Uniformed service work can begin as a dream, such as joining the police force and wearing the uniform and badge. After joining, you start to feel a sense of family, working with your peers as a team and building camaraderie. Eventually, it’s time to say goodbye and retire. Retirement is supposed to be a time for hobbies and travel. It’s expected to be a time to connect and catch up with family and friends. Then, something unexpected might happen, and you’re unprepared. You begin feeling alone. The sense of being part of that work family for years is lost. Your peers retire or move, and you lose touch with them. New people join and serve, and you’re recognized and included less.
In the quiet of retirement, you begin feeling anxious and having trouble relaxing, falling, or staying asleep. With no more distractions and work to keep busy, you start to remember things forgotten, perhaps mistakes, things you wish you did differently, or images or memories of calls for service. And now, in the quiet of retirement, you’re remembering. You reflect on the soul wounds of your past, like the actions of others who hurt you or things you believe you did wrong. And you gaze upon the person you’ve become. Recurring images of what happened on the job seem to haunt your mind.
For some retirees, the pain of the past is so intense that they think about wanting to die to end the pain or stop the way they’re feeling. They believe they can’t go on living.
So, what do we do? Departments can prepare their personnel to retire by discussing mental health and wellness, providing ongoing resources, education, and training, and letting them know where to find help. Preparing them for retirement is more than giving out pamphlets and handouts. For some retirees, retirement can be their biggest challenge. If you or someone you know is feeling alone, anxious, depressed, or a loss of family, remember that you’re not alone. Help is a call away. Contact a mental health provider who can and wants to help. You’ve earned retirement and much to enjoy. Take care of your mental health. It’s as important as your physical health. Make your retirement a great one.