Other Mental Health Issues

ADHD – Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

As the name implies, ADHD is characterized by periods of inattention, distraction, disorganization, and difficulty maintaining focus. Conversely, there are often with periods of hyperfocus, and impulse driven highly directed activity. It is also common to have physical manifestations such as fidgeting, restlessness, twitching, excessive talking, and acting without regard to outcomes. While this often seen as a disorder and can be a detriment, it can also be a benefit as it can also be characterized by periods of thinking outside the box to arrive at solutions to problems that don’t yield to straightforward thinking. In short, it can be a blessing or a curse. There m are numerous therapies, trainings, and in more debilitating cases, medications. If you think you might have symptoms of ADHD, we can direct you to resources for testing and treatment.

Anger/Anger Management

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder is sometimes called manic-depressive disorder and is associated with mood swings that range from the lows of depression to the highs of mania. When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts in the other direction, you may feel euphoric and full of energy. Mood shifts may occur only a few times a year, or as often as several times a day. In some cases, bipolar disorder causes symptoms of depression and mania at the same time.

If you or another lawyer, judge, law student or family member is experiencing symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, contact the Lawyers Assistance Program for confidential help. JLAP has an excellent network of licensed psychiatrists and therapists qualified to help.

Compassion Fatigue

Grief and Loss

Grief is the pain that you feel when you lose someone or something you love or care very deeply about can be excruciating. You may experience a variety of emotions that you feel will never end. Grief is a natural response to loss and the more significant the loss, the more intense and debilitating the grief will be, however, subtle losses can also lead to grief.

Grief is often associated with the death of a loved one, but any loss can cause grief, including: loss of health, divorce or breakup, loss of a job, miscarriage, loss of friendship, death of a pet, loss of financial stability, retirement, and loss of health.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grieving is very personal and individualized. Grieving has no timetable; for some in week they start to feel better and for others years later. While loss affects people in different ways, many experience symptoms such as shock and disbelief, sadness, fear, guilt, anger and even physical symptoms.

It is important to note that According to the DSM 5, in distinguishing grief from a major depressive episode (MDE), it is useful to consider in grief the predominant affect is feelings of emptiness and loss, while in MDE it is persistent depressed mood and the inability to anticipate happiness or pleasure. The dysphoria in grief is likely to decrease in intensity over days to weeks and occurs in waves. These waves tend to be associated with thoughts and reminders of the deceased. The depressed mood of MDE is more persistent and tied to specific thoughts or preoccupations.

The single most important factor in healing from loss is having the support of other people. The Lawyers Assistance Program can offer support and referrals to experienced mental health professionals with grief counseling experience. Sharing your loss makes the burden of grief easier to carry. Do not grieve alone, Call LAP today!

Memory/Dementia

https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/-/media/files/wexnermedical/patient-care/healthcare-services/brain-spine-neuro/memory-disorders/sage/forms/sage-form-1-us.pdf?la=en&hash=C73658B37DC50141E9A61043AAA56C8EB7E4016A