Your Doorway to Recovery

Recovery from addiction is an ongoing process that requires knowledge, effort and dedication. To fully understand the process and how to reach a successful recovery, some basic concepts must first be understood.

Addiction is defined as an uncontrollable compulsion to take drugs or engage in other hazardous activities. This compulsion is accompanied by changes in the brain that reinforce these activities. In other words, the brain becomes wired in such a way that makes a person addicted to the activity, be it drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex and so forth. It is important to note that addiction is a chronic and potentially fatal illness. Those with an addiction have a high chance of returning to the destructive behavior, placing them in danger of further harm or death.

Therefore, treatment and recovery from addiction should be seen as a lifelong commitment. While there are many different paths to recovery, they all follow the same core principles. These include: education, awareness, self-care, relapse prevention, support, and a structured plan to address the underlying factors that lead to addiction.

Education and awareness are critical components of recovery. A person must know what addiction is, how it works, and be able to recognize signs of relapse. Education is key to avoiding a relapse or minimizing its effects. It also assists in developing a meaningful recovery program that addresses both physical and emotional needs. Self-care is also a very important part of recovery. Maintenance of a balanced lifestyle, through physical exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate rest and relaxation, is essential for optimal mental and physical health.

Relapse prevention is perhaps the most important part of any recovery plan. This should include strategies to identify triggers that could put one at risk for relapse and strategies to manage these triggers in a healthy, productive manner. It is also important to develop a philosophy of acceptance and forgiveness for mistakes. This can help create a sense of control and reduce the stigma associated with the disease of addiction.

The most important step in recovery is to have a supportive network. It is important to have people who will understand and encourage the person in their recovery. Family and friends can be invaluable sources of support and understanding. 12-Step support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous are also important for providing a social environment where people can share stories and offer support.

The last element leading to a successful recovery is a structured plan tailored to address the underlying causes of addiction. This plan may include various therapies, medications, and activities such as mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. This plan should also involve establishing healthy boundaries in areas such as relationships, work, money, and leisure time.

Sobriety is possible. A comprehensive understanding of addiction and recovery, along with dedication and commitment, will enable successful recovery from addiction. It is important to remember that addiction recovery is an ongoing process and that relapse is common. Relapses can lead to a full recovery if proper help is sought and tools are used to make healthy changes.

Being an attorney is a stressful job, you need to be at the top of your game for every case. Attorneys sometimes have to work beyond working hours and spend long hours in the court room.

Their job responsibilities are a major contributor to the stress they face in their lives.

However, compounding stress is not healthy as it takes its toll on your mental health. In this article, we will check out some of the ways to defeat stress as an attorney.

1. Regularly Exercise: Taking out time to take a run in the park or visiting the gym is one way to relieve stress. Working out stimulates the release of endorphins, and it helps reduce the secretion of stress hormones. It is important in living a healthy life as exercises help you relax.
2. Hobbies: Before you became that top-shot lawyer, you had a hobby. There were things you loved doing for leisure and pleasure. If you have neglected those activities, you can pick them up to ease stress.

For me, I take a trip to the karaoke bar and sing off-tune; it helps to ease pressure and then I can function optimally again. Just ensure to visit your hobbies periodically and have fun.

3. Therapy: One way you can ease stress especially mental stress is by visiting a counselor. The counseling therapist allows you unload and gives you advice on how to manage difficult situations. Do not underrate the effect a therapist can have in helping you defeat stress.
4. Set Boundaries: Introspectively examine yourself to know your limits. Do not try to be a superhero and take on more than you can handle. Set limits for your clients and your colleagues, let your clients know when you are available for work.

Try to avoid putting yourself in extreme situations to prevent you from burning out.

Defeating stress as an attorney is key to lasting in the profession. If you fail to take care of yourself and you buckle under the stress, it may have long term implications on your career.

Being an attorney is a responsibility that comes with a lot of expectations. The legal profession is one with policies on ethics and conduct. Hence, when an attorney battles with addiction they find it hard to be upfront about it.

According to a survey done in the US, 36% of respondent lawyers had problems with problematic drinking.

As far back as 1990, problematic drinking was discovered to be more prevalent among lawyers than the general US population. Despite the obvious problem, attorneys battle stigma that discourage from seeking help.

