PTSD and Law Enforcement

 by Brian Warriner

            PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is often associated with the military. The combat veterans have been in many battle areas. However, I want to raise awareness among law enforcement. Especially with many putting their lives on the line to protect the community. Not those who are “dirty” cops who betray the community they were sworn to protect. Hell, the good cops deal with them because of the dirty ones, and the reputation of law enforcement throughout the country in these dark times. Not all cops are the same, but the trauma they experience in responding to calls is. Answering the call of a domestic dispute can turn into a shoot-out, or a traffic stop can turn deadly. Alternatively, maybe you are a rookie showing up to the first call of your career, and it is a multi-car accident with victims' bodies mangled. The sight of blood, open wounds, and it all is hitting you at once can leave a lasting impact. It is something that you will never forget. You have to jump in and do your job.

            Given the constant under-fire, the news stories we hear, and the public's views of law enforcement, things are not good. Because the “dirty” cops who go on power trips and racially profile, and believe the public does not know their rights. The political climate also does not help matters any, when you have police officers cooperating with ICE. The public has lost confidence in the police and various law enforcement agencies. There have been numerous cops murdered due to the public's view. Whether they are on duty or off, the trauma that they experience is traumatic to say the least.  Back in December, a Delaware cop was shot and killed at the DMV. Sometime ago in Philadelphia, a cop was delivering a warrant and was shot and killed. This led to a standoff between the police and the shooter.

            These experiences in being a cop can be traumatic experiences, when your friend, partner, brother, or sister in arms is shot and killed on the job or not. You may experience PTSD. With my nephew being a police officer, or cop, I am on high alert and worried. However, he is a fighter and has a lot to live for, and I am very proud of the man he has become. However, knowing what the police go through makes the protective uncle in me come out. I would fight a bear if it attacked any of my nieces or nephews. This is why I am writing this entry, because mental health disorders do not discriminate; they are equal opportunity employers.

What is PTSD?

            PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is defined by the DSM-5 as the development of characteristics or symptoms after experiencing one or more traumatic events (American Psychiatric Association, 2024). These events can be anything that causes trauma, such as sexual assault, war events, and even natural disasters. For law enforcement, this can be their first accident, responding to the numerous murders and the various calls that they have to respond to. Imagine being a police officer, and you respond to a call where a woman was beaten, raped, stabbed, and left for dead in a vacant lot. When you see the victim, you see her as someone’s child, someone’s daughter. Afterwards, you go home to your children and hug them. Events like this can be traumatic for a person. I have found it something that, as a homicide detective, you have experienced numerous murder investigations. It is difficult to experience while keeping your mind from going to the dark places this kind of trauma can cause.

            Post Traumatic Stress Disorder varies from person to person, with fear-based re-experiencing, emotional, and behavioral symptoms predominating. For others, it may be arousal and reactive-externalizing symptoms are prominent. While others may show signs of dissociation, some can experience a combination of symptoms. The DSM-5, which is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, was published by the American Psychiatric Association. Therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists use this manual to diagnose patients.

Statistics

            According to firstresponderswellness.com, 61% of police officers are screened positive for PTSD. The statistics of law enforcement having PTSD vary. However, nationwide, the rates of PTSD range from 7%-35%, which means approximately 19 % of officers may have PTSD. Where 35% of officers meet the criteria of PTSD, 38 % have experienced a significant impact of trauma.

            Unfortunately, some law enforcement agencies are teaming up with ICE and federal agents to commit illegal kidnappings and murders of people. Law enforcement is taking a hit. Moreover, the number of those who are suffering or living with PTSD is going up.

Symptoms and Signs

            There is a set of signs and symptoms that define PTSD. For law enforcement, the frequent exposure to traumatic events that involve children, accidents, natural disasters, and violent crimes is a concern. The lack of mental health treatment and support, and organizational stress, such as long shifts, disruptions to sleep and personal lives, and public scrutiny. All of these, mounted together over a long period of time, can cause a person to develop PTSD (Patel, 2025).

            The problem with the lack of mental health support is that it can affect officers' lives. It can lead to addictions, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, affect workplace performance, and issues in the community (Patel, 2025). It can make an officer unprofessional on the job and when dealing with the public, which can spill over and cause more issues than they intended.

