconnecting completely from work is essential for physical and mental recovery.
Engage in Activities Unrelated to the Profession
Spending time on hobbies such as art, sports, or other personal interests helps maintain a healthy work-life balance and provides mental rejuvenation.
Seek Professional Help When Needed
If burnout has already occurred, consulting a qualified mental health professional for regular therapy can be highly beneficial for recovery and long-term well-being.
Burnout is a common challenge in the high-intensity and high-pressure field of law. To prevent or recover from burnout, I find the following strategies effective:
Actively Seek Variety in Work
Taking on new areas or types of cases helps break the monotony and prevents mental fatigue caused by repetitive tasks.
Regularly Reflect on Work and Pursue Professional Growth
Conducting regular reviews of my work, attending relevant training programs, and engaging with more experienced colleagues or peers allow me to improve my skills and reduce stress by increasing my efficiency and confidence.
Make Full Use of Paid Leave
Taking time off and disconnecting completely from work is essential for physical and mental recovery.
Engage in Activities Unrelated to the Profession
Spending time on hobbies such as art, sports, or other personal interests helps maintain a healthy work-life balance and provides mental rejuvenation.
Seek Professional Help When Needed
If burnout has already occurred, consulting a qualified mental health professional for regular therapy can be highly beneficial for recovery and long-term well-being.
Gregory Nevano
Special Agent
11
Answers
Fairfax Station, Virginia
Updated
Gregory’s Answer
It is very prudent of you to start thinking about this now, and to be prepared for a career in law enforcement. There is no doubt that working in this field is stressful, and it takes a lot of commitment and sacrifice. At the end of the day, most of us who worked in this field loved our work for the simple reason of protecting the national security and public safety of this great nation and citizens around the world. Best of luck!