Welcome 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 1 Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Jim Crowley Mike Dismore Chaplains Central Oregon Police Chaplaincy 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 2 Americans Say They: Need More Fun 68% Need a Long Vacation 67% Often Feel Stressed 66% Feel Time Is Crunched 60% Want Less Work, More Play 51% Feel Pressure to Succeed 49% Feel Overwhelmed 48% Some statistics from a survey by Hilton Generational Time Survey, Jan 2001 We Are a Stressed Out Society 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 3 Agenda What Is Stress & Its Causes Types of Critical Incidents Who Is Susceptible? Symptoms of Stress Resources Confidentiality Helpful Ideas 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 4 Objectives: List elements of stress in the emergency services profession Understand how a balanced lifestyle reduces critical incident stress reactions Understand situations in which critical incident stress may develop and what may worsen them List the CISM services available 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 5 It is not my intention to bore you! 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 6 What is stress and its causes? Stress Is Caused When Our Sense of Order or Right Is Upset Critical Incident Stress Defined: Normal Reactions of Normal People to Abnormal Situations Any Incident Which Causes Us to Experience Unusually Strong Emotional Reactions Which Interfere With Our Ability to Function, Either During the Event or Later. Life Is Full Of Abnormal Events! 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 7 STRESS: The Good The Bad The Ugly Eustress (necessary stress) to keep us motivated to accomplish things in our lives, i.e.: bills we need to pay motivates us to go to work, boredom motivates us to take up activities. Distress (too much stress) can overload us and cause a variety of emotional, physical, cognitive and spiritual reactions, if left unresolved Chronic Stress (burn-out) can disable us and in extreme cases cause and/or contribute to death. 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 8 Stress Will Catch You Unaware 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 9 Just When You Think you are OK 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 10 Critical Incident Stress Occurs when you experience an unusual or extreme emotional reaction after exposure to an event that is overwhelming to you. This is subjective based on each individual’s life experience and belief systems. What is overwhelming to one person may not be overwhelming to another person. 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 11 Cumulative Stress Occurs when a person’s normal coping mechanism are continuously overwhelmed. It can also occur when you don’t build in daily self care activities that are regenerative and stress reducing. Cumulative stress reactions are very debilitating. People begin to believe that frequent headaches, acid stomach, irritability, poor concentration, are normal. This produces further stress which can lead to serious physical and emotional illnesses. 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 12 Delayed Stress In some cases stress reactions to an overwhelming event do not occur until days, weeks, months or even years later. They are just as debilitating and impacting as a recent event. Delayed stress can occur when people go into shock after an event, refuse to acknowledge the impact of the event, or when exposure to an event is prolonged. 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 13 What Are Common Stressors? Change in Family New Kids Baby Blended Families Teen Age Children Empty Nest Spousal Tension Divorce Change in Your Society Loss of Family Member Strained Relationship Family or Work Moving to New Digs 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 14 Stressors (Work) Administrative Decisions I May Not Agree With Fully Operator Decisions That Might Find Conflict With Administration Shift Changes Rotating shifts Peer Relationships Health Problems Those That Drain Us 2 Lingering Colds, Etc Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 15 A Small Example Of Stress 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 16 Common Stress Triggers Argument With Significant Other Argument With a Child Old Age Parent Care Traffic Congestion Travel by Air Traffic Ticket Job Change in Family Rebellious Child Extended Family Relationships Return To Work Report Writing - Paperwork 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 17 Factors Affecting Stress Responses Duration Multiplicity Situational Importance 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 18 Performance and Efficiency Cumulative Stress Reaction Critical Incident Stress Reaction 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 19 Emergency Services Philosophy We the Willing Led by the Unknowing Have Been Doing the Impossible For the Ungrateful. We Have Done So Much For So Little, We Are Now Qualified To Do Anything With Nothing. 