Stress How Do We Control It ?

[S/O245]

Thats a question that I would like to know lol. I wanted to ask other security officers here how much stress do you have sometimes ? Sometimes mine is not too bad. And sometimes i have alot. Sometimes i have more from the family than my job. Another thing i dont know what to do is how to talk to them about it. Because sometimes they things they say to me is disrespectfull to me and would be disrespect to anyone in a uniform. Its not from my dad or mom. As i said in another thread my dad served 11 yrs as a deputy sheriff that was after he was a Police/Fire Dispatcher for a yr. He had also been a S/O for 2 months before going to the Dispatcher job. And of course job stress i was sick 3 days and had to work through it. I had a bad stomach virus that was going around. Then i get one night off and when i come back to work as i posted about another threat a cap got on me about stuff that was not my fault. I told him who had done it by accident which happend to be a LT then after this he says i dont want to hear it. Then i said i wont be wrote up for somethin i did not do. If he had wrote me up i planed to filed a complaint with the Admin.

So how do you all get rid of stress ? What do you do i guess you would say to get away from the job. One thing i do is go to my grandmas house in the country in indiana close to where i use to live. And i like to go for a drive. Sometimes shopp lol. Going to the3 shooting range and gettin with friends to hang out.

I read a article in American Cop Magazine that talked about stress. They said the number on threat to law enforcement officers is not subjects they said its you. If it is accurate i read that 300 LEO's kill them self every yr. And the expert who wrote the article says you need to work on keeping your mental and physical health the best you can. He said that many officers spend more hrs on keeping officer survival skills up than they do mental health. I would have to agree. I have already spent over 50 dollars within the past month on officer survival training. I agree that we should spend more time and research to keep our mental status as healthy as possible. I think it can help you do better on the job and off the job. One rule is dont take family problems into the field. I made that mistake and quickly found that I was not paying attention because i was day dreaming about other problems.

If your intersted in getting american cop its a new magazine it suppose to be for Sworn LEOS and Security Personnel. They have a special page for Private Security. Its a pretty good magazine.

http://www.americancopmagazine.com/

Stay Safe All

[Mr. Security]

Unarmed security works best for me. Most operations, including building/perimeter tours are routine. Occasionally, I have to deal with a party who isn't welcome, but even then I can usually reason with them. Of course, when the fire panel is in alarm or monitoring equipment indicates a chemical release, things can get pretty hectic with only one security officer on duty. 90% of the time, when my shift is completed, I leave without taking the job home with me. Which is why I prefer security over my former job as a police/911 dispatcher.

[N. A. Corbier]

Unarmed security works best for me. Most operations, including building/perimeter tours are routine. Occasionally, I have to deal with a party who isn't welcome, but even then I can usually reason with them. Of course, when the fire panel is in alarm or monitoring equipment indicates a chemical release, things can get pretty hectic with only one security officer on duty. 90% of the time, when my shift is completed, I leave without taking the job home with me. Which is why I prefer security over my former job as a police/911 dispatcher.

Hectic. Heh. I remember being called to a hotel from patrol for a trouble indicator on a Simplex fire alarm controller. I tapped "Trouble Clear," as the hotel management wasn't allowed to touch the controller, only us, and it trouble'd again. I said, to the front desk, at 2 AM, "This might be"

WATER FLOW SENSOR - FLOOR 2-8 - ACTIVE
WATER FLOW SENSOR - FLOOR 2-8 - TROUBLE SHORT
FIRE PUMP ACTIVATED
FIRE ALARM ACTIVATED

*BZZZZZZZZT*

Some idiot had touched the sprinkler head with a leatherman tool, that created a ground short fault, and set off the trouble. The system didn't have per-floor sensors, it was the riser sensor that activated when he pulled the stopgap and boom, activated the sprinkler. Fire pump kicked on.

We were, by law, not authorized to turn a fire pump off until fire department ordered it clear. Nor could we hit alarm cancel. So, I'm checking floor by floor listening for something, anything, and then I hear the sound of water. Open the door, and it looks like its out of a WWII submarine movie, water flying out of the room... The guy was pissed off, demanded a refund, etc.

Then fire showed up, and we made entry to shut the sprinkler off, I noticed the leatherman tool on the ground and declared it a crime scene. Fire was like: I agree, everybody out, and I was posted on the door till tampa police arrived. The guy went for tampering with a fire device, after he was all, "Who the f- are you, I"m tr... Oh, police."

