A human response
With many legal professionals experiencing work-related anxiety, LawCare’s Elizabeth Rimmer gives advice on how to recognise the signs, tips on how to manage anxiety and where to go if you need support
Anxiety is one of the top three reasons people working in the law reached out to LawCare for support in last year. LawCare’s 2021 life in the law study also showed that 69% of participants had experienced mental ill-health over the preceding 12 months, and of those 61% said it happened often, very often, or all of the time.
Working in the legal sector can be stressful and demanding, so it's not uncommon for legal professionals to experience anxiety as a result. They may worry that they are not cut out for the law, have sleepless nights about a mistake they have made, or be fearful of not meeting targets. The perfectionist personality of legal professionals, the high-performance culture in law, and a lack of effective management support can mean they are prone to anxiety.
Anxiety describes feelings of unease, worry and fear. It incorporates both the emotions and the physical sensations you might experience when you are worried or nervous about something. Anxiety is related to the ‘fight or flight’ response – our normal biological reaction to feeling threatened.
“Working in the legal sector can be stressful and demanding, so it's not uncommon for legal professionals to experience anxiety as a result”
Everyone knows what it’s like to be anxious from time to time. It’s a normal human response to feel tense, nervous and perhaps fearful at the thought of a stressful event or decision you’re facing – especially if it could have a big impact on your life. You might even find it hard to sleep, eat or concentrate.
Usually, after a short while or when the situation has passed, the feelings of worry stop. It's sometimes hard to know when it's becoming a problem for you – but if your feelings of anxiety are very strong, or last for a long time, it can be overwhelming. You might find that you’re worrying all the time. You may regularly experience unpleasant physical and psychological effects of anxiety, and maybe panic attacks.
Recognising the signs
The signs of anxiety can include:
- Panic, fear and uneasiness;
- Sleep problems;
- Not being able to stay calm and still;
- Cold, sweaty, numb or tingling hands or feet;
- Shortness of breath;
- Heart palpitations;
- Dry mouth;
- Nausea;
- Tense muscles;
- Dizziness; and
- Overeating
Managing anxiety
If you are experiencing anxiety, what can you do to manage it? Firstly, try to focus on the here and now. Think about what is actually happening in this moment. Perhaps consider if there another perspective on the situation you are experiencing.
If you can, speak to other people. Tell a friend, family member or colleague about your feelings and ask them for feedback – they may be able to give you a fresh viewpoint. You may also find it helps to talk to yourself as you would to a friend.
You might consider keeping a list or folder of your achievements. When you are feeling anxious, look back at it to remind yourself what you have done in the past and what you are capable of. Another option is to distract yourself from your anxious thoughts. By reading a book, taking some exercise, seeing a friend or doing something you enjoy, you may well find the anxiety passes.
Finding support
If you are worried about your anxiety, or if it is persistent, it is important to see your GP. Many people find counselling and CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) can help with anxiety. Mindfulness can also help calm the mind – check out the Headspace website or app for more information.
For more information and emotional support call LawCare‘s confidential helpline on 0800 279 6888 or visit www.lawcare.org.uk.