Dr Zoe Billings was the head of North Yorkshire’s road deaths investigation unit. After she left frontline policing, she went on to help people with chronic stress. Here, she tells us some of the lessons she’s learned along the way.
‘Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value.’
This is my favourite quote (stolen from Einstein) and it’s why I joined the police in the first place. I was doing a PhD in biology, but after eight years of study I felt I wanted to do something that would help people more immediately and obviously.
Looking at the positives can get you through most things.
Working in the road deaths investigation unit, I saw things that no human should see. There were lots of serious injuries and deaths, but the worst thing was the faces of the people you have to tell as their lives fall apart. It was very traumatic. I witnessed the elation of medics when they were able to save someone – and their sadness when they couldn’t. But, to me, it seemed there was a choice. You could either lose yourself in the awfulness of it all or you could think: ‘I’m here to help those going through it – to help them have the least negative time possible.’ In psychology, it’s called reframing, and it’s a brilliant way to build your resistance to stress. In most situations, no matter how seemingly bleak, you can find a positive.
You have to look after yourself.
People who work in the emergency services are great at caring for other people but often struggle to look after themselves. I very quickly saw the constant levels of stress my colleagues were under, and I realised scientific research could help. So, I started looking into ways of combatting physiological responses to stress.
I found that two of the most important stress relievers for my own health are nature and remembering to breathe. One of the best things I could do was just go for a walk and really notice what was around me. I still have to be careful to look after myself, and rewilding the patch of land I bought nine years ago has been a vital part of that.
Never let the fear of failure stop you.
Leaving the police after 18 years was so daunting – it had become such a big part of my identity. But I knew that, with the tools I’d acquired over the years, I could help other people experiencing stress. My favourite people to teach are the ones who scoff at the whole thing. I’ve taught some fairly robust Yorkshire people – and big, burly FBI agents, all of whom rolled their eyes at breathing exercises – but by the end, they’d surprised themselves and said how much it had helped.
You can teach yourself resilience.
Resilience isn’t something you’re born with, but something that can be built up. Most of the work I do now is teaching people how they can become more resilient to stress.
I’m still constantly amazed by the power green spaces can have on health, and how important it is that we all get out into nature whenever we can. Along with reframing bad experiences, it’s what I turn to most of all when facing challenges.
Give change a chance.
I feel like everything has fallen into place. My love of nature, the biology I studied and my years in the police are what have allowed me to help thousands of people. You always have to have a go; even if you mess up, what comes out of the mistakes might be just as good – or better.
You can find out more about the work Dr Zoe does on her website: adaptandevolve.co.uk.