Treatment

            Researchers have found evidence that Cognitive Behavior Therapy and/ or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing have been beneficial to the treatment of PTSD (Hasan, 2024). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a treatment that is backed by evidence that helps the client process their traumatic memories. It is achieved by engaging both sides of the brain through bilateral stimulation, such as tapping and sound (Positive Change Psychological Services, 2025).

             Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on changing negative thought patterns, behaviors, and beliefs once they have been identified. CBT is an evidence-based approach to treating PTSD (Team, 2024). Through the process, the client learns to identify triggers that influence their thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs. CBT has been known to treat anxiety, depression, and various other mental health disorders (Positive Changes Psychological Services, 2025).

            However, when combined with journaling, you can write out your thoughts, ideas, and behaviors and identify them through writing. Because I believe speaking to them does not cement them into your reality. When you journal them down, you cannot escape them. They are right in front of you in writing and clear as can be.  

            In conclusion, it is possible to have PTSD, and it becomes a managed disorder. I ask those in law enforcement to seek help if they feel they are dealing with PTSD to get some help. If your department does not have the resources, other agencies can help you. Ask around, ask your union, and even go to organizations that offer mental health services. Thank you for protecting our communities.

 

 

 

 

 

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2024). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Association.

 

‌Team, N. editorial. (2024, August 22). PTSD in Police Officers: Comprehensive Guide to Treatment, Recovery, and Support. NeuroLaunch.com. https://neurolaunch.com/ptsd-treatment-for-police-officers/

 

Hazan, J. (2024, December 19). EMDR Therapy vs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Which is Right for You? Modern Therapy Group. https://moderntherapygroup.com/emdr-therapy-vs-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/

 

‌Positive Changes Psychological Services (2025, July 30). Positive Change Psychological Services. Positive Change Psychological Services. https://www.positivechangepsychological.com/articles/combining-emdr-therapy-with-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt-what-you-should-know

 

‌Patel, D. S. (2025, December 22). How Many Active Law Enforcement Officers Suffer From PTSD? - Advance Study. Advance Study. https://advancestudy.org/how-many-active-law-enforcement-officers-suffer-from-ptsd/

The Black Pioneers of Mental Health

 by Brian Warriner

            For centuries, the whole of society has benefited from the inventions of African Americans. It is because of these inventions that we have potato chips, peanuts, the three-color traffic light, and a home security system, just a few of the hundreds of inventions. Since then, life has improved because of these inventions. In psychology, we have some of the pioneers who have propelled mental health to the next level. In many black and brown communities, psychology, therapy, and mental health are words that are synonymous with the Black/ African American Community.

            The pioneers featured in this post are just a small number of the many who have left their mark, developing and advancing psychology and mental health for all, especially the black and brown communities. It is because of people like Inez Beverly Prosser, the first Black woman to receive a PhD in Psychology; Solomon Carter Fuller, the first Black Psychiatrist; (Anon, 2025) and Mamie Phipps Clark, who developed the Self-Conscious Theory of Black children (Healthy Mind Therapy, 2025). Many others have paved the way, developing theories that are still taught, researched, and used to this day.

            It is because of these amazing folks who paved the way for psychology to grow, and their contributions lay the groundwork for research and breakthroughs in treatment for mental health disorders. It is because of their work. I am in my third year of schooling, on the verge of completing my bachelor’s degree in psychology, and I am thankful for these people and those who will be featured in future posts. I hope you will look up these amazing pioneers of mental health.

References

Anon. (2025, January 8). Black Pioneers In Mental Health| Mental Health America

            https://mhanational.org/resources/black-pioneers-in-the-mental-health/

Healthy Mind Therapy. (2025 February 4). 10 Black Pioneers in the Mental Health Field.

Healthy Mind Therapy. https://healthymindtherapy.blog/2025/02/04/10-black-pioneers-in-the-mental-health-field/

Anon. (2022, February 1). 10 Black Pioneers in Mental Health You Should Know.

IDON’TMIND. https://idontmind.com/journal/10-black-pioneers-in-mental-health-you-should-know

Scott, A. (2022, February). Ten Black Leaders in Psychology and Mental Health You Need to Know. Active Minds. https://activeminds.org/blog/ten-black-leaders-in-psychology-and-mental-health-you-need-to-know/

Cuddling as Part of the Mental Health Treatment

 by Brian Warriner

            Cuddle Therapy, I know what you are thinking, what is cuddling to do with mental health treatment?