We will check out some common treatment methods attorneys can adopt for addiction.

1. Professionals Program: Different rehab centers have treatment programs that are tailored to suit the needs of professionals. There are different professionals programs; for medical practitioners, for lawyers. Be on the lookout for drug rehab centers that offer Lawyer Assistance Programs (LAPs).

LAPs are government-assisted programs to help people in the legal profession. The treatment path of LAPs are tailor made to suit to give specialized care to the attorneys. Some rehab centers also offer specialized programs for attorneys beyond the LAPs.

2. Reduce Stress: Most lawyers develop their addiction troubles after being overwhelmed with the stress of their jobs. Beyond seeking professional help, attorneys can help themselves by reducing the pressure on themselves. They can achieve this by doing stress-easing activities like playing sports.

The legal profession comes with a lot of pressure that can lead to emotional breakdowns. An attorney can help themselves by taking cases one at a time.

3. Regular Treatment Methods: Apart from the specialized treatment method, an attorney can utilize the in-house treatment (rehab centers. Community based treatment programs, or out-patient treatment programs are also an option.

Alcohol and drug overuse are responsible for a high proportion of legal malpractice. Many attorneys cannot cope with the stigma of seeking help for drug problems hence they live in self-denial. There is also the fear of missing out on professional accolades if they acknowledge battling substance misuse.

 

Addiction in the legal profession is a serious problem that poses a threat to the lives of myriads of ambitious men and women, including their means of livelihood.

A foundation to this problem is the burden placed on lawyers as they are often entrusted with the fate and future of their clients.

This causes most lawyers to work extra hours, pushing beyond their limits and leaving no room for errors as they ensure their clients end up on the good side of fate.

The pressure from such can cause problems like depression, anxiety, and stress disorders, to mention a few, in which to cope with, lawyers often resort to substance abuse.

The American Bar association, based on a survey of 13,000 legal professionals, found that about a third of practicing lawyers had a drinking problem. Addiction among lawyers is to several causes:

1. Pressure: An average lawyer is under pressure to prove himself as capable of his profession, and this pressure begins right from law school through to the first 15 years of practice. The need to compete with other lawyers and impress junior and senior partners causes lawyers to take up heavy workloads. They end up using substances to help their body keep up with the pressure of the workload.
2. Stress and anxiety relief: Due to the pressure on lawyers, they often become victims of anxiety and stress disorders, causing a lack of sleep. Hence, to cope with stress while they want to stay awake or relieve stress when they need to sleep, many lawyers indulge in substance abuse.
3. Drinking Culture: As a result of the popularity of using alcohol to relieve stress and anxiety, a drinking culture has developed among lawyers. So, you find a constant availability of alcohol within and around a lawyer’s office. It has grown into becoming a form of socialization with colleagues than a coping mechanism.

The above causes show that except if the work ethics of lawyers become lenient, addiction will continue to be more prominent among lawyers.

 

Stress, anxiety, or depression are often not far from lawyers due to the demands of their profession and the heavy workload that comes with it.

Hence, it is not surprising that addiction is notable among lawyers as most tend to use various substances to help them work their way through these burdensome demands. Such substances either relieve stress, helps them stay awake and active, or calms their nerves.

Substance abuse often leads to addiction among lawyers because of the unending need as the workload never reduces. Rather than getting addictive substances to cope with the demands of the legal profession, here are four vital health tips that can help you prevent addiction:

1. Create boundaries: If you want to prevent addiction to substances, you should consider setting boundaries between personal time and work time. Learn to take breaks at specific times for you to cool off steam. Most lawyers always think they have to do their work right there and end up leaving little or no time for themselves. One thing you should know as a lawyer is that somehow, work will always get done, don’t be too hard on yourself.
2. Sleep: Sleep is generally underrated among members of the working class because it counts as a sign of laziness or unseriousness. However, what many do not recognize is that sleep is a therapy that can help you cope with the stress of your legal profession. As a lawyer, do not joke with your sleep time by ensuring you do not sleep less than 8 hours daily.
3. Exercise: Practice the art of exercising because it helps you relieve stress and stay healthy physically and psychologically. You don’t need to go to a gym, as active walks and some stretches, when done diligently, are sufficient.
4. Avoid substance intake: To prevent addiction, try to refrain from taking alcohol and other substances to boost your productivity or relieve stress.

