I am a natural born fretter. I tend to envision all the ways things could go wrong, and I tell myself it’s so I’ll be prepared when they (inevitably) do. My sister-in-law often tells me to quit planning the wreckage of my future. I know I need to find my zen zone, and try to deal with the stress that I inflict upon myself. But if you’re like me, you know it is easier said than done.
The need to manage stress or the failure to do so seems to be the hallmark of the legal profession. Apparently, the legal professional is number one — number one, that is, for the incidents of depression, out of 105 different professions. (1) A fair number of the lawyers that I counsel suffer from depression, anxiety, and/or substance abuse. I have wondered whether there is something about the legal profession that causes mental health issues, or is the type of person who is drawn to the law likely to be someone with characteristics that put them at risk?
According to Psychologist Martin Seligman, those traits which epitomize a good lawyer, may also translate into an unhappy person. “[T]he legal profession is unique in that it is the only profession where pessimists–those who see problems as the norm and not the exception–out-perform optimists….[T]he legal profession calls for caution, skepticism, and anticipation that things will go wrong.” (2) Combine that with the fact that lawyers as a group are particularly adverse to seeking help for mental health issues, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Given my personality, I have chosen the perfect profession for myself, so I should count that in the win column. At the same time, if I allow the stress and worry to take too large a role in my life, I am at risk. I attended a recent Lawyers Mutual presentation that tackled issues of stress and anxiety and how to cope with these factors in your life. One takeaway from the program is that you need to schedule time to decompress. Really. Plan time away from your work, just like you would an appointment. It doesn’t have to be as significant as a vacation. Just think about how you can escape for a bit and find your happy place. It could be getting outside, exercising, reading a good book, meditation, going to a concert, a change of scenery, spending time with family (or away from family), or anything else that makes you smile.
Schedule that time for yourself each and every day. When you take better care of your mental health, you are in a better frame of mind – to make decisions, to get work done efficiently and to interact effectively. In short, you’ll be a better lawyer.