            The truth is that cuddling can help with mental health disorders such as anxiety and depressive disorders. Science has shown that when you cuddle, hug, or snuggle with someone, it kills depression and anxiety. The science of touch is indeed a real thing. You are feeling down in the dumps, and you go home to hug someone like a parent or a spouse. When you hug for 20 seconds, you experience improved mood. This is due to the release of feel-good hormones. During a hug, within 20 seconds, touch decreases cortisol (a stress hormone) and activates the parasympathetic nervous system. The feel-good hormones oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin are released Team, 2024).

            I do not care who you are; when you receive a hug, you feel better. There is science at work. The human body has a remarkable power to heal itself. It can do many great things if we do not get in the way of it. We get in the way by ingesting harmful substances, engaging in reckless behavior, and other activities that can damage the body. It can damage the body's ability to heal itself.

            The benefits of cuddle therapy, as it is called, may include improved sleep, alleviation of loneliness, reduction of symptoms of anxiety and depression, enhanced mood, increased self-esteem, lowered blood pressure, support for heart health, boosted immune function, and natural pain relief (Team, 2024). Something so small can have a huge impact on your life and health. Truth be told, I noticed this even as a massage therapist; touch is powerful. When you are stressed and have someone touch you, whether it is through massage or cuddle therapy, you feel better. I have said this many times: touch is essential to our human experience. Notice that when you were a child, you needed to be held by your parents; as an adult, your husband massages your back or feet. As you begin to feel better, being touched with loving intention is powerful. It lifts your spirit.

            I love how doctors prescribe cuddle therapy for those with anxiety and depression, to help those with social anxiety as well (Power of Positivity, 2025). I found that one can become a cuddle therapist. I learned this when I was a massage therapist and was looking at other modalities to explore. I saw that it would have been a great fit, especially within the LGBTQIA+ community, as it offers a nonjudgmental space to experience touch. This form of touch was platonic and nonsexual. It can boost those who are lonely or alone in this world. I learned as much as I could, but I could not afford the offered training program. However, it was something that has not left my mind.

            Notably, cuddle therapy is a form of touch therapy. If you are not comfortable with a stranger cuddling you, you can hold hands, touch knees, sit back-to-back, or lie next to each other, just touching hands. There are various degrees of touch. They still have the same effect on your mental health and physical health. The cornerstone of cuddle therapy or touch therapy is communication and consent. You have the right to change your mind at any time (Baxter, 2025). The process of a cuddle session begins with communication to schedule the session. Then, you meet face-to-face with your cuddler, who discusses with you everything involved in your session, including setting up the environment. This can be whether at your place, in public, or in the office. As you engage in touch during the session, if you feel uncomfortable, speak up (Baxter, 2025). The practitioner should be well-trained and, if possible, certified. It depends on the state in which you reside. They also must carry liability insurance. It must be stated that when you engage in cuddle/ touch therapy, biological things can happen and make you, the client, feel uncomfortable, and may cause issues. It might cause some confusion, which is why insurance is essential. Do not hesitate to request to see their credentials and insurance.

            Cuddle/touch therapy is something that you must experience to feel its energy. Even with hugs, they can boost your health and make you feel better. You may not engage in professional therapeutic touch, including cuddling with your partner, child, or anyone else who can provide the same effect. However, if you wish to explore the world of professional cuddle therapy, I recommend the website I found in my research during my massage career: www.cuddlist.com. They will help you discover a practitioner who is right for you and your experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Team, N. editorial. (2024, October). Cuddle Therapy: The Science and Benefits of

 

Professional Therapeutic Touch. NeuroLaunch.com. https://neurolaunch.com/cuddle-therapy/

‌Team, N. editorial. (2024, August 18). Cuddling Health Benefits: Stress Reduction

Moreover, Improved Well-being Through Snuggling. NeuroLaunch.com. https://neurolaunch.com/benefits-of-cuddling/

‌Power of Positivity. (2025, May 12). Doctors Explain 5 Benefits of Cuddling Every Day for Better Health. Power of Positivity: Positive Thinking & Attitude; Power of Positivity: Positive Thinking & Attitude. https://www.powerofpositivity.com/benefits-of-cuddling/

‌Baxter, T. (2025, May 30). The Power of Touch: How Cuddle Therapy Boosts Well-Being. Medium. https://medium.com/@TimothyBaxterMSLCPC/the-power-of-touch-how-cuddle-therapy-boosts-well-being-422030df36bd

Book Cuddle Therapy from a Professional Cuddler! - Cuddlist.com | Cuddlist. (n.d.).

