State Bar offers tips for pandemic anxiety

For many people, the pandemic, and accompanying mental and physical exhaustion, has caused them to focus on sadness about things that have occurred in the past or unease related to what the future holds. Stressing about the past and worrying about what’s to come can take away from enjoyment in the present.

The State Bar of Michigan’s Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program (LJAP) reminds you to stay grounded and try to remain in the moment. Keep your mind and body connected and working together by using your senses to appreciate the here and now with this simple  exercise: after taking a few deep breaths, identify, notice, and experience one thing you currently see, one thing you currently hear, the taste in your mouth, something you can smell, and one thing you can reach out and touch. Be present with yourself and those around you. By staying in the moment, you can help bypass feeling overwhelmed about things out of your control.

LJAP works to help Michigan attorneys achieve wellness. It offers a number of services, including free consultations to legal professionals and their families; clinical assessments; monitoring; referrals to properly trained, credentialed, and effective providers; practicing wellness information; and professional training and educational presentations.

To learn more about LJAP, visit www.michbar.org/generalinfo/ljap/home.