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 20 Some Facts 80% of All Non-trauma Deaths Are Caused by STRESS Chaplains Typically Live Longer (Joke) Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Personnel Under Extreme Traumatic Stress Will Manifest the Same Symptoms As a DRUNK X 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 21 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 22 More To Think About Police Stats: 140-170 Officers Killed in Line of Duty Each Year Police Suicides are a reality There IS a Need for Stress Management Within the Emergency Service Community 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 23 Personality Profile of Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Personnel Obsessive/compulsive Rescue Personality Very Controlling Driven by Internal Action Oriented Detail Oriented High Need for 1 Stimulation Easily Bored Dedicated Risk Taker Needs to Be Needed Can’t Say NO Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC Motives Good Guy Vs Bad Guy High Tolerance for Stress Ambiguity Toward Stress Goal Oriented Family Oriented Others 24 Comprehensive CISM Program Why have a critical incident stress management program? We can learn from past experience. 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 25 Comparison Both Airliners Collided with Small Planes San Diego Cerritos September 25, 1978 August 31, 1986 Total Killed From Planes 137 Plane Survivors 0 Homes Destroyed or Damaged 22 Killed On Ground 7 Emergency Personnel +/-300 Body Parts Found +/-10,000 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 67 0 12 15 +/-300 +/-10,000 26 Comparison “Twin” disasters Support Services Provided San Diego Cerritos Sporadic One on One On Scene One on One Demobilizations 12 Debriefings Hot Line Number One on One Follow Up 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 27 Comparison Personnel Lost in 1 Year San Diego 1 Cerritos Police Fire Paramedics Dispatch 5 7 17 ? 0 0 1 ? Increase in Mental Health Use 31% 1% Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 28 Critical Incident Stress Management Core Components Pre-incident preparation Demobilizations Crisis Management Briefings Defusings Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Individual crisis intervention Family/organizational CISM Follow-up/Referral 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 29 Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Pre-incident Traumatic Stress Education Before It Happens – TRAINING CISM Is Managing Stressors of Life On scene Support Support for Dispatchers (New Concept?) Significant Other Family Peer Team work - IMPORTANT Professional Counseling Specialty Defusing and Debriefing 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 30 Critical Incident Stress Management CISM Is a Comprehensive, Multi- component Crisis Intervention Program A Useful Stress Management Concept Is to Reduce or Eliminate the Use of Self Medication During Periods of Increased Work-related or Personal Distress To Prevent Being “Crippled By Stress” 2 Law Enforcement Wellness Association Inc Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 31 Forms of Self Medication Coffee - Tea Soda (With Caffeine) Drugs (Both Legal and Illegal) Tobacco Products Alcohol Eating Disorders Sweets (Chocolate) Diet Pills 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 32 Self Medication - Emotions Anger Affairs – Pornography Addiction Shopping – Malls or Internet Complaining – Grumbling Abuse – Physical, Verbal, Sexual Self harm Gambling Others Refuse to give stress permission to shape your reactive emotional response 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 33 Notice the Teamwork Emphasis 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 34 Team Work “We’re Not Just Building A Plane Here, We’re Building A Dream” Our Goal as Chaplains is to Build on Their Teamwork to promote wellness in each life. 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 35 Team Management The team concept of stress management involves each member to support and encourage those who may be experiencing adverse emotional or physical symptoms due to a stressful incident(s) Discussion of incidents among members is often enough to avert serious problems if used on a regular basis 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 36 Team Cooperation Avoid put-down comments Realize some incidents can be extremely stressful for some while routine for others – Allow for it! Talk over every incident Post Incident - Ask questions like – How did this incident affect you? Did this one bother you? What are you thinking? 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 37 Team Confidence Keep comments positive Avoid terms like “You can handle it” “Buck-up wimp” “Get a grip” “Greenhorn” Be supportive and listen, listen, listen Never Never share a co-worker’s stress reaction with others as gossip If a co-worker displays symptoms of stress overload, go with them to get help 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 38 Defusing Defusing means to render something harmless before it can do damage. A small group intervention applied within hours of a critical incident. 