Are you okay? How to Ask this Question in 15 Different Ways

A simple, yet honestly annoying question to be asked by your loved ones.  It is almost too simple of a question.  In my own personal experiences in my law enforcement career, I didn’t like this question being asked of me very much.

After going through some difficult calls, people would ask me if I was okay.  In the simplest of terms, yes, I was okay.  It was my job to deal with difficult situations and I had mentally prepared myself for what I could possibly see on the job. But it was such a broad question that I never knew how to answer it or, I just wasn’t in the right mindset or situation to discuss my true feelings with that person.

I know people were just trying to show me that they cared about my well being and were genuinely concerned if I was okay or not.

But, as a police wife, I don’t like to ask this question to my husband.  I usually get the same “I’m fine” response which doesn’t exactly open up a conversation for healing and understanding.  It can actually bring up frustration in both of us because I want to talk about what he experienced but he may not be ready to or know how to talk about it yet. He may even still be processing the incident in his own mind.

So here is a list of 15 different questions that you can ask of your police officer to spark a conversation into their well being.

1. What’s been on your mind lately?

2. How have you been managing everything that has been going on lately?

3. What has been the most challenging part of your job lately?

4. Have you had any time to relax or do something you enjoy?

5. What is something you have been proud of accomplishing recently?

6. Are there any situations at work that have stuck with you?

7. How are you feeling about your work load and the things you have been handling?

8. What’s been giving you energy or motivation lately?

9. What is something you wish you could talk about more often?

10. How are you sleeping these days?

11. Have you been able to find support when you need it?

12. What is something you are looking forward to?

13. How have you been handling the stress at work?

14. What’s been helping you cope with difficult days?

15. Is there anything that you have noticed about your mood or energy levels?

I hope these different types of questions can spark a different type of conversation and allow you into the mind of your officer.