Cop burnout: Part II

For people suffering with burnout, PTSD, and even terrible physical injuries, there is no better cure than love. Beats out therapy, drugs, alcohol, etc. Check out this ABC Report on the latest findings.

If you’re a cop the chances you’re burned out are off the charts. There is no profession out there whose employees are more in danger of experiencing burnout than law enforcement officers. Every single risk factor is endured by cops everywhere in spades and it’s a problem we cannot ignore any longer. Today PubSecAlliance in our second installment on the issue takes a look a recent findings by the clinical staff at the Mayo Clinic which has spent considerable resources researching the problem of burnout – “a special type of job stress — a state of physical, emotional or mental exhaustion combined with doubts about your competence and the value of your work.”

If you think you are suffering from burnout, the experts at the Mayo Clinic want you to answer the following 9 questions:
Have you become cynical or critical at work?
Do you drag yourself to work and have trouble getting started once you arrive?
Have you become irritable or impatient with co-workers, customers or clients?
Do you lack the energy to be consistently productive?
Do you lack satisfaction from your achievements?
Do you feel disillusioned about your job?
Are you using food, drugs or alcohol to feel better or to simply not feel?
Have your sleep habits or appetite changed?
Are you troubled by unexplained headaches, backaches or other physical complaints?

Our guess? Most cops we know can answer yes to every one of these questions. Even if you only answer yes to a couple, you may be experiencing job burnout.

The list of things that cause burnout is even more relevant to law enforcement. Every single factor listed by the Mayo Clinic as likely to cause burnout is experienced by most officers, every shift they work. Here’s the Mayo clinic’s list of things that cause burnout:
* Lack of control. An inability to influence decisions that affect your job — such as your schedule, assignments or workload — could lead to job burnout. So could a lack of the resources you need to do your work.
* Unclear job expectations. If you’re unclear about the degree of authority you have or what your supervisor or others expect from you, you’re not likely to feel comfortable at work.
* Dysfunctional workplace dynamics. Perhaps you work with a bully, you feel undermined by fellow officers or your boss micromanages your work. These and related situations can contribute to job stress.
* Mismatch in values. If your values differ from the way your employer does business or handles grievances, the mismatch may eventually take a toll.
* Poor job fit. If your job doesn’t fit your interests and skills, it may become increasingly stressful over time.
* Extremes of activity. When a job is always monotonous or chaotic, you need constant energy to remain focused — which can lead to fatigue and job burnout.
* Lack of social support. If you feel isolated at work and in your personal life, you may feel more stressed.
* Work-life imbalance. If your work takes up so much of your time and effort that you don’t have the energy to spend time with your family and friends, you may burn out quickly