A DUI arrest can take its toll on your mental health. As you take the steps to set things right, it is important to understand how DUI arrests affect mental health. This helps you be prepared to take the steps to cope with these mental health stressors when they arise.
Severe Stress
When convicted of a DUI charge, you can be constantly worried about the outcome of the charge and any other legal matters you might have to deal with. Even as you go about your daily activities, these stresses hover in the background. You might find yourself going through a period where you imagine all the worst possible outcomes from your court case and how a DUI conviction may impact your life. You can also be dealing with the guilt from what you have done. All of this can take a heavy toll.
Depression
Unfortunately, DUI cases do see rates of depression. The loss of independence, financial issues, and the constant stress from the conviction all add to feelings of depression and self-loathing. The penalties for a DUI can also lead to loneliness. This loneliness could also be self-imposed, as many DUI offenders tend to isolate themselves from their friends, family, and other social situations because of feelings of lingering shame. Isolating yourself in this way can make it more difficult for you to move on from your negative thoughts. Focusing on the past mistakes that led to your case also brings up feelings of shame, which can exacerbate depression.
While it may not seem easy to do, you should be focusing on your future at this juncture. Look at the positive steps that you can take to turn your life around instead of dwelling on your past mistakes. This is easier said than done, so remember to be patient with yourself even as you battle your feelings of guilt and depression.
Loss of Independence
Public transport can be cumbersome to deal with, especially if you live far away from your workplace. With your driving privileges revoked, you can feel that you’ve lost a big part of your freedom, especially if you don’t live in an urban area or one with a robust public transportation system. This affects your mental health because it can cause you to feel out of control, even when it comes to things that you used to take for granted – like running small errands.
Financial Stress
One of the most common struggles that DUI offenders face is dealing with financial stress. The combined costs of a DUI arrest can range from $4000 to $17000. This is a massive amount of money that can be debilitating to lose. Dealing with these financial issues can also take a heavy toll on your mental stress.
Get Help to Deal with the Effects of a DUI Case
Dealing with the mental health effects of a DUI case can be difficult on your own. Here, we offer a multiple offender program that can significantly benefit any second and subsequent DUI offenders. If you are from the San Bernardino area, contact our Redlands, CA, branch for more information.
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