Police officer who develops a panic disorder?
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at
8:49 pm
Panic attacks run in our family. Luckily I escaped it. My cousin, who is a cop, thought he did to. Three years into working for the Raleigh, Nc police, he has developed regular panic attacks. Is this common place for cops? They have reffered him to therapy, but said if he is unable to overcome the disorder in 90-180 days, he should consider resigning, or may be asked to leave. Panic attacks and anxiety disorder are the most common mental disorders known to man. In fact about 1 in 9 of us suffer some form of it. So what should he do?
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Panic attacks and anxiety disorders are resolved with anti anxiety medications. There are a number of meds out which control this. Just be warned if someone starts on Xanax it is a hard medication to get off. But the medication controls Panic attacks and anxiety disorders very well.
seek professional help
the stress a officer faces daily never has a chance to go away. the reason is that you face it again the very next day.it is the main problem officers in dealing with the stress.i have never heard it called a panic disorder.well over 90% of the time it is diagnosed as ptsd.there are treatments out there.there are medicines and councel that helps
I sympathize with this officer. Panic attacks are something that one doesn’t get over in a short period. His job has probably brought on a lot of anxiety and then the panic attacks began. I wonder if he could work a desk job for the police force? If they have offered him therapy, I hope it isn’t going to be someone they pick, because a person would not always feel that his meetings with the specialist could be kept confidental. Ask some family doctors, mental health clinics/hospitals for advice on someone good. Make sure they have a masters degree in psychology.
He definitely needs to get into therapy. The therapist can advise him on resigning from his job, rather than letting them telling him to leave. Good luck and God Bless.
if it is not just stress(a cop is a very stressful job and it does not pay well)
the most common panic attacks come from a lot of different things mostly the body is low on something.i used to get them 2-3 time a month after lots of doc’s i found that a daily vitamin and something to take care of low dopamine levels worked well i have not had one for years but can feel them coming on i just take my vitamins and its all fine
as for dopamine levels legal approach is green tea it does not take much a glass a day maybe two.
there are illegal ways but being a cop well you know.
Seek therapy that works and that is comfortable to him. The first therapist is not always the best. Medication may be needed as well. Many cops suffer from anxiety, Panic and depression because of what they see each day. You will probably get stupid comments from cop haters who could not spend a minute in your cousins shoes without peeing all over themselves, so just pass them over. If the panic attacks were brought on by work related stress, he should seek an attorney as well because he has rights under Workman’s compensation.
if it can be controlled or treated with medication, they cannot ask him to leave. it would be against the law. PTSD and alcoholism is more common for cops. he should resign only if he wants to and thinks that his job may be part of the problem.
he needs to see some one about this
Well he is on the right track with speaking with someone but he need to be open and honest. If the person prescribes drug and it is not against department policy then he need to try to do the drugs also try making changes in his life, take up a good hobby that is not work related. Too many cops collect old cop cars, patches/badges, even guns. Have a hobby that does not remind you of your job. Finally exercise. He has a disability and should not be discriminated for having it.
MAY BE DUE TO TOO MUCH TRESS, FIND ANOTHER JOB.
Follow the advice he has been given. A cop especially if he has a partner needs to be able to make competent split second decisions when necessary, his life or his partner’s life could hang in the balance and a moments hesitation can be deadly. I know it sucks because for him to want to be a cop shows he wants to do good for others in this case, the good he can do is to resign IF he is unable to control his anxiety. has he tried that program they advertise on TV? Tell him to try it along with what ever therapy he is doing. He needs to try every avenue to keep the job he seems to love.