Cuddlist.com. https://cuddlist.com/

 

‌

February Journal Prompts

 February Journal Prompts

by Brian Warriner

February is International Boost Your Self-Esteem Month, in keeping with the month's theme. These journal prompts focus on self-love and boosting your self-esteem. When you love yourself, you can feel confident in who you are and have a better sense of self. In all honesty, this is something you have to work on and create for yourself. No one is going to come along and give you self-confidence and esteem to love yourself and be the best version of yourself. While you journal through this journey, you will discover and uncover that part of yourself that only you can do. Happy Journaling!

        1.      Write yourself a love letter

        2.      Describe yourself in 10 positive words

        3.      Write out 15 compliments you can give yourself 

        4.      What bad habits and mindsets do you need to quit?

        5.      What are five flaws that you need to accept, and how can you look at these flaws in a positive light?

        6.      What do you love about your body? (Focus on a different body part each time)

        7.      Write down something you were terrified to try but mastered now

        8.      Write down your favorite character trait

        9.      Write down the character traits that you want to work on

      10. Write down some of the fears you have overcome and how you overcame them

      11. How do you practice self-care?

      12. How do you show yourself love?

      13. What part of your life that you are happy with?

      14. What does my dream life look like?

      15. What makes you unique?

      16. What brings you peace?

      17. What does self-love mean to you?

      18. What do you see when you look in the mirror?

      19. How do you spend time alone?

      20. What aspects of yourself do you need to show more love?

      21. What makes you feel loved and cared for?

      22. What is in the way of your self-love?

      23. What do you wish you could do every day?

      24. Name ten things you can start doing to take better care of yourself

      25. On a scale of 1-10, my mental health is at a ____. I believe this is because

      26. On a scale of 1-10, my physical health is at a ___. I believe this is because

      27. Write a thank-you letter to your physical body

      28. If your body could talk, what could it say?

      29. Get rid of the idea that you are not good enough

      30. Write a list of the loving acts you have done for yourself

 

 

Self-Love and The Importance to Your Mental Health

 by Brian Warriner

            Self-love is the act of accepting your whole self, treating yourself with respect and kindness, and prioritizing your health. You maintain a positive outlook on yourself (Martin, 2023). I know that the number of people who show themselves self-love is low. Because we all put ourselves last, our outlook is negative, and we think of others before ourselves. I am guilty of this. When you care for your parents or anyone else, it is not easy; we tend to forget ourselves, and even as parents, it is all about the children. We tend to make our priorities dependent on others. If the children are happy, I am happy, or a happy wife, a happy life. We make everything dependent on other things and other people.

            I know I have taken care of my parents and stayed up late to get ahead on my schoolwork when I should have been sleeping. Get up and do everything all over again. When I can, I would take a break because I have learned you can do everything you have planned and still give yourself a break. You are doing the best that you can. For example, when I am doing schoolwork, I finish one assignment, check on my parents to see if there is anything they need, do the dishes, do the laundry, and take out the trash and recycle. Then I go back to my schoolwork. Granted, at the end of the night, I am exhausted, and lying in bed is all it takes to go to sleep.

            However, I noticed something important missing from my life: self-love and self-care. I discussed self-care in a previous post. When I do add some self-love to my life, I find myself feeling better. Because when we are wrapped up in this world and our activities, we forget that we matter too. If you feel like this, there are some things you can do to fix it. You can cultivate self-love by being compassionate toward yourself, setting boundaries, practicing self-care, celebrating your achievements, using positive self-talk, practicing self-acceptance, seeking support, and embracing self-discovery (Martin, 2023).

            It is not easy sometimes when we have this negative mindset and perspective. However, it is important to combat that kind of negativity. When you show self-love, it has been shown to lower stress, increase your resilience, and make you more willing to take risks, show compassion, and feel self-efficacy. Saying no is saying yes to yourself (Tetreault, 2025). Let us face it, who is not guilty of always saying yes to others and being exhausted and having no energy for what you need, and being able to say no to others’ requests for your time by saying no.

