Mental Health and Wellness Support
Gaylord Popp Supports
• Local and County Police Officers
• Civilian PD Personnel
• Corrections Officers
Advice from professionals to promote better mental healthcare
Strength Over Shame
Iris Perlstein, LCADC, LPC
Clinical Specialist
Princeton House First Responder Treatment Services
Shame is a barrier to getting help for major depression, panic
disorders, generalized anxiety disorders, substance abuse, sui-
cidal acts and marital troubles. Law enforcement officers be-
lieve, “I am supposed to be the rock.”
It is important to realize that asking for help only allows the
individual to be human. The image of first responders as su-
perheroes may lead to hiding their hidden pain and symptoms
under a false mask due to the intense shame that is felt. Often
the perception is that seeking help is an indication of weakness.
Here’s what you can do to feel strength rather than shame:
• Recognize when you need help and emotional support
from others.
• Become more open and honest with yourself.
• Learn to become less critical or perfectionistic in your
routines.
• Practice reducing shame by becoming more flexible, ac-
cepting and forgiving of human imperfection in yourself
and in others.
• Challenge the thoughts that support the belief that you
are weak if you ask for help. Asking for help shows strength.
What should I do to get
the most out of addiction
treatment?
Michael Bizzarro, Ph.D., LCSW
Director of Clinical Services
Princeton House First Responder Treatment Services
Solid recovery from any destructive compulsive-addictive
behavior is an ongoing process that entails learning from our
own past, present and future experiences. Then it involves
making our own choices, taking action, evaluating results and
learning more about the severity of the problem.
To get the most out of treatment:
• Recognize that when you choose the behavior, you choose
the consequence.
• Learn about the multiple signs and symptoms of harmful
addiction.
• Identify the signs, symptoms and negative consequences
that you have experienced.
• Get an accurate diagnosis.
• Honestly address the question: “Am I really in control of
my behavior?”
• Communicate with others more openly, directly and hon-
estly about your need for recovery help.
• Court
Officers and Personnel
Simple
truths
Cherie Castellano, CSW, LPC
INJURED?
Program Director, Cop 2 Cop
Workers
Compensation
For more than
20 years, I have listened to cops talk about
the
impact
stress
the job.
But
Have
you of
been
hurt and
and trauma
seeing on
a doctor
not
of there
your is a sim-
ple
truth. Amid the plethora of resources and guidance avail-
choice?
able,
comes
down Medical
to one Bills
simple
are you
Are it
you
receiving
for question:
treatment What
you were
willing to do about it?
ordered to receive?
The reality of change seems to start with you and your faith.
you out
work and
told associations
you may not between
be able at-
A Are
number
of of
studies
have being
shown
to return?
tending
religious services and living a long life, and one found
If
you
answered
to any of these
questions
call
that regular
service yes
attendance
was linked
to reductions
in
the
body’s stress or
responses.
609-246-0671
visit us at www.gaylordpopp.com
So when the job or life knocks you to your knees, pray. In
whatever way you can, make faith a simple truth to develop in
your life and mental and physical health improvements will
follow. At Cop 2 Cop, we have added clergy of all faiths to our
Disability
Pension
Appeals
network,
so if you
need spiritual
direction or clergy to confide
Have
you
been
told
you
can’t
return
to you
your to job?
in, we can connect you. Then it’s up to
trust that your
faith
is you
the first
living
your
best life.
Have
been step
told to you
have
to retire,
resign or be fired?
DISABLED?
Have you applied and been denied your disability
pension?
If you answered yes to any of these questions call
609-246-0671 or visit us at www.gaylordpopp.com
Social Security Disability
Have you been out of work for over a year?
Are you not able to return to work due to your
disabilities?
Have you been told you are not eligible?
If you answered yes to any of these questions call
609-246-0671 or visit us at www.gaylordpopp.com
GAYLORD POPP, LLC
850 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 308
West Trenton, New Jersey 08628
Offices also located in Cherry Hill & Woodbridge
Samuel M. Gaylord, Esquire
Certified Workers Compensation Attorney
Disability Pension Litigation
Lawrence E. Popp, Esquire
Personal Injury Attorney
Tanya L. Phillips, Esquire
Workers Compensation Attorney
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ MARCH 2019 79