Anxiety, Depression and Substance Abuse

Some lawyers define success in terms of money and power. Falling short of one’s expectation can lead to unhappiness, anxiety, depression and problem behaviours. It is now known that within the legal profession there is a higher incidence of depression and substance abuse than in the general population. The isolation lawyers and judges experience, the demands of the profession and the fact that lawyers are trained to think in the alternative and to anticipate problems can also be contributing factors. Lawyers may think they should be problem free as they are in the business of helping others. In the course of serving others some neglect themselves and put off seeking help or self-medicate to cope.