Hi likewater - I am so sorry you had to experience this and that there were many triggers for you. It "just" sounds like a really unfortunate situation, that the police had their procedures to follow which didn't take into account the potential impact on you. But ultimately if they had not come then as you say you may have frozen to death.

Glad you are safe now and hope you have someone who can work through these memories and triggers with you.

I wonder if it would help to write a letter to the police involved, as a complaint if you feel there was anything they did which wasn't procedure, alternatively just as some feedback / guidance for them, so they too can learn something from this situation.

Soup