            Science has shown that self-love is rooted in neuroscience. Self-love reshapes your brain's function, especially in the limbic system, the brain's emotional center. This is where your emotions are more regulated. Self-love strengthens your self-awareness, which takes place in the prefrontal cortex. Also, this is where your decision-making, emotional balance, and calming the amygdala. With that, it will reduce fear and anxiety. Self-love triggers the release of the feel-good hormone dopamine (Tetreault, 2025). It makes you feel good and warm. The same hormone is released when you hug or cuddle for about twenty seconds.

            When you want to change your behavior, no matter what the pattern in your brain, it takes about 66 days, which is over two months. You need to give yourself a space to change because you will make mistakes, and it takes nurturing new patterns with acceptance and compassion (Tetreault, 2025). I know we have all tried to break old habits and form new ones, but we keep failing when we try to change. The idea comes to mind when it comes to dieting and exercise. It takes consistency to build a new habit. It took time for me to adjust to the fact that I am a type two diabetic. I have to check my blood sugar twice a day. I was trying to watch what I ate and drank. I had to give up my favorite things. It took time to develop the right way to test my blood sugar. Then, when I started to see my endocrinologist. I realized I was doing it wrong and had to relearn how to check my blood sugar. To this day, I still mess up, and I keep starting over.

            However, there are practices we can use to support our self-love journey. These activities can help you become a better version of yourself. I cannot stress enough how important self-love is to our mental health because it places us at the center of the issues. You can let go of the judgmental mind, celebrate your uniqueness, do things that light you up, feel your emotions and move on, allow compassion, take in the good, unpack your fears, and increase your intuition and self-trust (Tetreault, 2025). I had to face my fears, both my parents at two different times, where I could have lost them, and I experienced the possibility of losing them. My mom had cancer, and my dad had sepsis and acute kidney failure. We almost lost my dad; the experience of this was traumatic and stressful. Since then, I realized that once we made it through those experiences. I realize that losing my parents will be hard, difficult, and traumatic for me. However, we will make it through it because it is a part of life, and we all will pass away sooner or later. From these experiences, I learned to unpack my fears and face them head-on.

            At the root of the struggle is having to get things right, being perfect. Perfectionism is the habit of beating yourself up over anything that chips away at your sense of self-worth (Sandoiu, 2018). It is this constant action that can leave you less happy, distraught, and feeling unworthy and unable to do anything right. This can cause your mental health and self-esteem to decline. To combat perfectionism, try self-compassion. This is where you show yourself kindness, you recognize your achievements and the place you share in humanity and mindfulness (Sandoiu, 2018).

The Benefits of Self-Love

            When you begin to show yourself the self-love you deserve, you will notice improvements in your mental health, greater self-acceptance, higher self-esteem, greater motivation, stronger determination, increased self-awareness, less anxiety, and improved sleep (Asghar, 2022). How can you show yourself self-love? By avoiding negative self-talk, including derogatory humor, creating personal rituals, setting healthy boundaries, being compassionate towards yourself, and making space for self-reflection (Asghar, 2022). I would even include journaling as a practice of self-love, because it creates space for reflection, personal rituals, and healthy boundaries. It is a practice of learning to listen to yourself, relearning pleasure, doing something that you have never done before, and building yourself up, like yoga, creative endeavors, and being consistent with developing a new skill.

            In conclusion, the world is already hell, why do we want to add to it by making our own lives filled with unloving and misery. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta often spoke of this world's lack of love. When you do acts of love, do small acts with great love. She was right, and it is the words I try to live by, especially when I need to show myself a little self-love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Martin, S. The Power of Self-Love. (2023). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/conquering-codependency/202306/the-power-of-self-love?msockid=3c615a7a3ec3684126f04bdc3fda69d9

Tetreault, N. (2025, February 26). The Practice of Self-Love: A Gift to Your Mind and Soul. (2025). Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wire-your-mind-for-love/202502/the-practice-of-self-love-a-gift-to-your-mind-and-soul?msockid=3c615a7a3ec3684126f04bdc3fda69d9

‌Sandoiu, A. (2018, March 23). The importance of self-love and how to cultivate it. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321309

‌Asghar, A. (2022, February 14). The science of self-love: The evidence-based benefits of loving yourself. Ness Labs. https://nesslabs.com/self-love