HEALTH & WELLNESS
When too many hours take their toll
DR. MICHAEL BIZZARRO
KEN BURKERT
To this day, Ken Burkert vividly recalls the moment he thought he would break down from stress and sheer exhaustion. He had returned home after working another 16 consecutive hours on a mandatory double shift as a corrections officer. His wife was very sick that day, and it was up to him to care for their twin 1-year-old sons. As he sat in the living room with his children on his lap, trying to sing to them, he became choked up. He had no idea how he was going to get through the night, but as a father, he knew that somehow he must.
Years later, Ken now works as my colleague, serving as Senior Outreach Coordinator for First Responder Treatment Services at Princeton House Behavioral Health. In our roles here, we’ ve helped many first responders faced with all-too-common situations just like his. The toll of shift work and overtime
There’ s plenty of research on how shift work and too much overtime can negatively impact your health. It’ s no secret that first responders have stressful jobs to begin with, but working too many overtime hours, too many shifts or inconsistent shifts— particularly when it’ s not by choice— can dramatically compound the problem and lead to physical illness, depression, and
other health problems.
Excessive work hours, and the resulting sleep deprivation and stress, affect more than your health. It can take a heavy toll on your family life— whether it’ s having a short fuse with your loved ones or missing family commitments due to work. It can reduce your ability to think as quickly in a job where reaction time is critical. Sometimes, it can lead to using alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism just to make it through the day.
Unfortunately, for many first responders, the negative impact has become a reality of daily life. Compounding the issue, law enforcement officers and firefighters are often conditioned to push through difficulties rather than seek assistance. However, being more aware of your own well-being and taking action early can prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. The warning signs
While everyone is different, a few signs that you might need to make some adjustments in your life include:
• feeling frequently irritable, frustrated or angry
• difficulty sleeping when you have time to sleep
• self-medicating, using alcohol more frequently or using drugs to cope
• avoiding other people
• the inability to concentrate or to shut your mind off after hours
• noticing that your judgment is not as sharp
• justifying or rationalizing negative behaviors
• noticing that other people are concerned about you or avoiding you
What you can do
It’ s important to work on a plan for your own well-being— and unless you take care of yourself first, you won’ t be able to care for others. Here are a few tips:
Identify what works for you in terms of“ turning off” when shift hours end. This might range from taking a walk to listening to your favorite music.
Take care of your physical health. Get regular checkups, exercise, drink plenty of water and do your best to avoid the vending machines and maintain healthy eating habits.
Optimize your down time. Plan family activities like watching a movie or making a meal together. If you can, carve out one-on-one time with family members. Even an hour can make a difference.
Listen to others without actively trying to fix something. It may give you important insight about yourself.
Schedule time to talk to a therapist. In addition to First Responder Treatment Services at Princeton House, we offer five outpatient locations providing behavioral health treatment services, with skilled health professionals who can help you get to the root of an issue and provide effective tools for coping.
Just as you would bring a vehicle to a mechanic when it needs a tune-up, there are times in life when we all need a mental or emotional tune-up. Recognizing these times and acting sooner rather than later can make all the difference. d
Dr. Michael Bizzarro, PhD, LCSW, BCD, is director of clinical services for first responder treatment services at Princeton House Behavioral Health. Ken Burkert is the peer liaison for first Responder Treatment Services at Princeton House. To learn more about treatment services available at Princeton House, call 888-437-1610( outpatient) or 800-242-2550( inpatient) or visit princetonhouse. org.
www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ JANUARY 2018 79