If you practice these tips diligently, you will be protecting yourself from substance addiction.

 

It may be surprising to some that addiction to alcohol in combination with depression and anxiety are more common in legal professionals than in others.

Lawyers are known for their hard work and intelligence in sorting out complex legal issues. Working in high-stress environments, they are known to push themselves above and beyond their physical and mental limits.

So it is not surprising to mental health experts that, similar to other high-stress careers (such as emergency first responders, police officers, doctors, et cetera), some lawyers resort to unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol abuse to manage their stress levels and anxieties.

People in the legal profession are also among those who experience very high rates of mental health problems. It is estimated that almost 40% of students in law schools deal with depression just after the first year of school. This is likely to continue throughout their time in law school and well into their careers.

An indirect factor for the stress is said to be the high levels of debt accumulated during law school. This burden could be a limiting factor when graduating young lawyers make their career decisions. However, these young professionals need to realize that their well-being is tied to keeping themselves physically and mentally healthy.

A study by the American Bar Association surveyed 12,825 licensed and working lawyers in 19 US states to understand the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption,

Results from the anonymous responses to a questionnaire showed that 28 percent suffer from depression, and 19 percent indicated experiencing anxiety.

Attaining work-life balance is very hard for people in the legal profession. This is especially true in the case of junior lawyers who typically don’t have control over their schedules and workload.

Addiction in the legal profession is a giant problem that unfortunately had put an end to many promising careers and lives.

Taking steps to address mental health and stress-related triggers early on in law school is an important consideration.

It is important that young lawyers who are going through the difficult situation of mental health and addiction-related problems seek help sooner than later. If substance abuse or addiction is exposed later during their career, they can face severe consequences, including disbarment, job loss, bankruptcy, and more.

Fortunately, several treatment options including rehab facilities in a private and confidential environment are available. Seeking help is the first step to recovery.

Many lawyers and legal professionals encounter unusually high levels of workload in high-pressure, competitive workplaces leading to high levels of alcohol abuse. This might explain the expression of ‘drunk lawyer’ among the public. Studies indicate that the level of alcohol abuse and addiction among those the legal profession is one of the highest in North America.

It can be assumed that lawyers can access timely help and treatment to their addiction-related issues given that they are among the highest-paid professionals. But it is not the case, in reality.

One of the obstacles for lawyers making use of timely addiction treatment is their belief that accepting that they even have a problem could damage their image in the society or lead to a bad reputation. In other words, they worry it could ruin their jobs and careers.

The first step is overcoming the fears and asking for help

For legal professionals, specialized services have been the most effective in treating addiction. They need treatment options that can maintain privacy and a high degree of confidentiality. This strategy is likely to address the barriers to seeking help and find a way to get the timely help they need.

Experiences from the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous also shows that lawyers and judges are worried about their anonymity if they join the program.

One response to this real problem of low levels of seeking help, International Lawyers in Alcoholics Anonymous is formed. It is a group of recovered lawyers and judges carrying the message of recovery within the legal system. These professionals, who themselves have gone through similar problems and came out successfully, act as a bridge between the legal professionals who are reluctant to seek help, and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Many employers including large and small legal firms are committed to the physical and mental well-being if their employees and will be ready to help address the addiction-related concerns of their lawyers.

If you are a legal professional feeling the overwhelming demands at work, it is important that you speak with a trusted mentor and then with your supervisor.  This is the most effective first step you can take. Also, find out the resources that are available to you. It is likely that several employee resources such as paid time off or addiction treatment funded by the employer are available.

In addition, it is critical that you open up to a friend or family member for advice and support to address the root cause of the problem that led to the addiction problem in the first place. This will help relieve stress and serve as a support system. To decide on the best treatment options, you should schedule an appointment with a substance abuse counselor.

The Law profession is one which is very demanding. Right from the first day at Law school, there is a great pressure which prospective Lawyers face.

The demands which come with the profession, has the capacity to cause great levels of stress and anxiety. This in turn causes substance abuse to set in therefore affecting the mental health of the aspiring Lawyer.

Statistics has shown that a good number of Lawyers take alcohol, and one in five Lawyers has an addiction problem when it comes to alcohol.

