9. The Other “Bar” Association: Alcoholism in the Legal Community, with DeAnna Crosby

A joint ABA/Hazelden study in 2016 found significant rates of anxiety, depression, suicide, alcoholism, and addiction among licensed, employed lawyers in America. In Episode 9, we hear from DeAnna Crosby, addictions specialist and clinical director of a dual-diagnosis treatment clinic in Southern California, about the unique caretaking responsibilities that make lawyers susceptible to anxiety, depression, and self-medication and what resources are available to create a life beyond the bottle. Topics3:45     Statistics on addiction and mental illness among lawyers5:55     Lawyers and vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout9:26     Drinking “trends” 10:52  Self-medication15:02  Dual diagnoses of substance abuse and mental illness16:22  Knowing if you have a drinking problem18:52  Lawyers and other gold-collar professionals20:54  Drinking at law school22:13  Generational issues25:40  Managing sobriety28:23  Genograms32:08  Prevalence of alcohol35:01  Distress tolerance39:00  Favorite resources45:38  Signature signoff question Quote“One of the things that’s interesting is so many people when they get sober, they say, ‘Everyone’s gonna know. Everyone’s gonna know that I’m not drinking, and what am I gonna say?’ Most people don’t care. Most people are so obsessed with themselves that they don’t even notice that you’re not drinking.” DeAnna Crosby Recommended ResourcesABA, Hazelden National Study on Attorney Substance Abuse, Mental HealthJournal of Addiction Medicine articleABA Directory of Lawyer Assistance ProgramsAA QuestionsGenogramsUnderstanding the High-Functioning Alcoholic (book)In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts (book)Codependent No More (book)Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong (TED Talk)Brian Cuban’s The Addicted Lawyer blogI’m in recovery and my office just moved above a bar (great comments section)