I've been dealing with court cases regarding my divorce for approximately the last four years and without a doubt it has been some of the most stressful things in my life and I've needed therapy to be able to deal with all the stress. Here are some ways you can deal with stress from a trial, or really any stress whatsoever, since these methods are pretty effective regardless of the cause of the stress.
Stress is a psychological or biological reaction to an unfamiliar condition, challenge, threat, or any form of barrier (physical or psychological). And a court trial, for instance, is a form of a challenge and an unfamiliar situation to some people. You'll often have a lot of anxiety and fear of the unknown. The reason may probably be because you don't know what you're supposed to say during the hearing that will tip the outcome in your favor or against it.
Going through a court trial can significantly affect your everyday life and routine. You'll be expected to squeeze in the time to meet your lawyer and attend the court sessions. This can put some strain on your life, causing you to get stressed. As a result, you might undergo different kinds of emotions like anger, fear, anxiety, sadness, and frustration.
That's why you need to incorporate some coping mechanisms to help you through the whole trial process. Failure to do that can affect your health and, worse, the outcome of your case. In this regard, here's how to manage stress during a court trial:
Open Up To Someone
A problem shared is a problem half-solved. Having your case filed in court isn't an easy thing. It can cause you to have immense pressure and tension. You may even start blaming yourself and have endless thoughts about how the incident happened. For instance, if you're a vaccine injury victim filing the Shingrix lawsuit, you may get affected mentally as you ponder how your efforts to prevent shingles led to more problems.
The mere thought of having a court trial can scare you. However, it's essential to know that anxiety can't change the situation you're in. It only drains you more. Therefore, you must get someone to talk to to help you release all that pressure. Keeping to yourself will only do you more harm than good.
When choosing the person to talk to, ensure that you get a professional therapist, a family member, or a close friend. This individual should be empathetic and can create an atmosphere where you can freely lash out and talk about how you feel. They should exhibit negligible prejudice and allow you to be yourself. It'll help relieve the pressure, and thus, you'll be more mentally and emotionally stable. You'll then be able to go through the trial well, with less tension.
On the contrary, it'll only increase your tension if you talk to someone who doesn't listen to you and who has little to no knowledge of how to offer advice and moral support. Put yourself first, and choose a confidant wisely.
Get Adequate Sleep
While it's true that anxiety can disrupt your sleeping patterns, you also have the power to control that. Don't allow stress to come between you and a good night's sleep. Ensure that you distract yourself to avoid having negative thoughts run through your mind when it's time to sleep. Adequate rest can play a significant role in helping you manage your stress. You wake up feeling more refreshed, relaxed, and energized.
During the day, after you've finished the court session, ensure that you're actively engaging in something productive, even if it's just exercise. This is so you're more likely to be tired by the time you get to bed. The only thing that you will want to do at that time is to take a shower, relax, eat, and sleep. And within no time, you'll be asleep.
If you realize that you're finding it difficult to sleep, you can grab your headphones and listen to calm and relaxing music. If that still doesn't work, you can seek professional help. Before going to bed, give yourself time to calm down and relax. Another tip to help you is to set a specific time to sleep and train your body to adjust to that. That way, you can overcome stress.
Watch Motivational Videos
The power of the mind is the most significant element that can determine the outcome of any circumstance you're going through. You must stay in an environment that helps bring out the best in you. While going through court trials, ensure that you watch motivational quotes and read motivational books to inspire you.
It'll help you keep hope alive and let you know that you can get through the situation. Moreover, you'll be able to maintain a positive mindset while going through the trial, which is extremely important. Apart from motivational quotes, you can also watch videos of people who've gone through a problem like the one you have and who overcame it. This will help you know that you're not alone.
Also, you can pick specific tactics on how they handled themselves, their parenting roles, and their family, and apply them in your life. Ideally, ensuring that you only feed your mind with positive content is crucial. Avoid listening to anything that'll discourage you or put you down. Being uplifted and inspired will help reduce your tension and stress levels.
Eat Properly
People react differently when they're stressed. Some tend to stress-eat, which is more like overeating. Others don't eat at all. When going through a trial, you must deliberately decide not to deprive your body of food or to overeat.
Eating a balanced diet and not skipping meals is a great way to ease your tension. Also, avoid eating a lot of junk. If you feel like you've lost appetite, you can eat appetizers like those made of cheese to help increase your urge to eat. Thus, no matter how you feel, you must be intentional about eating well.
On the days you're attending a court trial, ensure you don't give in to that temptation of skipping a meal. You can go for another alternative like having a light dinner instead. It'll help you relax while the court proceedings are ongoing.
Apart from eating food rich in nutrients, you also need to take in a lot of water, which can help you recover and heal from emotion-induced physical stress.
Conclusion
Going through court trials can cause you anxiety, mainly because it's a situation you're unfamiliar with. Therefore, you need to employ strategies to help you get through this period of your life. Some things you can do include: eating healthy meals, talking to a professional or a confidant, getting adequate sleep, and watching motivational videos. It's also critical to believe in yourself, and that it’s very possible to win the court case.