[FluffyPuppy]

Recently I've been having a higher level of anxiety around police. I know most people can be a bit nervous around law enforcement.

Additionally, last year I had gotten involuntarily admitted to the hospital because my mother used the court system against me. My experience involved having 3 cops draw guns on me, put me in handcuffs and haul me off to the hospital. I'd never felt so dehumanized and ashamed of my anxiety disorder.

I was curious if anyone else has felt this way and how have they dealt with it. I don't dislike the police. The recent experience just makes me feel upset and anxious whenever I see them now.

[Mountaindewed]

In October I outran a police officer to get to the limited edition Halloween Krispie Kreme donuts before he could. So I guess I don’t feel this way.

[WastingAsparagus]

Originally Posted by GuitarsOnMars

Recently I've been having a higher level of anxiety around police. I know most people can be a bit nervous around law enforcement.

Additionally, last year I had gotten involuntarily admitted to the hospital because my mother used the court system against me. My experience involved having 3 cops draw guns on me and put me in handcuffs and haul me off to the hospital. I'd never felt so dehumanized and ashamed for my anxiety disorder.

I was curious if anyone else has felt this way and how have they dealt with it. I don't dislike the police. The recent experience just makes me feel upset and anxious whenever I see them now.

I could see how that could happen. I am always anxious around police and I am pretty sure I haven't done anything wrong. (Unless I unknowingly submitted some false tax return or something stupid like that, which I'm pretty sure I haven't done). I think having an illness like mine makes me doubt everything -- so questioning whether the police are out to get me is an open question usually. I also don't have any disrespect or dislike of the police. It just makes me feel that way when I'm around them.

[IronButterflyWings]

I am with you.

I have a huge anxiety around cops, and airline security.

I have been handcuffed twice, and had to be dragged into a cop car. Because of mental health things, and I have major anxiety when I see a cop driving by or even see a cop nearby. My therapist says it's PTSD, which might be what you are going through right now. Because of what you have been through.

I understand this so much, and if you need to talk. I am here. I understand.

[*Beth*]

I am right there with you.


Last year I confided in someone that I sometimes felt suicidal, and have for decades. The person decided to do the soldierly thing and call 911 on me.

So I'm sitting and listening to music on my computer, planning to go to sleep soon, and 2 cops show up at my door. My husband thought he had to, by law, let the cops into the house. Next thing I knew two tall and very strong men had pounced on me and cuffed me. The handcuffs were tight, they hurt, and when the cop shoved me into the back of his car every chronic pain issue I have flared up.

I was taken to the hospital (I call it "arrested to the hospital") in pj's and slippers. The handcuffs were not removed until I was in a stuffy little room. I was held there for 24 hours, all the while trying to convince a whole parade of (mostly rude) pdocs and other mental health workers that no, I did not have a suicide plan.

Not only was my trust in cops totally destroyed - worse, I have no way to get emergency mental health care now. No way, not after how poorly I was treated in the psych ER. I feel like there no safe place to go to in a psych emergency.

GonM, I'm sorry you had a rotten experience with the cops. The way mental health emergencies are handled seriously needs to be improved. Supposedly, there's a movement to train cops in CIT (Crisis Intervention Team), but I have not met any of those so-called CIT police officers yet.

[Mountaindewed]

I had a very good relationship with my DARE officer when I was 12. She was basically like a mentor for me and I’d email her constantly. She was like a therapist before I knew I actually needed one. She helped me out with so many of my problems. She was a bit weird as a police officer honestly. Maybe even a bit crooked. But I know she really did care about me and that relationship has stuck with me for 15 years.