[Mr. Security]

It's definitely a rude awakening. Horns & Strobes, fire doors slamming shut, monitoring company, client representative(s) all trying to call at once, fire department wants to know exactly where the fire may be in the building(s) as you flip through page after page of detector schematics......not a good day. Not to mention all the paperwork: Activity report, incident report, etc.

[S/O245]

I remember my first day by my self when i was with pinkerton this was after i was cut lose of training with the site supervisor. That day was a little bad. I had a real bad storm kicking up so then i have the weather radio on one problem the pile of junk dont work right LOL. so i call a buddy that i knew was home and said if u hear any info call my cell. So it was lookin bad then they said we had a chance of possible tornados so im lookin for places to take 100 people to incase something bad goes down. Then i have a preg lady walking down the stairs holding her stomach and my first thought was ummm if ur going to have that thingy dont have it here LOL. Just get someplace else where they got a doctor etc lol. then i had some other stuff going on. I was a little up tight i guess. Since I have more experience im much more relaxed and even at times im still up tight for some reason lol. But im mostly relaxed.

Then at the same site we had oxygen tanks just like firefighters use if this one place catches fire u have to put it on cause of oil's and crap. It was like a power room or something. And it did catch fire once. Well i thought i heard a fire alarm but was not sure so im running like hell all over the 4 story place because i only heard it once. LOL i told u i was up tight LMAO. i was 20 yrs old at the time. But i wanted to be sure it was not a fire. at that time i only had hmm 50 people in the place. What was dumb about this post when the alarm activated it did not go to the comm center you had to call the 911 and tell them u had a alarm activation. And something i did not like i was told they dont want you to call if the alarm gores off they want you to check the entire building first then call. I thought this was stupid what if something really bad happened and i was the only one who could call and something happened to me. Then everyone would be screwed. I know when i was a police explorer we had fire alarm calls all the time that were not a active fire. I heard no officers or fighters gripe about it. So why would the post not want you to call when them alarm is sounding.

Stay Safe All

[Guest]

One rule is dont take family problems into the field. I made that mistake and quickly found that I was not paying attention because i was day dreaming about other problems.

I've found this advice to be crutial. Everyday, before leaving for work I ensure that all is good with my family at home. This way my mind is free from worry and I am ready to deal with everyone at work. In security mental preoccupation can be dangerous because it is distracting.

[Crinsol]

Man, you security guys are too serious.

I was gonna say lots of alcohol and sex!!!

[UncleDooly]

[QUOTE=S/O245]....snip, snip......
I wanted to ask other security officers here how much stress do you have sometimes ? Sometimes mine is not too bad. And sometimes i have alot.
....snip, snip....
Sometimes i have more from the family than my job. One rule is dont take family problems into the field. I made that mistake and quickly found that I was not paying attention because i was day dreaming about other problems.

Obviously, you're already aware of, and recognize the value of trying to keep work at work and home at home. You seem to, already, be working on that.

My experience, which may not apply to everyone, is that, through insufficient training or being provided with limited resources, such as the ability to contact superior officers, having little or no access to information in unexpected situations, and general confusion as to how I should perform at any given time, cause a great deal of stress. When I know, exactly, what I'm supposed to be doing - when I am never unsure as to how to proceed moment to moment - when I am confident I can face anything that may occur at that particular post and, most importantly, in the way I'm expected to, I find the level of stress is reduced to almost zero. Like when you were in school... test day... if you were unsure of the answers... big stress. If you studied.... piece of cake. Knowledge brings confidence, and confidence reduces stress.

Trying to do a good job, the way you're expected to do it, is, I believe, one of the greatest generator of stress in our business. I am rarely stressed by the people I have to interact with, or by on-the-job situations, when I've had comprehensive site training, complete, up-to-date post orders and when I'm sure what's expected of me.

[S/O245]

Man, you security guys are too serious.

I was gonna say lots of alcohol and sex!!!

Well you have to be serious about things you never now what can happen anything is possible. But lots of alcohol i dunno bout that maybe one or two if i drink and i only drink once in a while at home LOL. Now the other part that sounds like a good stress reduction to me as larry the cable guy says git r done LOL.