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 39 Defusing Shortened Version of CIS Debriefing 20 Min to 1 Hour Intervention and Teaching - Often During Same Shift Factual in Nature What Did You Feel Not Fact Finding Not an Investigation Strictly Confidential Allows Impact to Be Dealt With Quickly 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 40 Debriefing 1 ½ to 3 Hours Group Meeting to Reduce the Impact of an Event and Accelerate Recovery of Personnel Deals With a Serious Incident to Assess Personnel Impact To Promote Re-entry to Normalized Work Strictly Confidential Done With CISM Team 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 41 Some are Oblivious – Others Not 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 42 Types of Critical Incidents Not Limited to These: Line of Duty Death or Injury Serious Threat to Significant Others or Self Suicide of Co-worker or Family Multiple Casualties Injury or Death of a Child Personally Known Victims Prolonged Incident Excessive Media Coverage (reminders) Community Wide Disasters 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 43 Burnout Defined A state of mental, physical and emotional exhaustion 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 44 Burnout or Cumulative Stress Mix of Home and Work Stress I.E. Divorce Rate For Law Enforcement and Dispatch Builds up Over Time Erodes Personal Resources Normal Coping Mechanisms Often Is Cause of Depression 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 45 Burnout - First Stage Arousal Leading To: Anxiety, Panic, Difficulty Concentrating, and Feeling Out of Control Physical Symptoms: Tachycardia – Fast Heart Arrhythmias – Irregular Heart Gastrointestinal Distress – Stomach Rashes (Shingles) Acute Elevation in BP Muscle Tensions and Spasms Headaches+ Diaphramatic - Respiration 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 46 Burnout - Second Stage Energy Conservation Displays Procrastination Lateness Absenteeism Increased Stimulant Usage Withdrawal, Avoidance Personality Shift “That’s Not Like You” 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 47 Every Day Is a Monday 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 48 Burnout - Third Stage Exhaustion Feeling Hopeless / Helpless Fully Developed Depression Serious Consideration of Job Change Serious Consideration of Changes of Personal Living Situations (I.E. Divorce) Desire to Withdraw / Take a “Geographic Cure” Substance Abuse Contemplation of Self Destructive Actions 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 49 Who’s Susceptible to CIS? Any Person Who Is Traumatized by a Bad Scenario Hearing, But Not Able to See the Incident Family Members in Tragedy Close Friend – Resident Child Death by Abuse or SIDS, Etc Multi Fatality Incident Mass Casualty No Closure After an Incident (Dispatch?) Basically Everyone Is Susceptible 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 50 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD – Problem Identified After Viet Nam Not New – Problem Has Always Existed Seen in People With Extensive Trauma From Incidents (Think of Viet Nam) Flight Home Versus Ship Ride Home Lack of Time to Process 90% US Adults exposed to major trauma in a lifetime 1-3% General Population End Up with PTSD 10-15% of Law Enforcement end up with PTSD Dispatch, EMS and Fire, and SAR are similar 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 51 Symptoms of stress physical May require medical attention by physician Muscle Tremors Chest Pain Fatigue Difficulty Breathing Chills Elevated Blood Pressure Rapid Heart Rate Sweating Gastro-intestinal Weakness Distress Headaches Dizzy Spells Visual Problems Hunger Sensitivity to Noise Sleep Disorder Hic-cups Nausea 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 52 Symptoms of Stress Thinking Confusion Poor Attention Poor Decision Making Altered Alertness Poor Concentration Hyper Vigilance Poor Problem Solving Nightmares Sleep Irregularities Intrusive Images (Flashbacks) - Recurring Sounds Regrets – Woulda Coulda Shoulda 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 53 Symptoms of Stress Relational Isolated Resentful Lonely Lack of Intimacy Lashing Out Social Withdrawal Intolerant of Others Nagging Assaultive 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 54 Symptoms of Stress Emotional Emotional Numbness Anxiety 1 Withdrawal, Lack of Guilt Enjoyment Emotional Shock Feeling Overwhelmed Hopeless & Helpless Panic Feelings Loss of Emotional Control Loss of Confidence in Future Grief Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC Denial Fear Uncertainty Depression Intense Anger Irritability Apathy 55 Symptoms of Stress Behavioral Clues To Stress Overload Overly Protective of Self & Family (Over Jealous, Restrictive) Suspicious Appetite Changes Increased Self Overly Alert, Easily 1 Startled (Jumpy) Sleep Habit Changes Avoidance Behaviors Increased Conflicts at Home & Work Changes in Association With Fellow Workers Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC Medication Tearful Changes in Personal Hygiene Prolonged Silences Loss of Interest Withdrawal Abusive 56 We need to take care of ourselves! 