Emotional Effects of a DUI Charge

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Drunk Driving Attorney

Getting arrested for driving under the influence can impact your life in many ways. You may face possible jail time, revocation of your driver’s license and even issues with your employment. All of that can take a toll on you emotionally. Here are some of the different emotional effects you may experience after a DUI charge:

Shock

After you get arrested for a DUI, it’s normal to feel shock. You just can’t believe something like this happened to you and keep thinking it’s all just a bad dream. This can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks.

Fear

It’s common to feel scared as soon as you see the flashing blue and red lights in your rearview mirror. Getting put in handcuffs and riding in the backseat of a police car can definitely be frightening, especially if you’ve never been in trouble with the law before. You may continue to feel fear after you think about how a DUI can affect your future.

Guilt

If you were actually driving under the influence of alcohol, you may feel very guilty afterward, especially if someone got hurt. You may feel so bad about yourself for making a bad decision like this and negatively affecting other people’s lives. However, it’s important to forgive yourself eventually and move forward.

Embarrassment

If you get charged with a DUI, you may also feel very embarrassed. Your family, friends and coworkers have found out about your arrest and you’re not sure how to act around them. The embarrassment may cause you to isolate yourself from everyone else.

Depression

Getting a DUI charge can also make you feel very depressed. You keep thinking about all the penalties that you face, such as jail time, fines and a criminal record, and isolate yourself from everyone else. Instead of spending time with your family and friends, you may stay inside all the time and wallow in your sadness. However, doing this will just make you feel worse. It’s better to surround yourself around people who care about you and support you.

Anger

It’s also common to feel angry after getting charged with a DUI. You may feel angry at yourself and possibly at friends or family members who allowed you to get behind the wheel intoxicated. It’s normal to feel angry, but you shouldn’t allow your anger to take over. Feeling angry all the time will just damage your relationships with the people you care about.

Should You See a Mental Health Counselor?

If you are dealing with a DUI charge, you’re probably just concentrating on finding the right DUI lawyer and minimizing the legal repercussions of it. While that’s all important, you shouldn’t neglect your emotional health. You should consider talking to a mental health counselor as soon as possible.

A mental health counselor can help you get your emotions out in the open and teach you healthier ways to cope.

Source: Drunk Driving Attorney Bloomington, IL, Pioletti & Pioletti