DWI -Related Depression and Anxiety: What to Do?

 

 

When the police arrest you for driving while intoxicated, it can be frightening. It can lead to depression and anxiety having to think of the possible effects it can have on your life. You can obsess so much about the arrest. This will lead to severe consequences on your personal and professional life. It can also lead to depression and harm your mental health. Depression and anxiety can get in the way of your productivity in every area of your life. Arrest for drunk driving doesn't have to hurt your life. You can get your life back to normal even after an arrest. This article addresses solutions to depression caused by DWI. The role of a DWI lawyer after your arrest will also be discussed.

DWI as an offense

Driving under the influence of alcohol or any illegal substance is against the law. A police officer can tell you to stop on the highway if they suspect you are drunk. It is at this point an alcohol test will be done to determine your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Generally, your BAC must not exceed .08%. If the test shows your BAC exceeding more than the required percentage, you will be arrested.

 

Under the law when you get a DWI charge and the court finds you guilty, there are penalties imposed. For example, you can get a license suspension, payment of a fine, or a prison sentence. The type of punishment depends on the extent of damage done as a result of your drinking and driving. 

Things to Do after Arrest for DWI 

 

There are so many thoughts that could run through your mind after a DWI arrest. It could be you asking questions such as:

• Can a DWI arrest ruin your life because of the records you now have in court?
• Can a DWI arrest ruin your career and employment opportunities?
• Financial consequences of a DWI arrest and the cost of getting yourself out of the situation.

Along with these questions could be pressures from your loved ones. There are instances, pressure from friends and loved ones can get you to have depression. They might make you feel guilty and shameful for being arrested. 

Getting arrested is not the end of your life. Some people have been arrested for DWI in the past and they found a solution.

 

There are things you can do to get out of a DWI charge. 

1. Hire a DWI Lawyer

The first step in facing your DWI arrest is to hire an experienced DWI lawyer. Getting a DWI lawyer experienced with DWI cases will go a long way in your case. A DWI lawyer can offer you advice that will help your case. The lawyer can tell you the position of the law on the offense arrested for. 

1. Know your Witnesses

Before the arrest, you must have been with people. These people can testify to where you were and what you were doing before the arrest. Your DWI lawyer can help talk to your witnesses and get any information that can help your case. 

1. Get Enough Evidence 

This can be getting a copy of your bill from a bar to show the amount of alcohol you consumed. This should be a bar you visited before your arrest. You can also get video evidence from the security cameras of the bar.

All this evidence must first be given to your DWI lawyer. Upon careful analysis of the evidence, you can be advised if they can be used in court.

1. Pick your Defense Option with your DWI Lawyer

Another important step is discussing the available options to you under the law with your lawyer. There are different types of options provided by the law. 

1. Expunge the DWI Charge from your Records

Whether the DWI charge goes to trial or not, the record of arrest will always be there. When background checks are done the record will reflect the DWI charge. This can harm your social life. Your records can be expunged with the help of a DWI lawyer.

Dealing with depression after facing a DWI charge

You may experience a myriad of negative emotions after a DWI case such as shame, guilt, depression, self-hate, and anxiety. This could be intensified because of pressure from loved ones blaming you for the arrest. It might lead you to get isolated from friends and family. Isolation may lead to loneliness, depression, and constant anxiety. Experiencing these emotions may cause you not to go out to avoid another arrest.

 

While battling all these emotions is justifiable, you do not have to remain that way. You can live a normal life after a DWI arrest and be proactive. However, you will need to take actionable steps in improving your mental health. Following these steps religiously can help get your life back together. The following are ways you can get out of depression and anxiety post-DWI arrest:

1. Acknowledge your arrest

The first step in getting out of depression post-DWI arrest is acknowledging the arrest itself. Instead of burying your head in the problem and hoping for it to go away by itself, face it head-on.

Ignoring the problem will only stress you further. You can do this by finding a DWI lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer can help you from thinking about worst-case scenarios. You will be briefed about the whole process and be prepared with a strong defense strategy.

1. Own your mistake

Owning your mistake will help you not to blame yourself too much. You will have the courage to forgive yourself this way. There has been proof by medical personnel that when you acknowledge your mistake it is easier to forgive yourself. 

You can take note of the lessons learned from the mistake and apply them in the future. This way you avoid making similar mistakes.

1. Actively seeking to develop healthy habits

There are coping mechanisms you may resort to in dealing with post-DWI arrest depression. These coping mechanisms can be bad and unhealthy habits. This may do further damage than good. So it is best to take control of your life by engaging in healthy habits. For example, listening to motivational and life-changing podcasts every day. This will shape your convictions and make you believe in yourself again. You can also eat healthily and engage in exercise to stay fit.

1. Talk to a therapist

Therapy is a great way to get out of depression. A professional therapist can help you with techniques and guide you on ways to heal and get better. For example, if you resort to alcohol abuse due to the arrest, the therapist can refer you to an alcohol therapist to help you get over such addiction.

Conclusion

As much as an arrest can be emotional, it does still involve legal procedures. So, it is important to listen to the advice of your DWI lawyer. Trusting your lawyer will help your case. Lawyers are ethically bound to prioritize the interest of their clients. Therefore, you can be confident in the ability of your DWI lawyer to get you out of a DWI arrest situation.