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 57 Spiritual Stress Symptoms Religious Reappraisal Questions About Reality/meaning/justice/fairness Asking Core Questions “Why Me” – “Why Did God” Needing Reassurance of God’s Presence & Power Question the Power of Prayer Feelings of Hopelessness and Fatalism Questioning Core Faith and Spiritual Values Guilt, Shame Changing Assumptions About Life and Afterlife Feeling Need to Be Punished Needing Acts/rituals of Purification 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 58 Often Overlooked Help 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 59 Results of trying to do too much 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 60 Things to Try When Stressed Out Talk to People – Talking Is Healing Reach Out – People Do Care Maintain As Normal a Schedule As Possible (Maintain Goals) Do Things You Enjoy Doing Avoid Self Medication Alcohol, Caffeine Tobacco, Diet Pills, Drugs, Etc Don’t Let Pride Keep You From Help! 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 61 Find A Way To Laugh A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. Medical Science is proving this is true A Good Sense of Humor Adds To Life Be Creative – Find What Makes You Laugh 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 62 Good Back Massage Helps 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 63 When Stressed Out . . . Avoid Making Major Decisions Get Plenty of Rest Eat Well-balanced and Regular Meals Exercise to Reduce Physical Stress Share This Information With Significant Others Seek out a trusted Spiritual Counselor World Wide Web Resources Stress, ICISF 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 64 CISM And Family Systems Within a law enforcement career, families are affected by situations outside of their control. Police (for example) are trained in crisis situations … . . . Families are NOT! What happens at work affects the family, just as events at home affect you while on duty. 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 65 When your spouse is a First Responder Listen Carefully Spend Time With the Person Affected Offer Your Attention and Listening Ear Reassure Them That They Are Safe Give Them Opportunities for Private Time 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 66 For Family Members & Friends Don’t Take Their Anger or Feelings Personally Familiarize Yourself With What Affects Families Signs & Symptoms of Stress and Emotional Trauma 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 67 Social Life Expand Your Life Outside of The Agency Friends Faith Community Community Services Recreational Outlet Enjoy a Hobby Find a Balance of Work and Outside Activities 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 68 Enjoy a Hobby 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 69 Or try a new hobby 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 70 Resources Chaplain – Talk to One They Will Maintain Confidentiality Peers – Talk Over the Incident Leadership They Likely Have Been There Massage Therapy Mental Health Providers Trained in Stress Management 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 71 Confidentiality What You Discuss Is to Remain Confidential Defusing – for Exploring Emotional Reactions 1 Not Hashing Over Facts Defusing Should Be SOP for Stressful Incidents Debriefing – for in Depth Look Into the Impact of a Critical Incident on the Emotional Morale of the Emergency Workers Present, Including Multiple Agencies and Dispatch Debriefing Should Be Used, But With Discretion Discussion Stays Within the Room Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 72 Wheel of Success 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 73 Diet - Fueling your body for Peak Performance Some bodies do better with meats, poultry, fish, some do better with a vegetarian diet. Food’s Negative Effects: 2 Chronic Illness Physical Complaints Sleep disruption Emotional Response Allergies Energy Depletion Inability to Concentrate Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 74 Cardiac Fitness ~ Muscle Strength ~ Flexibility Exercise is critical for the development of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, called endorphins. Endorphins help us develop a sense of well being Aerobic activity after a stressful event will help release the stress response from the muscle. Exercise can conflict with the immune system during times of illness. You might need to rest while it is regenerating. 