The same applies to drugs, both the illicit and prescription ones. Lawyers in this category take drugs like cocaine, valium and the likes.

They do this to give themselves a competitive gap over their colleagues. Another reason why they do this is because they want to deal with stress, anxiety and other mental health problems.

Lawyers are known to be very sacrificial, and when it comes to their health, they would gladly do the same. Lawyers put their health on the line, so that they can attain their work goals, and their family and social relationships suffer in the process.

Lawyers have the ability to take over conversations, relationships and meetings, and they are well adept at taking attention off themselves, which could aggravate their substance use, and make it herculean for their loved ones to provide help for them.

One of the effects which addiction has on Lawyers is, it makes them lose focus in the long run, and it affects their sense of judgment.

Someone who has the substance use disorder would find it difficult to process cases, and they would be unable to solve cases with their mental power and skill.

In addition, it affects their health. Addiction makes them susceptible to other health problems.

Also, based on the fact that they live stress-filled lives, there is a possibility that they would have other medical problems which has the capacity to prevent them from working as attorneys.

Addiction also strains the relationship which Lawyers have with friends and family. They would typically deny the fact that they are addicted, and this creates a gap between they and their loved ones.

Lawyers, just like other professionals, need help in order to recover from addiction. One of the best ways to achieve this, is for Lawyers to opt for Executive rehab. This is where their cases would be treated with utmost privacy.

 

 

 

Law is a prestigious profession which comes with lots of demands. Just like every other professional career, there are tough demands which comes with being a Lawyer, and it is expected for everyone in this field to live up to the expectations of this career.

Mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, are bound to arise in law school, and if care is not taken, the law student could turn to alcohol for solace.

Most attorneys are being forced to combine a continuum of tough cases at their office, with other important aspects of their lives such as family and relationship, and it takes a toll on them.

One of the reasons why Lawyers need to stay clear of alcohol is, it could affect their sense of judgment. A lawyer who takes alcohol frequently will find it difficult to concentrate on a case, and it would be difficult to win cases because he is not focused.

It would also be hard for the lawyer to set his priorities right because, he would need to drink alcohol to provide the pleasure and satisfaction he needs. Hence, his schedule would be messed up due to the fact that, he typically does not know how to plan himself.

Most lawyers who take alcohol do this to either treat their mental health problems, or to deal with stress. Irrespective of what the case might be, there is a tendency for the lawyer to develop further health problems if care is not taken. In the long run, the lawyer might be forced to quit his practice, so that he can focus on his health.

Lawyers who are addicted to alcohol, are advised to seek prompt help before it is too late. It is a known fact that, considering the status of lawyers, they would not want to be seen attending conventional rehabs and the likes.

However, they can opt for executive rehab services, where their alcohol addiction problem would be treated privately.

 

Lawyers are professionals which everyone can identify with, and they are people which serve as role models to lots of upcoming professionals. However, what most people are oblivious of is, Lawyers have stress-filled life which makes some of them get addicted because of a huge decline in the state of their mental health.

Most times, this happens because they allow themselves to be caught up in the complications which comes with the profession, and it goes beyond their control because they are unable to control and help themselves.

Lawyers need to set goals which are achievable for themselves. The absence of doing this, is one of the major reasons why the mental health of a good number of Lawyers is on the decline.

They set unimaginable goals which they cannot meet, and they work blindly towards it. Hence, it is best to set realistic goals which can be achieved.

Also, Lawyers should learn to make their life a priority. They should focus and invest their efforts into ventures that are profitable and important. They should not hold on to cases or issues which are not of significance to their lives.

In addition, Lawyers are advised not to be too hard on themselves. When some of them encounter different problems during practice, they are often in the habit of blaming themselves.

This can affect their mental health adversely. They must always bear in mind that, mistakes are an integral part of life, and they afford us the opportunity to learn and know more.

Furthermore, they should carefully watch their emotional level, and utilize the information to assess if there is a good balance between rest, work and life.

A stressed lawyer needs to pay attention to these three features, and make the necessary changes which will result in a balance.

Another integral way which Lawyers can help themselves, is to channel their stress through healthy avenues. One of the best ways to achieve this, is to exercise on a regular basis. The law practice is a stressful one, and measures such as this helps to keep attorneys in check.