Everyday Battles

Post- traumatic stress disorder is very common and affects about sixty percent of officers
(Robinson, H. M., Sigman, M. R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997), page 837) and many who serve in the
military. In the article of Duty-related stressors and PTSD symptoms in suburban police
officers by Robinson, Sigman and Wilson gather psychological reports of how officers might
obtain post-traumatic stress in their everyday line of work .We have come to know it as PTSD
and it has been a prime cause of many suicides and unfortunate murders. Officers have reported
that one or more events they have experienced was highly stressful (Robinson, H. M., Sigman,
M. R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997), page 837) and their high demanding jobs require them to carry a
lot of package on their shoulders. It has been found that officers, newer to the force, tend to be
more affected than those far beyond them because their training can only prepare them for so
much and as we all say, expect the unexpected. As the Robinson, Sigman and Wilson have
stated, this has caused them to come face to face with death exposure (Robinson, H. M.,
Sigman, M. R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997), page 842) and death encounter (Robinson, H. M.,
Sigman, M. R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997), page 842).
A program known as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (Robinson, H. M., Sigman, M.
R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997), page 837), is designed to help prevent officers from developing PTSD
due to a stressful incident. Officers suffering from somatization, obsessive- compulsive,
interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility phobic anxiety, and Psychoticism
(Robinson, H. M., Sigman, M. R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997), page 839) are encouraged to attend
programs similar to the one previously mentioned. As Robinson, Sigman and Wilson explain this
program offers assistance not only to police officers, but also to high-risk occupational groups
(Robinson, H. M., Sigman, M. R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997), page 837). Some of these groups that

Robinson, Sigman and Wilson have mentioned would include, firefighters, emergency medical
services, and public safety personal (Robinson, H. M., Sigman, M. R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997),
page 837). This could be an emotional strain for any individual, officers who have dealt with
situations, such as shootings, abuse and riot control (Robinson, H. M., Sigman, M. R., &
Wilson, J. P. (1997), page 842), can develop PTSD from these traumatic events. Since they are so
exposed to these events, they are expected to be emotionally detached (Robinson, H. M.,
Sigman, M. R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997), page 836) from the rest of the world at times. This itself
can lead to severe depression and cause future problems.

Analytical Response
The fact that police officers are so exposed to these situations explains why they have
become so vulnerable in developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Newer officers are especially
sensitive when dealing with life threatening events because they are not accustomed to
witnessing such situations. As a reader, one would have thought it would have been reversed
because officers that are more experienced, see situation like this more often and the incoming
officers end up being the ones less affected. This article was not only about surveys taken and
experiments but also gave insight to how police officers are affected by these dangerous
situations. In some of the studies, it explained how these certain situations that an officer is put in
can cause them to develop PTSD and the more stressful the event, the higher the percentage.
The studies also demonstrate how post-traumatic stress tends to affect males in the
workforce because they do not have efficient coping mechanisms and their focus is mainly on
transitioning to the next crisis rather than dealing with their feelings in an appropriate manner.

By the author presenting these examples in the study it allows the reader to comprehend the
message better. Although Robinson, Sigman and Wilson article was more informative, it also
allows the reader to generate their own opinion over PTSD in officers.

Robinson, H. M., Sigman, M. R., & Wilson, J. P. (1997). Duty-related stressors and PTSD
symptoms in suburban police officers. Psychological reports, 81(3), 835-845.