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How ya holdin' up? - Spiritual Challenges, Compassion Fatigue, Moral Injury and Law Enforcement
- 1. HOW YA’ HOLDIN’ UP? Spiritual Challenges, Compassion Fatigue, Moral Injury and Law Enforcement Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training August 12, 2020 Chaplain William Hartfelder, CPD
- 2. WHO IS THIS GUY? • Chaplain William (Will) Hartfelder (614-595-2212) • Raised in NYC and Yonkers, NY • Extensive training in Biblical Languages, archaeology • Extensive travel in Europe and Middle East • Teaching experience college and seminary levels • Retired after 31 years in three congregations • CPD Chaplain five years • CIT, CISM certified • International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC)
- 3. WHAT IS A CHAPLAIN? C: CARING H: HEARING A: AVAILABLE P: PREVENTION L: LOAD A: RESOURCE I: TIME OF NEED N: NOT A PIPELINE
- 4. SPIRITUALITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT Now matter your definition/description of “spirituality… In Law Enforcement you will experience what are essentially “spiritual questions/doubt” about: • God or Higher Power • Challenge to or loss of faith in God or Higher Power • Cynicism over the ”goodness” of others • Reality of evil
- 5. SPIRITUALITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT “Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:11-12; NRSV)
- 6. HAPPENS TO THE BEST
- 7. COMPASSION FATIGUE After what can seem like an unrelenting stream of needy people compounded by a never-ending parade of people making (very) bad decisions, we get to where responding is not only what we don’t feel like doing, we may not even care anymore. It’s called compassion fatigue and it happens to the best of us.
- 8. COMPASSION FATIGUE Merriam-Webster definition of compassion fatigue: “the physical and mental exhaustion and emotional withdrawal experienced by those who care for sick or traumatized people over an extended period of time.”
- 9. COMPASSION FATIGUE “Compassion” – from Latin meaning “to suffer with”
- 10. COMPASSION FATIGUE • Also “vicarious” or “secondary traumatization • PTSD-related symptoms • May occur with one exposure or “cumulative” • Differs from burn-out, but can co-exist
- 11. “BURNOUT” Burnout - when the engine seizes and you have to get out, leave the car by the side of the road and get a tow. Compassion fatigue - when you discover your car is low on oil. You pull into a gas station, add the oil you need and get back on your way.
- 12. COMPASSION FATIGUE “The natural behaviors and emotions that arise from knowing about a traumatizing event experienced by a significant other – the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized person.” (Charles R. Figley, PhD)
- 13. COMPASSION FATIGUE: NATURAL REACTIONS/SYMPTOMS • Affects many dimensions of your well-being • Nervous system arousal (Sleep disturbance) • Emotional intensity increases • Cognitive ability decreases • Behavior and judgment impaired • Isolation and loss of morale • Lack of energy
- 14. COMPASSION FATIGUE: NATURAL REACTIONS/SYMPTOMS • Depression and PTSD (increases intensity) • Loss of self-worth and emotional modulation • Identity, worldview, and spirituality impacted • Beliefs and psychological needs-safety, trust, esteem, intimacy, and control • Loss of hope and meaning • Anger toward perpetrators or causal events
- 15. VICARIOUS/SECONDARY TRAUMATIZATION • Any individual who hears, sees, or learns of how a victim/victims have been affected by a traumatic event • Work related exposure to traumatized people
- 16. VICARIOUS/SECONDARY TRAUMATIZATION • Impacts a person’s worldview • World no longer safe or predictable • Loss trust, control and self-esteem
- 17. VICARIOUS/SECONDARY TRAUMATIZATION A risk that increases with exposure, intensity and personal factors such as history of previous exposure to trauma
- 18. WHAT TO DO? A-B-C A: Awareness B: Balance C: Connections
- 19. AWARENESS EXERCISES Handouts: • “Ego Resiliency Scale” • “Measuring Life Stress” • “Healthy Coping Strategies”
- 20. BALANCE • Practice Effective Self-Care • Honor your personal schedule • Transform the negative • Awareness (Mindfulness)
- 21. BALANCE • Get medical treatment • Get professional help
- 22. BALANCE • Acknowledge loss and grief • Clarity of your personal mission • Focus on what you can control
- 23. CONNECTIONS • Talk it out • Process with someone you trust • Build a positive support system
- 24. CONNECTIONS • Get a dog! • Blood pressure and heart rate decrease
- 25. MORAL INJURY What is Moral Injury? Moral injury is the suffering people experience when we are in high stakes situations, things go wrong, and harm results that challenges our deepest moral codes and ability to trust in others or ourselves. The harm may be something we did, something we witnessed, or something that was done to us. It results in moral emotions such as shame, guilt, self- condemnation, outrage, and sorrow. (The Shay Moral Injury Center)
- 26. MORAL INJURY - SYMPTOMS Characterized by Feelings of: • Grief • Guilt • Remorse • Shame • Outrage • Despair.