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 75 Research shows that having a stable sleep schedule and enough sleep every day is essential to physical and psychological health. It takes 30 days for your body to readjust every time you change your sleep schedule or get less sleep than your body needs. You cannot “make-up” sleep you can only get back into balance. Workers who are subjected to chronic changes in sleep schedule have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, neurotic disorders and depression; poor diet: disruptions in appetite, diarrhea, constipation & diabetes. Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation: difficulty concentrating; irritability; depression; memory loss; cognitive disorganization (can’t think clearly); chronic fatigue, anxiety. 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 76 Family Human beings are social by nature Humans are nurtured by love from another. Families are an important source of support and help regenerate you. Having good conflict resolution skills is critical in a family. Your work relationships act like an extended family. There is never a good reason to neglect time with family or adoptive family (a family you have chosen to be a support to you). 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 77 Friends Enjoy time to play and interact with others is critical. Work friendships mean “Minimal shop talk” while off duty. Playing, laughing, time to share opinions and receive support all help bring a sense of well-being and stability emotionally and psychologically. Enjoyment and fun helps your physical body release tension and stress. 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 78 Job Money is a frequent stressor in life. People often define who they are by their job and/or wealth. Stay within your means. Occasional overtime is fine (Eustress) but don’t become dependant upon it (Distress). Are you a Workaholic? Having hobbies, friends, stability with family, spiritual activities, helps define who you are. If your work gets disrupted and you have time off you will need these other areas to keep you from boredom. 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 79 Rebuild Engaging in activities that bring you a sense of peace, calm and accomplishment decreases stress in your life. Meditation and prayer are a restorative activities. Those who do these kinds of activities tend to recover from stressful events much easier. It is important to take time every week (every day if possible) to do things that calms your nervous system. 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 80 Spirituality Spirituality can be the foundation to all of the previously covered areas. Whether you have a specific spiritual practice, religious belief or just live by a sense of ethics within yourself, it is important to have an internal moral compass and means to assess how you are with that moral compass. Finding time for yourself to review where you are with your ethical, moral, spiritual or religious beliefs is a proactive way of heading stress off and can reduce your vulnerability to stress reactions resulting from any critical incident. 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 81 A Balanced Lifestyle Learning to balance all aspects of life is critical to managing stress You will find help when you apply the following principles Each is designed to get you to think of what you do and manage every aspect of your life. 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 82 Basic Principle Surround yourself with healthy people People with few problems You deal with the others all day (night) Adding an outward focus is beneficial Helping others is often is the best way to help yourself. Putting others first is most rewarding The only real balance is to “look up and out” not inward Pets may help. 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 83 Some Restorative Activities Humorous Movie Sponsor or Coach a Sport Team Be a Scout Leader Read a good book Join a Church Group “Take a hike” Bowling Ride a Bike Roller Skating Volunteer service Tennis Gardening Gym Workout (Regular) Crafts Sports (participatory) Walk With A Friend Your Ideas Ski Trip 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 84 Your Job and Stress Management 2 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 85 Objectives: How did we do? List elements of stress in the emergency services profession Understand how a balanced lifestyle reduces critical incident stress reactions Understand situations in which critical incident stress may develop and what may worsen them List the CISM services available 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 86 Thank-You For Serving All! You Are The Voice Of Calm In the Storms You Care When There is No One Else. You Offer Help To All In Need And Some not so needy Bless You! 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 87 Contact Info COPC Office; 325 NE Kearney Ave. Bend, OR 97701 COPC (Mail); PO Box 1898 Redmond, OR 97756 Chaplain Jim Crowley; (541) 410-6128 jbcrowley@bendbroadband.com Chaplain Mike Dismore; (541) 788-3364 pastordiz@juno.com 1 Chaplain Jim Crowley COPC 88