Law was literally killing me. A heart monitor I wore in May showed my heart was running at beats up to 231 beats per minute. I was in atrial fibrillation, my heart beating out of rhythm, 56 percent of the time. I didn’t notice. I’d had recent procedures for hernia and ulcer, and had gotten my first ever bone fracture, and through it pushed on. 
Many of us are drawn to the legal profession by a drive to help people. It’s what drew me in.  
Law has given me the opportunity to change many people’s lives for the better. On a few lucky occasions I’ve actually been able to change policy, once or twice, on a national level. Law is also an incredibly toxic profession.

In May, the WSBA Well-Being Task Force reported high levels of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse among attorneys, exacerbated by stressors like work pressures and relationship conflicts. The report highlights how secure intimate partnerships can provide support, while unresolved conflicts can worsen distress, ultimately affecting lawyers’ professional and personal satisfaction.