This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
Here are five ways I overcame it
After the situation took place, I struggled with PTSD for years. Whenever I saw a police vehicle or a human, my heart would race uncontrollably. There was a powerful fear in me that I couldn’t seem to escape. Ultimately, I believe the fear stemmed from them invading my home randomly. I became afraid they would break laws again and violate my property whenever they felt like it.
Shortly after the incident, I took the first job offer I got and moved states. I wanted to leave and start over, but I didn’t feel really safe until I moved again for another job I took. After the second move, I started to regain my confidence and no longer flinched whenever I saw a police vehicle or policewoman/man.
I am highly aware that not all police are corrupt, but many take advantage of their power and abuse others with it – especially people of color.
Thankfully, the raid in my home was not a Breonna Taylor-type situation, but situations like that happen, and the statistics don’t always reflect these incidents because why in the world would the police want to report botched incidents, accidental killings, raids gone wrong, and all the other mistakes they make every day.
How I Overcame Police PTHumanize police: I had to remember that many police make mistakes; this is an unfortunate truth – especially considering police are given so much authority. With great authority, mistakes should be fewer because mistakes can often be much more costly, but humanizing police helped me stop fearing them. Though they are authoritative figures, they’re just regular people without the badge.
I’m A Law Abiding Citizen: Since I’m a law-abiding citizen, I shouldn’t have to concern myself with the police- outside of the fact that I am a black person and could be targeted at times.
Reflect On Past History: Before this raid, I always had positive experiences with the police. I had to remind myself of the good I experienced with them instead of focusing on the bad.
Realize Accidents Happen: The raid on my home was a fluke accident. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place, and everyone who was a part of that raid knows it now. Unfortunately, fluke accidents don’t always end so well. Breonna Taylor lost her life because the police who raided her apartment were trigger happy. What the police were looking for in my home was not even there; it was a complete waste of their time and resources. Yet, they still stole my devices without warrants. I got my technology back, and I felt better once I received them, though it took a couple of years to get everything back, which is unfortunate.
Accept The Truth: Our democracy, police, laws, and government are filled with corruption. It’s not a mystery. I do not need to fear corrupt institutions that hurt minorities. I need to be more concerned about not speaking out about my experiences or others’ experiences so that we can change the narrative. We can’t all avoid the mistakes that police make every day, but we can try to stay out of their way, follow the laws, and speak up when they make mistakes so that hopefully, they make less of them going forward.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.