- 27. MORAL INJURY - SYMPTOMS • Loss of trust in self • Disrupted Relationships • Mask inner pain with alcohol or drugs. • Alienation • Anger at the slightest provocation.
- 28. MORAL INJURY & PTSD • PTSD is fear-based. • Moral injury based in moral judgment, and having it requires a working conscience. • Share some symptoms • PTSD treatment can aggravate moral injury.
- 29. HOW YA’ HOLDIN’ UP? Remember: • Self-Care part of a healthy approach to what you do • No less important than your equipment • Pays HUGE dividends • Is NORMAL
- 30. WHAT DO YOU SEE?
- 31. WHAT IS REAL?
- 33. JOSHUA 1:9
- 34. CONTACT INFO Chaplain William (Will) Hartfelder 614-595-2212 WHartfelder@columbuspolice.org
Editor's Notes
- Intro comments
- CISM – Critical Incident Stress Management (Billy Graham Rapid Response Training at OPOTA) WHO? – externals, person with great respect for and care about the well-being of you who have been called to
- In addition to the religious requirements, e.g, ordained/officlal clergy (NOTE BILLY GRAHAM RAPID RESPONSE TEAM) of a recognized religious body with established minimum of experience Available – CPD several, on all months, but always available From International Conference of Police Chaplains C: CARING – ”Who cares?” Chaplain someone who genuinely cares H: HEARING – Called to listen A: AVAILABLE – Officers top priority P: PREVENTION – Association with Officers can help before a crisis L: LOAD – Officers take on tremendous pressure, chaplain present to help A: RESOURCE – When questions of life, faith, spirituality, meaning come up I: IN TIME OF NEED - understanding, encouragement without judgment N: NOT A PIPELINE – Confidentiality is at the center
- Clicker: New Over reliance on faith Issues of being able to forgive and to be forgiven (cousin Fred in Vietnam) STORY – HQ first nights of protests DT – “chaplain, I’m finding it really hard to see the face of Jesus in those people” STORY – officer in Phoenix, AZ – working undercover narcotics, how it went down suspect shot first, officer responded, only wounded, officer’s backup apprehended, when he walked up to the suspect was struck by deeply red eyes and sense of evil filled him. Ten years later in foot pursuit of suspect at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, suspect jumped over hedge, officer followed and had a feeling he had jumped over the suspect. As he hit the ground suspect fired and missed. Officer returned fire and wounded suspect. Other officers arrived on scene and took suspect into custody. What blew the officer’s mind was as the suspect was brought to his cruiser he saw what he could only descry be as the same “red eyes” of ten years before and then the suspect said to him Spanish to the officer, “Good to see you again.” Hard to believe?
