By Martin Dolan
Dolan Law Offices P.C.
I recently saw "The Beaver," a rather dark tale of Walter Black, played wonderfully by Mel Gibson. Walter is a married, father of two and an ex-CEO of a toy company. Walter, we quickly come to learn, suffers from severe depression, where all he does all day is sleep in a prescription-induced coma. He is finally thrown out of his home one night by his long suffering wife. That night he goes to a liquor store, loads up on alcohol and goes to put it in his trunk. Because most of his belongings are in his trunk he decides to throw them out in the liquor store trash container to make room for his box of bottles. In the trash he finds an old puppet, a raggedy old beaver. He takes thebeaver back to his motel where he decided to kill himself. Walter's attempts are unsuccessful, but the beaver plays a central role in battling his illness.
This movie, although having not a bit to do with the legal profession, spoke volumes to me about depression, which is more prevalent in our legal community than we might care to think. Walter's case was to the extreme, but if left untreated what is to stop the downward spiral he experiences. I reached out to a friend, Dr. Joe Siegler. Dr. Siegler is an executive coach, a practicing board-certified psychiatrist and the president and founder of Full Life Executive Coaching in Chicago.
He assured me that, no, most people don't develop these extreme symptoms. He said, "The key to staying mentally healthy is awareness." Easy concept generally, but more difficult in practice. How can we be aware when we are so consumed by our jobs and struggling to meet everyone's expectations? Stress comes in many different guises and it comes and goes. But when do we cross over into depression? When is it no longer stress? When is being tired not because we have 14-hour-long days but rather the norm? When is avoiding friends not due to our busy schedules but because we just don't feel like seeing anyone? Once we become aware of changes in our lives, and in ourselves, we can be better prepared to fight.
The statistics of depression in the legal field are frightening at first glance. An oft-cited study carried out by Johns Hopkins University in the 1990s found that of the 28 occupations surveyed, lawyers were more than 3.5 times more likely to suffer than the average. Why is this the case? Research suggests that symptoms of depression often begin in law school. One survey of law students found rates of depression among students enrolling to be on average at fewer than 10 percent. That figure rose to 27 percent after just one semester. And the rate for students graduating after three years was more than 40 percent. The increase in the rate of depression has been attributed to the training we receive in law school. For some students, priorities begin to shift. We are taught to think logically, which can lead to aspects of our emotional personality to become withdrawn. We are also taught to find the negative aspects of a situation and to expect negative results. Some of the reasons for going to law school, helping people, making a difference and upholding the rule of law, can become overshadowed over time by the mounting debts, uncertainty of how to pay it back and the desire to be at the top.
Dr. Siegler said there is no shortage of reasons why depression is so common among law school students and practicing lawyers alike. Certain physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting traits are rewarded in both law school and in practicing the law. Being a perfectionist is one of these traits. It is often rewarded and, in the same vein, it can often lead to depression. The outlook can quickly turn into a sour attitude with thoughts of "this must be done perfectly" and a mentality of not being able to stop working until something "is perfect." This internal demand for perfection can lead to the creation of a highly stressful environment that can quickly become the everyday norm. Compounding the problem in the field is competition. Law school is extremely competitive. It continues on and follows most of us in our legal careers.
This pressure to win can lead to more serious problems when things don't always go our way. Substance and alcohol abuse often go along with lawyers suffering from depression.
One of the best ways to deal with depression is to be informed and be aware. The best way to prevent severe depression is to catch your problems early on before they can become too problematic. Any form of clinical depression or burnout should be viewed and monitored as a serious illness. Take notice of how your moods are affecting the various areas of your life and take small steps to positively impact what you believe needs improvement or what you would like to regain. Listen to friends and family.
Focus on taking care of your body. The right diet, a daily exercise routine and good sleep habits can work wonders. No prescription will be a miracle cure for depression. Seek to use prescriptions, when necessary, as another tool toward moving you forward. Pills will not do all the work. Consult a therapist or an executive coach who can help. Don't keep your feelings a secret. Sharing them can help you begin to cope and lighten your load. You aren't alone. Being self-aware and knowing when to ask for help will go a long way in keeping our minds and bodies healthy.