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Pamela DeNeuve

Lawyer & Law Firm Peak Performance Strategist

Lawyers: How To Slow Down Those Racing Thoughts

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Meet Randy.  His life was a mess.  He had practiced law for over ten years.  “Pamela, I am stressed out, I can hardly sleep, and my mind is racing all the time.  I go from 90 to nothing in a few seconds.  I am impatient at work and home.  I scare half of the associates who report to me.  My family has become a war zone. Something has got to change.”

Randy suffers from racing thoughts.

Racing Thoughts

Racing thoughts are a daily reality for many solicitors. In fact, racing thoughts are common for people who face pressure or constant stress.

You might feel like you’re worrying too much. It’s interfering with your work, relationships, or other parts of your life.

According to Marla Deibler, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders, “…Anxious thoughts may be a string of worries…” Racing thoughts can be overwhelming, confusing, and distressing,

Deibler continues, “They can block your ability to concentrate and hinder your productivity. They can hinder your memory and sleep…”

Randy’s Story

Randy explains his dilemma, “Ever since law school, I’ve felt pretty stressed.  I suffered from racing thoughts.  I was afraid I was not going to get a good grade on an exam. Later it was how I was going to rank in my class.  It caused me to have stomach problems.  Now I know I drink too much coffee.  I overeat, grazing all day long.  I drink too much alcohol, but these things help me cope with this stress.”

Different Types of Racing Thoughts

Over the past twenty-plus years, I have observed that there are four major types of racing thoughts.

1: Angry Racing Thoughts 

These thoughts keep the solicitor angry and upset. People, situations, or circumstances always make this lawyer angry. He or she may believe that it is always someone else’s fault. They rarely look at themselves. They may use alcohol or other substances to calm down.

2: Not Enough Time Racing Thoughts

This attorney’s manifestation is like “Hurry Sickness.” They are always in a hurry. Everyone else is moving too slow. They rage in traffic. Secretary’s, associates, and paralegals are on edge because of this attorney.  They want all work done “yesterday.’  These lawyers have no patience.  They are angry at work and at home because everyone seems to be lackadaisical.

3: Feel Sorry for Myself Racing Thoughts

These lawyers play the same tape over and over in their heads. It never varies. There is a litany of words such as, “Why am I here. I am all alone. No one likes me. I am worthless. I cannot perform my job. They will find out I am a phony. What is the use? I hate myself. I hate life. I can’t go on.”

These lawyers can also have a combination of rushing or angry thoughts. In some cases, therapy and medication do little to help these lawyers.

4: I Am Superior-Racing Thoughts

These lawyers are usually high achievers, and they feel superior to most of humankind.  They are snobs and consider others inferior.  They have no patience for associates or anyone who is on a learning curve. They don’t take the time to explain simple details and are irate when they get work back with mistakes.  They live in their own world and consider everyone who reports to them, underlings.

Symptoms of Racing Thoughts

Racing thoughts can vary from unnoticed or minor distractions to debilitating stress. Thinking this way prevents the sufferer from criticizing themselves and others.

Racing thoughts can be fast, repetitive thought patterns about a particular topic. They are a common feature of anxiety and other mental health disorders. But they can happen when you are overwhelmed and have too much work. Perhaps you have a big deadline, a court date, or a deposition. Or, you can be suffering from PTSD. I find many attorneys are stuck in PTSD.

“If you become agitated at home, you become distressed, and you bring these problems with you to the office.” – Pamela DeNeuve

Here Are Symptoms of Racing Thoughts

Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

  • Feeling nervous, restless, or tense
  • Having a sense of impending danger, panic, and doom
  • Having an increased heart rate
  • Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than what you are doing
  • Having trouble sleeping
  • Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
  • Having difficulty controlling worry

Racing thoughts can begin if someone begins obsessive thoughts about the past. Or, perhaps thoughts dreading the future can consume your attention. You are transfixed mentally and lost in a quagmire of thoughts unrelated to the present moment before you know it.

“You can stop these thoughts initially by asking yourself, “Is there anything I can do about these things right now?” – Pamela DeNeuve

If the answer is no, tell yourself that you will think about it tomorrow.  Many times this can give you relief.  Listen to music, take a nap, go for a walk, take a 10-minute meditation.  Just a few minutes will do wonders to slow down your thoughts.

Taming the Lawyer’s Racing Mind – And How to Fix It!

It is vital to recognize whether you are subject to constant racing thoughts.  Here are some suggestions to stop your uncontrollable racing thoughts.

  1. Go for daily walks in nature.
  2. Slow down and deliberately focus on your work. Many times when racing thoughts prevail, you get in a rush, work faster, and make mistakes.
  3. Breathe. Racing thoughts cause tenseness. You begin holding your breath, which triggers the fight-or-flight response.
  4. Make time to have a healthy lunch and eat a substantial breakfast.
  5. Limit sugar intake. Sugar is a drug that increases racing thoughts.
  6. Caffeine speeds up your thoughts thought. Limit caffeine or at least limit caffeine to one or two cups per day.
  7. Meditation is the best cure for racing thoughts. Make time to meditate at once each day.
  8. Consider taking Yoga. Like meditation, Yoga slows down your thoughts and has excellent relaxation techniques.
  9. Seek help. You may require medication and or therapy to help get your thoughts under control.
  10. Limit or cease drinking alcohol. Many times drinking can begin an onset of racing thoughts that the lawyer is unable to stop.
  11. Drink 4-6 glasses of water per day. It increases energy naturally.

Randy Saves His Marriage

Randy wanted to save his marriage. He finally agreed to receive counseling with his wife.  His day began by taking a walk in nature.  Randy cut down on his caffeine, exercise, and stopped drinking coffee.  He began to drink from six to eight glasses of water each day.

After a couple of months, Randy said, “I have a new lease on life.  My wife and I continue counseling, and we even took a trek to Paris.  My family life is restored. By the way, I am a top producer at the firm again, and my associates don’t cringe when they see me coming.”

Message me at pamela@pameladeneuve.com

Please put “30 Minutes” in the subject line and we can discuss how to stop your racing thoughts.

#lawyers #lawfirm #attorneys #solicitors

 

 

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