The life-saving benefits of attending the Police Treatment Centre in Harrogate have been explained by Staffordshire Police Federation workplace representative Claire Bond in a blog setting out the physical, mental and emotional stress she suffered after being assaulted on duty three years ago.
Claire also praised both Staffordshire Police Federation and the Force for the support they gave her, saying the help and advice she received was vital to both relieving her stress and supporting her recovery.
In the blog, published on the Police Federation of England and Wales website as part of Stress Awareness Month, Claire, who has been an officer for 20 years and a Fed rep since 2018, explains: “The stress that came with me being physically injured started pretty much straight away. I spent the next two years desperately fighting to return to a job I love and to be the person I was before my life was turned upside down.
“The first year was all about the physical recovery. When my consultant said it would be 18 - 24 months before I could recover, I heard six months. I felt the need to prove how easy I could fix myself and get up and get walking. But the reality was I could hardly move as both legs were in braces. My husband had to help me to do everything and I spent three months having to live downstairs, with my children taking turns to sleep by my side. I felt utterly useless. I felt I was such a burden.
“As time went on, the stress of trying to be upbeat to my visitors and trying to rush through the recovery process took its toll. I had to go on medication and accept that recovery was going to be for the long haul. I began to avoid people, I used the word ‘fine’ a lot and I started to suffer anxiety attacks. I couldn’t understand it - why would my body not do what I wanted it to?
“Eventually, it took my welfare officer to say to me ‘You have to listen to your consultant and you have to listen to your body. You have nothing to prove, people know how strong you are’.”
Claire points out that some stress is pivotal in policing, giving the flight or fight mode, but she urged people to seek help if necessary.
“In order to get control over this stress, you need to ask for help to keep it at a sensible level. Too much and you don’t recognise the person looking back at you in the mirror,” she said.