Stay Safe All

[N. A. Corbier]

Man, you security guys are too serious.

I was gonna say lots of alcohol and sex!!!

Hopefully not at the same time, or it'll just add more stress.

[jimmyhat]

one thing is for sure, controlling stress is a long term process. Good diet and exercise (nothing like a long run near the water) repetitious training (constantly updating your knowledge of the law, and scenario-based training), proper hydration (not just beer). These things are not quick fixes, but an absolute lifestyle.

Some things that really help me out: a few hundred rounds a week at the range, and my heavy-bag hanging from the rafters in my basement. I'll beat that thing sometimes until it asks me to please stop.

Another good topic: How do we control fear? I know a certain amount of fear is a good thing, but when it paralyzes you, that's a bad night on the street.

I wonder if fight or flight is something you're just born with, and have to live with. Can someone who is naturally conditioned to run from danger, be trained to do the opposite? Guard dogs, and sheep. Is that all there is?

[hemi444]

So how do you all get rid of stress ?

[soontobeLEO]

one thing is for sure, controlling stress is a long term process. Good diet and exercise (nothing like a long run near the water) repetitious training (constantly updating your knowledge of the law, and scenario-based training), proper hydration (not just beer). These things are not quick fixes, but an absolute lifestyle.

Some things that really help me out: a few hundred rounds a week at the range, and my heavy-bag hanging from the rafters in my basement. I'll beat that thing sometimes until it asks me to please stop.

Another good topic: How do we control fear? I know a certain amount of fear is a good thing, but when it paralyzes you, that's a bad night on the street.

I wonder if fight or flight is something you're just born with, and have to live with. Can someone who is naturally conditioned to run from danger, be trained to do the opposite? Guard dogs, and sheep. Is that all there is?

These are thoughts and conditions we each have to come to terms with ourselves. I get rid of my stress by keeping relaxed. I always joke with others, and never take anything said to me to heart. When I get home, I jump on the computer and either talk to people on these message boards, play Final Fantasy XI, or even just meditate.
As stupid as it may sound to some of you, I have found meditation to help a lot. I don't mean like they show in the movie where you put your hands palm up with your fingers curled a certain way and hum or anything, lol. Just sit down in a quiet atmosphere and relax. Tune out any distractions, and try to keep your mind off of anything that is bothering you. If there is something that you can't get off of your mind, take control of it. Choose the way you want it to end, and then imagine going through the situation and have everything go the way you want.
Handling your fear goes about the same way. Try to sit down and realize what it is you truely fear and why you fear it. If its something that presents no physical harm to yourself, attempt to force yourself into facing your fear. Some examples: You are scared of heights-climb to the top of the highest building in the area, or if you live in a beach area, go parasailing, etc. It is like Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "you have nothing to fear but fear itself." Just as you learned to ride a bicycle, or even to drive. You had to surpass any fears you had of falling or getting into an accident.
And to end this long post of mine, lol. There are guard dogs, sheep, wolves, and many other types out there. You even have the "Babe's" that exist. (Is a movie about a pig who grows up to be a sheep dog.) A person can only do what they allow themselves to do. If you think you can't do something, you won't be able to do it. Its that simple. The first step to doing anything is to believe in yourself. The second step is to get the training you need to be able to do it. Your mind is a muscle just like your legs and arms. If you want to be able to lift a 230lb object, you have to go out and spend time by weight lifting etc. If you want to lose your fears, or at least prevent them from paralyzing you, then you need to go out there and face those fears.
I apologize if anything I said it hard to understand. The summary is just to:
(1) Relax, don't take everything at face value
(2) Only focus on the positive.
(3) When faced with a challenge or fear, try to face it on your own terms. If you can plan and see all the possibilities in your mind and stay prepared, when the time comes you will be able to face it without freezing up.
(4) And the most important part. Nothing in life comes easy. When you want to do something, you always have to keep your mind on the positive. Never sway from your dreams. The worst thing you can do for yourself is to give into fear.

[Bill Warnock]

SoontoBeLEO, you have made an excellent presentation. Fear is normal, if you ever meet an individual who expresses themselves through word or deed they have have no fear, run as fast as you can. You have found a truly crazy person. As you have so eloquently written, it is the management of fear and stress that is elemental to a successful career in law enforcement and/or security.
Well done sir or madam.
Enjoy the day,
Bill