Being a cop is an exciting job. One minute you and your partner are enjoying a cup of coffee, and the next minute someone is jumping out of their vehicle firing a weapon at you. Incidents like shootings and the aftermath of traumatic occurrences leave scars that may haunt one forever. Often, these memories revisit us in the form of nightmares. As bad and scary as they are, they may reoccur for months or years after the event.
Most people who suffer a traumatic event are likely to have a nightmare after the event. A study of Vietnam vets found that 52% of combat vets with PTSD had nightmares fairly often. Just three per cent of civilians in the same study reported the same level of nightmares. Other studies of people suffering from PTSD found even more alarmingly higher rates: 71% to 96% may have nightmares. Trauma survivors are more likely to suffer from nightmares, and some may have these awful dreams several times a week.
TYPES OF DREAMS
For cops, many of the bad dreams are similar. A friend and fellow writer, JD Buck Savage, took a poll and found these five dreams topped the list:
- No matter how hard I try, I can’t pull the trigger.
- I fire my gun and the round dribbles out of the barrel.
- I need to run somewhere but I can’t move.
- I can’t get to my gun, ammo, or my holster is empty.
- I fire and fire and the rounds do nothing.
I confess that I’ve had some of the above dreams in addition to these:
- I’m no more than several feet from my adversary yet I’m unable to hit him.
- Three or four individuals are attacking me and I don’t know where my gun is.
- I see the muzzle flash, hear the loud report, and feel the impact of the round.
Psychology Today reports a huge disparity in sleep among those with PTSD related nightmares compared with those who don’t suffer from PTSD:
- Increased REM sleep activity
- Decreased total sleep time
- Increased number and duration of nocturnal awakening
- Decreased deep sleep
- Increased periodic leg movements during both REM and NREM sleep
A study found that in the USA, two-thirds of officers involved in shootings suffer moderate or severe problems, and about 70% leave the job within seven years of the incident. Cops rank third among occupations in premature death rates, and twice as many die by their own hands as are killed in the line of duty. Sleep problems because of traumatic incidents often lead to alcohol and drug abuse which can affect work performance and personal relationships. All of which lead to possible suicides.
I submit that for as many cops that are diagnosed with PTSD, there exists a similar number that are not diagnosed. Why? They fear being passed over for promotion, PTSD may make them appear weak, or a cop may think he’ll likely be fired if he’s diagnosed and the bosses find out. Thus, for those who are not diagnosed and do not receive counseling, the nightmares continue unabated.
TREATMENTS FOR PTSD NIGHTMARES
If one receives standard PTSD treatment, nightmares often get better or at least reoccur less frequently. A common treatment for nightmares is Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT). The individual, while awake, changes how the nightmare ends so that it no longer upsets them. Next, the person replays repeatedly in their minds the new dream with the non-scary ending. The research shows IRT can reduce the frequency of the nightmares. Also, high levels of sleep-disordered breathing have been seen in trauma survivors. In one study, patients given a treatment to improve their breathing during sleep no longer had violent, scary dreams.
Dr. Barry Krakow is the director of the Maimonides International Nightmare Treatment Center in Albuquerque, N.M. He says, “Studies show that 70-80% of people who try IRT get significant relief.” Krakow is one of the researchers who worked on the JAMA study and the author of four books on sleep medicine. Both easy to learn and use, IRT can be mastered in a few hours. Then one only need to use the technique for a few minutes a day for a matter of days or weeks.
Dr. Krakow describes a 3-Step approach to nightmare control:
- Briefly describe a recent nightmare.
- Think of a way to change the nightmare.
- Visit the altered version of the nightmare each day by painting a mental picture of it.
Sound simple? It is, and according to Dr. Krakow when he explains it to his patients, “it’s almost like they think the process is disrespecting them.”
You may wonder, “Can’t I just take a pill?” Unfortunately, not much research exists on the use of drugs to treat nightmares from trauma. A drug named ‘prazosin’ has been found to reduce symptoms, and more research on the drug is being conducted.
Nightmares can be costly in the long run, ruining careers and relationships. Not getting sufficient sleep or quality sleep is harmful. Cops need to be on top of their game every second they’re on the street. If you have problems with nightmares, don’t wait until it’s too late. Get help, NOW.
Stay Safe, Brothers and Sisters.
