Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

When it comes to treatment, it becomes difficult because the victim has to be willing to work with their therapist or trained professional. Like stated early, some want to do better but refuse to accept their disorder. However, there are numerous ways to aid in helping heal PTSD that do not include doctors or medications. Some examples of these include, exercising which can help the victim reduce physical tension, volunteering which assists the victim in reconnecting with their community, even talking to other veterans or police officers with PTSD can help with regaining trust with others. However, there is a more scientific approach to dealing with PTSD. After a rough or gruesome assignment, veterans or police officers are usually sent to

Hal Brown, an expert in PTSD studies, suggests at least a monthly thirty-minute debriefing session with a professional therapist as well as a meeting every other month which incorporates the spouse if one is present. In order to try and benefit officers who have been diagnosed with PTSD or frequently handle vicious crimes, the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, or CISD, has just recently been place in police departments all over the world. The CISD was designed to promote an emotional understanding of traumatic events, this comes from ventilation and normalization of feelings and also includes a preparation plan for future experiences. It is essentially there to aid the victim in addressing how they are feeling and how to best assist a similar situation if it were to happen. This program is broken down into seven phases: introduction, fact, thought, reaction, symptom, education, and the re-entry phase. Each of these is designed to break apart how the victim is feeling and how they should continue about their lives even though they dealt with the incident or incidents that caused them their

Any sort of dangerous or life threatening incident can cause this disorder, leaving the victim in shambles mentally and can even progress to be physically harming. As veterans and police officers put their lives and mental health on the line to protect our safety, they have a high risk of obtaining PTSD at some point during their career. Whether it be from long, excruciating hours, or being held hostage at gun point, it is not uncommon for these life savers to acquire this disorder. The victims have different ways of coping with PTSD, each usually with a different result. Some choose to leave the force after their golden years, once the high of catching criminals dies down and they no longer find their job interesting. However, some victims make more drastic decisions, which not only effects them but the people they associate with themselves. They simply cannot think of a better way out other than suicide, leaving their family, team, and even the people of America heartbroken by the loss of a hero. Some put forth thousands of dollars into treatments and medicines to cure their disorder. Which may or may not work, depending on the time of stress and treatment prescribed. However, this instinct is in both veterans and police officers, and as veterans are more recognized for their PTSD, police officers tend to get cast aside. Both positions require vigorous work and effort, as well as mental capability. Even