As an attorney, your profession is often a point of pride. Building a legal career takes many years of education and long hours of work. Attorneys are dedicated, exceptionally intelligent, and motivated in the extreme. But while a career in the legal profession can be rewarding, it could also contribute to a great deal of mental and emotional stress.

Studies have shown work-related pressure can potentially contribute to one’s overall health problems, such as heart disease and depression. In fact, among any profession, attorneys have the number one incidence of depression. There is a high rate of alcoholism and dependency among lawyers and, unfortunately, a higher than average suicide rate.

Struggling with mental health issues is often something that people are embarrassed about and reticent to admit. Because there’s such a stigma surrounding depression and dependency, many people who find themselves struggling choose not to seek the information and help they may need. For attorneys specifically, it is important to understand the signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health related issues that you may be prone to. It is important to take active steps to treat depression and other emotional issues as early as possible to stop the progression and ensure that you are living your best life.

Reasons Attorneys Are More At Risk

  • Type A Personality. Common in attorneys, “Type A” personalities are exceptionally motivated and often perfectionists. Even lawyers who may not have been naturally rigid in this way may develop these traits over time because they are often necessary to succeed in this highly competitive field. While this type of personality can help people succeed, it also adds a lot of self-inflicted stress and pressure. Pushing oneself constantly puts a strain on both the body and mind.
  • Relationship Issues. Most lawyers develop highly-effective persuasive skills, which are fantastic qualities for an attorney but can be detrimental to personal relationships when these skills bleed over into private lives.
  • Hours and Stress. Attorneys work exceptionally long weeks, often 60 hours or more. Personal time is taken up with career concerns, and many attorneys take a great deal of work home with them, making family and social relationships further strained and blurring the line between professional and personal life.
  • Lack of Professional Contentment. For attorneys specifically, the career path can be far different from the one first envisioned in law school. Much of the actual day-to-day work is far less stimulating than the things that attract most attorneys to the field. Many attorneys find themselves less than satisfied in the profession but unable to find a way to either change their career path or find excitement in their current position.

Finding Wellness and Maintaining Contentment

Because it is fairly well known that attorneys tend to be more prone to these issues, it is important to be able to recognize the warning signs and seek treatment promptly. Whether that treatment is a matter of managing depression or finding tools to overcome substance abuse, the key is in addressing the issues before they become life-altering.