Security professionals are accustomed to being the person others depend on. Staying calm, solving problems, and continuing through difficult situations are part of the job. But being capable of handling stressful situations does not mean every situation should be handled alone.
Stress can come from the job itself, including critical incidents, long shifts, fatigue, conflict, and prolonged alertness. It can also come from outside of work. Financial concerns, relationships, loss, family responsibilities, and previous traumatic experiences do not disappear when someone puts on a uniform.
In Behind the Uniform: Understanding the Mental Health Challenges of Security Work , we discuss some of the pressures that can affect security professionals. The next step is recognizing when those pressures are becoming difficult to manage.
When Stress Becomes a Pattern
Sometimes the clearest indication that something is wrong, will be noticed in your work. Everyone has difficult shifts and stressful days. A larger concern may exist when something changes and stays changed.
Consider reaching out for support if you notice:
- Ongoing difficulty sleeping or persistent exhaustion
- Increased anger, irritability, or anxiety
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Withdrawing from coworkers, family, or normal activities
- Feeling constantly tense or on edge
- Recurring thoughts about a difficult incident
- Difficulty leaving work stress at work
- Increased use of alcohol or substances to cope
- Feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, or unable to manage normal responsibilities
You do not have to understand exactly why you feel different before asking for help. Recognizing that you are not functioning like yourself can be enough reason to start a conversation.
Pay Attention to Your Performance
Recognizing Your Triggers: How to Reset and Refocus Under Stress
Security professionals are trained to recognize warning signs around them. It is equally important to recognize warning signs within ourselves. Sometimes the warning comes through our performance. Other times, the body tells us first, a racing heart, tight muscles, shallow breathing, anger, fear, or an overwhelming desire to react.
In Recognizing Your Triggers: How to Reset and Refocus Under Stress , we explore how to recognize those internal signals and how to regain clarity before stress begins making decisions for you.
Ask Before It Becomes a Crisis
Help does not have to begin with an emergency. Support may mean talking with a trusted supervisor or HR representative, using an Employee Assistance Program, speaking with someone you trust, or contacting a qualified mental health professional.
Addressing a concern early may provide more options than waiting until stress begins seriously affecting safety, relationships, attendance, or performance.
At Covenant Security Solutions, professional readiness includes supporting both the people we protect and the people responsible for protecting them.
Know When Immediate Help Is Needed
Certain warning signs require more urgent attention, particularly talk of suicide, hopelessness, feeling trapped or like a burden, severe withdrawal, escalating substance use, or significant new behavioral changes following a painful event or loss.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential emotional support 24/7. You can call or text 988 for yourself or when you are concerned about someone else.
For local behavioral-health support, BayCare Behavioral Health offers inpatient, outpatient, counseling, and other mental-health services and can be reached for referrals at 877-850-9613.
Veterans and their loved ones can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1, or by texting 838255. Bay Pines VA also offers Veteran-focused mental health services, including support for PTSD, trauma, depression, anxiety, and related concerns.
If someone presents an immediate danger to themselves or others, call 911 and follow established workplace emergency procedures.