nlap ethics program stress management for lawyers...confidential – protected by court rules 5...

NLAP Ethics Program

Stress Management for Lawyers

Chris Aupperle, NLAP Director

Ryan Evans, LIMHP, LADC

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Embassy Suites Hotel – La Vista Conference Center

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The Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Program presents


Chris Aupperle, Ryan Evans, NLAP Director LIMHP, LADC

Overview

NLAP

Who We Are and How We Help

Stress & The Legal Profession

How Stress Affects Us?

Stress and the Law Profession

The Stress Test

Stress Management

Building Skills

Emotional Regulation

Fear Setting

Where do you go from here?

Q&A


NLAP

WhoWeAre

Started as a Bar

Association Committee

Originally focused primarily on alcohol

and drug issues within the profession

2002 hired full-time Director

NLAP Committee Members

60+ lawyers and judges who

volunteer their time to help their

colleagues in need

Every state has a LAP

May be called a different name. If

you have questions, call your state bar

association


Stress Management Work-Life Balance

Depression Anxiety Other Mental Health Disorders

Drug/Alcohol Disorders

Gambling Disorders

Physical Injury & Illness Education & Outreach

Assistance for all Nebraska Lawyers, Judges & Law Students

Whether you are in crisis or just want to be proactive

NLAP

WhatWeDo

Cognitive Decline

Compassion Fatigue

NLAP can help you with…


Confidential – Protected by Court Rules 5-501.6 & 5-508.3

Voluntary – We are here to help those who want help

Getting Help for Someone – Call if you are concerned about a colleague, friend, employee or other member of our profession

Identify Resources for you – Whether it’s a doctor, counselor, treatment center or support group, we will help you find the resource you are seeking.

Peer Support – NLAP Committee Members ready to help

NLAP How We Help


NLAP

2018Usage


Who Used NLAP Services:

Lawyers 65Law Students 14Judges 1

80

Substance Use Disorder 31%Mental Health 29%Dual Diagnosis (SUD + MH) 14%Stress/Life Balance 13%Cognitive Decline 10%Physical Illness/Death 3%

Male 66%Female 34%

Lawyer, Judge & Law Student Well-Being Tasks Force

Lawyers, Judges, Bar Association, Legal Regulators and Law Schools working to:

Engage Stakeholders: Identify ways to improve lawyer well-being through engaging the stakeholders who can influence change.

Change the Conversation: Shift the conversation from silence and/or judgement to ways to improve lawyer, judge and law student well-being.

Encourage Help Seeking: To implement policies to create a help seeking rather than help adverse culture within the profession.

Reduce Stigma: Educate on the issues, challenge the ideas based on bias/stereotypes and bring the conversation into the open.



Stress Management

How Stress Effects Us


Unique Stress Factors for Lawyers

Deadlines – we are a deadline driven profession.

Who controls our workload – Others are often in control of our work and calendars (courts, clients, employer).

Adversarial System – Adversarial nature of the legal profession.

What’s at Stake – Often significant things are at stake – a client’s freedom, financial future, custody of children, etc.

Running a Business – Many lawyers are small business owners (payroll, marketing, employee management, etc.).

Competition for Work – we need the next case to come in the door.

Time Commitment – Long Hours, always connected through technology, lack of time away from work.

ABA/Hazelden Study (2016)Comprehensive Survey of Lawyer Well-Being12,825 lawyers surveyed in 16 states

22.7% screened for stress levels above normal expected range

5.7% screened for severe or extremely severe levels of stress

Mental Health:28% depression19% anxiety12% contemplated suicide

during their legal career

Correlation between problematic alcohol use and higher levels of stress.


Stress and

Lawyers


What is Stress?

A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.


1. An individual is faced with a stressor.

2. A complex hormonal cascade ensues, and the adrenals secrete cortisol.

3. Cortisol prepares the body for a fight-or-flight response by flooding it with glucose, supplying an immediate energy source to large muscles.

4. Cortisol inhibits insulin production in an attempt to prevent glucose from being stored, favoring its immediate use.

5. Cortisol narrows the arteries while the epinephrine increases heart rate, both of which force blood to pump harder and faster.

6. The individual addresses and resolves the situation.

7. Hormone levels return to normal.

Progression of Stress

Stress Management for Lawyers Effects of Stress

Side Effects of Stress:• Low energy.• Headaches.• Upset stomach, including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea.• Aches, pains, and tense muscles.• Chest pain and rapid heartbeat.• Insomnia.• Frequent colds and infections.• Loss of sexual desire and/or ability

Physical Maladaptation's:

• Blood Sugar Imbalance and Diabetes

• Weight gain and obesity• Immune System Suppression

• Gastrointestinal problems• Cardiovascular Disease• Fertility Problems

The affects of poor stress management on lawyers:

• Burnout• Depression and Anxiety• Drug/Alcohol/Gambling/Process Addictions• Physical Health Affects• Poor Job Satisfaction• Procrastination


Stress &

Lawyers


Ending every workday feeling highly stressed.

Feeling a knot in the stomach on Sunday night.

Disengagement from work, family, friends and health.

Feeling alienated and tired, which may also mean anxious, depressed, exhausted, ineffective, overcommitted, guilty, unable to say no, or even to the point of giving up hope.

Experiencing the physical consequences of stress: ulcers, upset stomach, headaches, backaches, colitis, lack of concentration, rage, even a heart attack or stroke.

Survival Skill No. 2 for Lawyers: Dealing With Chronic Stress; Link Christin, Executive Director of the Legal Professionals Program at Caron Treatment Centers published at www.attorneyatwork.com.

Warning Signs of Professional Burnout:


Stress Management

Stress Self-Assessment


Stress Management

Building SkillsGeneral Stress Reducers:

Eat and Drink Right Sleep Stop Smoking or Bad Habits Exercise Regularly Say No to Overwhelming

Situations Recognize Lotus of Control Effective Time Management

Skills


Stress Management

Emotional Regulation

file:///C:/Users/Owner/Desktop/NICABM-Infographic-Shame.pdf

Where Do You Feel Stress In Your Body?


• Head Brain moves through 90 Minutes of slow wave sleep frequencies followed immediately by Rapid Eye Movement (REM).

• Gut-Brain moves through a nightly cycle of 90 minutes of slow wave muscular contractions followed by brief spurts of rapid muscular movements.

• 90 % of body’s Serotonin is found in the Enteric Nervous System. 50% of Body’s Dopamine is found in the Enteric Nervous System.

Source: Marc, David (2015); Pasricha, Pankaj (2011).

Enteric Nervous System


Breathing and Meditation



Stress Management

Fear Setting

What Is something you would like to change?

What would you like to give up?

Fear Setting Example


Final Thoughts


You can build stress management skills – no matter your age

Listen to your body

Maintain good sleeping, eating and exercise Habits

Keep and set boundaries

Set realistic goals - avoid perfectionism

It starts with you – take the action

Start with one thing you want to change – achieve consistency and build on it

If you try to managing stress on our own and you are still struggling, seek professional help


Chris Aupperle Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Program(402) 475-6527www.nebar.com/NLAP

Ryan Evans, LIMHP, LADCRyan Evans Counseling(402) 330-1537 ext. 18www.ryanevanscounseling.com

http://www.nebar.com/NLAP

http://www.ryanevanscounseling.com/

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