How to Deal with the Emotional Stress from DUI Conviction
Other than financial costs, perhaps the most damaging effects of a DUI conviction are on the non-financial aspects - such as developing emotional stress and the negative effects on employment and job application, and the impact on family, friends, and loved ones.
What to do
The first thing you should do if arrested for impaired driving is to get a lawyer who is experienced and specializes in DUI cases in order to avoid conviction in the first place.
There are many tools in a lawyer's arsenal that he or she can use for the dismissal of the charges. These include technical expertise in the methods and devices used to obtain breath or blood samples from you, ability to bring out reasonable doubt through the circumstances surrounding your arrest, and by cross-examining police witnesses to your advantage. Having a lawyer work on your case right away will help you avoid conviction and get your life back on track right away.
In the event that you get convicted, it is understandable to feel stressed about the situation. Emotional stress could stem from feeling guilty if your impaired driving has caused an accident where someone got hurt or frustration from not being able to drive again to work. Whatever the case, undergoing counseling is the first step you should take to deal with emotional stress. Having had a conviction, it is possible that you are required to finish an intervention or educational program geared toward impaired driving. Even if you dislike attending, make an effort to attend and finish the program in order to help you make some lifestyle changes that would prevent doing the offense again.
Admittedly, not all court-ordered DUI counseling are effective, especially if someone have other mental health issues that need to be addressed. If you still feel emotional stress despite completing alcohol intervention and counseling, it is better if you see a therapist. See the incident as a wake-up call that is steering you toward getting help. Alcohol and substance abuse are usually just symptoms of deeper personal conflicts.