Amos: Support is available to help you deal with traumatic stress

Greetings. My name is Chris Amos. I am your Critical Incident Stress Management/ Peer Support Team Director and Staff Chaplain.

I will be providing a support group for personnel who either A) have been adversely impacted by trauma induced stress or B) have an interest in helping those impacted. Traumatic stress comes in many shapes and sizes and has impacted all of us to some degree. It might be from an experience from our childhood, a car crash we were involved in, a physical, financial or relationship crisis we endured. The event itself may be in the rear view mirror of our lives but the lingering impact is still very present with us.

Many people wrestle with anger, bitterness, depression, suicidal thoughts, an inability to trust, sleepless nights, loss of appetite and a host of other conditions and they do not understand why. In an attempt to address these issues a person may turn to alcohol or medication, with little if any positive impact. This support group will provide answers to the many questions some may have in addition to provide practical, concrete steps a person can take to successfully move beyond the trauma from the past.

Every participant will be given a manual entitled, “The Combat Trauma Healing Manual – Christ-centered Solutions for Combat Training”. The manual was written to address Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experienced by members of the military in combat. The principles, tactics, and strategies presented however, are effective for overcoming a myriad of traumas and life experiences that may or may not lead to PTSD. Among the many questions addressed are: “What Happened To Me?”, “Where’s The Hospital?”, “How Did I Change?”, “How Can I Stand It?”, “How Do I Move On?”, “Who Am I Now?”, “How Do I Fight?”, “How Do I Get Back To ‘Normal’?” As a 27 year Law Enforcement Officer I personally have found the information provided to be very insightful and helpful.

We will meet off site, spouses/significant others are welcome and attendance is voluntary. If you are interested in attending or have questions please contact me via e-mail or phone by February 15, 2017. We will begin in March but the exact dates/time/location for meetings will be determined after I have spoken to participants to identify what might work best.

This group is being offered in hopes of supporting you, the staff of the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office, as you provide an often thankless, very stressful, and critically important service to our community. As a group of men and women hidden behind security gates, barbwire fences and steel bars it is essential that opportunities like this group are made available to help each one of you and your families find a level of satisfaction and fulfillment in the careers you have chosen. This group, like an ice cold glass of water on a hot day, will be of little value unless you choose to grasp it. Again if you feel adversely impacted by trauma induced stress or simply want to help a co-worker, loved one or friend who may be, I strongly encourage you to take hold of it!


Cell: 757-803-4969
Office: 757-823-1164
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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