Stress Doesn’t Retire: Addressing Mental Health Challenges After Work Life Ends

Am I having a heart attack?

"Am I having a heart attack, or am I going crazy? It has to be one of the two.", I thought.

I’d been retired for eight years, leaving the Ottawa Police Service in 2010. A few weeks earlier, I had the first of two detached retinas and was lying on my side with a gas bubble in my eye, working to push the retina back into place.

As I lay there, my mind began racing, and I was short of breath. I wondered if I should call 9-1-1 to have paramedics come to check me out. Those thoughts only served to increase my anxiety, and I could no longer lie down. I had to get up and walk around. I started pacing back and forth, over and over again, my head tilted to the side, thinking that I was going crazy.

My mind was now racing out of control, even to the point of having wildly irrational thoughts. If the cops show up to take me for a mental health evaluation, I’ll fight them. No way anyone is going to put me into a straitjacket. I’m not going anywhere! F*** that!

Eventually, one of our sons came to help, and, over the next few hours, things returned to normal, whatever that might be, with a detached retina and now facing a new mental health challenge.

Why now, after such a high-stress career?

I loved my career in the police service. In addition to a wide range of exciting and challenging assignments, I spent six years as a Duty Inspector and Critical Incident Commander. One of six senior officers responsible for every major event in the city. You name it, I did it, even collaborating with Canada’s elite special forces.

While I suffered from various mental health and addiction issues during that time, as outlined in my book If They Only Knew: A Cop’s Journey with Mental Health and Addiction, many of my most significant mental health problems surfaced post-retirement.

While I don’t have an answer to the “why now” question, I have multiple suggestions people to consider.

Don’t wait to get your oil checked.

In the same way we don’t wait for the red oil light to come on in our cars before getting them serviced; retirees and those considering retirement should get in the habit of seeking mental health and wellness support before problems arise.

I’ve supported numerous people navigate their pre- and post-retirement journeys, typically by creating a “personal value statement.” This process helps them codify their “what’s next” formally yet easily. Through contemplation, journaling, formalizing, and then verifying their own value statements, they create a roadmap for their future.

One of the topics that often comes up is their feelings of anxiety about their future. This form of anxiety doesn’t typically culminate in a panic attack like mine. However, having an ongoing relationship with a mental health professional, similar to having a family doctor (if you can find one), is a great first step in developing a health and wellness plan for retirement.

Interestingly, the recent release of my book led to multiple conversations with family and friends and new avenues for me to explore with my mental health professionals. I don’t subscribe to the notion of “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” I’d rather fix it before it’s broken!

A Holistic Approach to Wellness

When I retired from policing, I was still in pretty decent shape. I ran, did some light weights and, for the most part, ate reasonably well. However, as I began my first “Victory Lap” (thanks Mike Drak), as an international consultant, these healthy lifestyle choices seemed to move in the opposite direction from my growing air miles and hotel loyalty points.

Luckily, one of our sons eventually challenged me to get back in shape, and I began training for a half-ironman. That experience opened my eyes to a wide range of wellness-related disciplines, including the importance of weight training, stretching and mobility exercises, and, critically, proper nutrition.

Approaching retirement holistically involves our minds, bodies, and spirits, which are critical to our overall wellness. Focusing on all three in a balanced way helps keep our motors running in sync and enhances our ability to manage the day-to-day stress of life.

While no longer training for a half Ironman, I continue running, cycling, swimming, walking, and golfing. Just as importantly, I focus on staying in the present moment, mindfulness, and spiritual well-being, primarily by being grateful for all our blessings.

Stay the Course

I’m far from a poster child for health and wellness. As I write this article, I’ve put on weight after a couple of months of travel, being sick (one of the joys of being a grandparent), and, frankly, getting lazy about my exercise.

However, now that we are back at our cottage, I’m back on track with walking, running, and cycling. Golf starts soon, and swimming will follow (the ice finally left the lake, so that won’t be until June).

While all this physical activity is great, I’ve also renewed my commitment to healthy eating.

Last but certainly not least, I continue meeting with my mental health professional regularly. Mind, body, and spirit. In retirement, take the time to look after all three—we deserve it!

About the Author;

Inspector (Ret.) Lance Valcour O.O.M. is the author of his memoir, "If they only knew: A cop's journey with addiction and mental health” and is currently writing his next book tentatively titled “What’s Next”. Lance retired from the Ottawa Police Service in 2010 after 33 years of service. He is an author, independent consultant, strategic adviser, marketing technologist, digital evangelist, coach, internationally recognized keynote speaker and facilitator on various issues including mental health, public safety information management, interoperability and business development.