- Not just a phrase, but studies indicate it is among the most dedicated, top performing officers that issues of self-care manifest themselves Kent Williams – BREACH POINT CONSULTING – 32 years on the job most recently Chief of Chicago area PD – ”where is the man I fell in love with” Greater risk for alcohol abuse, divorce, isolation, depression and suicide… “Caustic Effects of Performing Well in Law Enforcement”
- Also “vicarious” or “secondary traumatization PTSD-related symptoms due to working with patients and families who have trauma and grief May occur with one exposure or can “cumulative” l Differs from burn-out, but can co-exist PTSD (PTS) Characteristics – -Intrusive recollected thoughts -Arousal -Numbing/Withdrawal/Avoidance Symptoms: Flashbacks Dreams De`ja vu Avoidance Sleep disturbance Loss of interest Detachment Emotional numbing Increased startle response Intensification
- Address Compassion Fatigue BEFORE BURNOUT!
- Dr. Figley – born in Chicago, grew up in Ohio, joined Marine Corp right out of HS, served in ‘Nam Tulane University Paul Henry Kurzweg, MD Distinguished Chair in Disaster Mental Health…Dir. of Traumatology Institute Emphasis: THE NATURAL BEHAVIORS!!! charlesfigley.com
- Terms interchangeable Contributes to Compassion Fatigue Support staff, communications, etc.
- Story – Training officer from NC (38 years on the job) – worked with the Mayor’s office and Mayor fond of invoking African saying “It takes a village to raise a child” Finally asked him why he always seemed to react negatively – He responded “I’ve seen the villagers!”
- Story – smell of perfume upon arrival at a 10-18 – grandma’s same perfume Especially officers with high level of empathy: Emotional – “I feel what you feel” - Cognitive “I understand what you feel” Options: Set up a wall Recognize what is happening and taking steps of self-care
- Caveat: Usually don’t like to just hand these out without opportunity for conversation so seek out EAP, private resource….a CHAPLAIN (define chaplain care)
- Practice excellent self-care Nurture yourself by putting activities in your schedule that are sources of pleasure, joy and diversion Allow yourself to take mini-escapes- these relieve the intensity of your work Transform the negative impact of your work (find meaning, challenge negativity, find gratitude) MINDFULNESS – amazing how cops can be so “on the job” but not off
- Get medical treatment if needed to relieve symptoms that interfere with daily functioning- don’t use alcohol or drugs to self-medicate Get professional help when needed to get back on track- we all need coaches and consultants at times
- Have quiet alone time in a calm, beautiful place- a safe retreat where you feel renewed (EXTROVERT/INTROVERT) Have an awareness of what restores and replenishes you. Find ways to acknowledge loss and grief Stay clear with commitment to career goals or your personal mission Know how to focus on what you can control Look at situations as entertaining challenges and opportunities, not problems or stresses
- Talk out your stress Process your thoughts and reactions with someone else (coworker, therapist, clergy, friend, family, supervisor) Build a positive support system that supports you, not fuels your stress
- Pets accept whatever affection you are able to give them without asking for more Pets are basically invulnerable to “provider burnout” Blood pressure and heart rate decrease when interacting with animals
- Loss of trust in themselves and their moral foundations; Relationships may be disrupted because they cannot trust others not to judge them, and they self- isolate. May mask their inner pain with alcohol or drugs. Become alienated from societal norms and lash out in anger at the slightest provocation.
- PTSD is fear-based. Moral injury is based in moral judgment, and having it requires a working conscience. The two can share some symptoms, like anger, addiction, or depression, but moral injury has no diagnosis or treatment protocols. Some PTSD treatment protocols can aggravate moral injury. For example, Dr. William Nash, a psychiatrist and expert on moral injury, points out that reliving a traumatic incident many times in a safe environment to defuse the fear can sometimes bring moral injury “to emotional immediacy” and make it harder to address.
- Remember: Self-Care is an important part of a healthy approach to what you do It is no less important, even more important, than your equipment It pays HUGE dividends not only in work performance, but in LIFE PERFORMANCE It is NORMAL because every officer is a human being in his/her physical, emotional, moral and spiritual WHOLENESS