Walking Through the 7 Emotional Stages After a DUI Arrest
When someone gets a DUI, most of them do not think about the emotional stages that follow the arrest, including processing the arrest and its impact on their future. After the handcuffs get locked on and you are processed at the jail, you will likely experience a range of emotions. Here are the 7 emotional stages that many people get to when they are arrested for a DUI.
A Whirlwind of Emotions
The first stage is the shock and denial stage. When you get out of jail in the morning after seeing the judge or posting a bond, you will have a sober moment of trying to process what just happened.
After the shock subsides, the second stage you might experience is fear and remorse. The fear of the unknown takes over and you might start spiraling. Am I going to lose my job? How is this going to impact my life? Is my spouse going to leave me? Following the fear, you begin to feel remorse and regret for your decisions the previous night. I should not have had that last drink. I should not have gone to that bar. Despite this, you cannot turn back time and choose a different path.
The third stage might have you experiencing anger. The fear starts fueling it, and you think maybe the cop exaggerated the situation. Next, you might call some lawyers only to hear that DUI lawyers can be costly. You may start thinking, “What did I do wrong? This is not fair.” You will become angry with everyone, but you will mainly be angry with yourself. This is why you must work through and process these emotions in a healthy way.
The next stage is depression and introspection. You might contemplate whether you have a drinking problem or what led you to make those decisions. You might also start thinking about how this will impact your relationships. It is essential to reach out for some help and guidance. Pushing through these stages is only going to make you a better person.
Almost Out of the Tunnel
Hopefully, now, you have gotten through the worst of it, and you are in a state of calmness and confidence with the help of your criminal defense lawyer. You start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and finally begin feeling better. You might start going to counseling if you have a drinking problem or taking other steps that will help you move past the incident.
The sixth step is putting your life together and realizing that this is not the end of the world. You may have felt stuck, but you can move forward and achieve better things. You realize you need to be better and start to make changes.
Processing Your Emotions After a DUI Arrest
This leads to the final stage: acceptance. When you have accepted the situation, regardless of the outcome, and made peace with it, you can truly move on with your life and make better choices, knowing you will not make the same mistake twice.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys represents individuals charged with crimes, including DUIs. Please contact us for representation. We know this will be an emotional moment for you but we can help keep you grounded and work towards a fair resolution.
