GSB Vol. 18, NO. 5, Pg. 42. South Georgia Office.

Authorby Bonne Davis Cella

Georgia Bar Journal

Volume 18.

GSB Vol. 18, NO. 5, Pg. 42.

South Georgia Office

GSB JournalVol. 18, NO. 5February 2013South Georgia OfficeResilience - A Beautiful Conceptby Bonne Davis CellaI am not concerned that you have fallen; I am concerned that you arise. - Abraham Lincoln

"The Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) is intentionally kept at arm's length from the State Bar of Georgia," said George Martin, CEO of CorpCare Associates, Inc., when he addressed the Tifton Judicial Circuit Bar Association. CorpCare is lap's independent crisis mediation and counseling service that responds to help Georgia lawyers, law students and judges challenged by relational problems, substance abuse, stress, depression and anxiety. If you ask Cliff Brashier, executive director of the State Bar, he will tell you he has no idea about the number or nature of calls made to LAP-it is just that confidential.

Martin's presentation(fn1) to the Tifton Judicial Circuit Bar on resiliency in life and law practice perpetuated candid discussion. He told members that relationship concerns are the No. 1 problem they currently handle. "These are difficult days for attorneys; the economy impacts your profession and it can filter down to your relationships." Citing the research of Dr. Al Siebert(fn2) on the inner nature of highly resilient survivors, Martin noted that everyone has some dysfunction in their life, which is normal. "We are veterans of our past and we can use it to be resilient today," he said. Martin then identified the five levels of stress:

* Eustress - the good stress of being overcome with the excitement from a desired outcome. * Stress-everyday life, the universal condition of living. * Distress-we become a victim to our problems. * Burnout-our body never lies and we begin to have somatic complaints, trouble sleeping, etc. * Blowout-a tragic stage when a person thinks nothing will get better and considers suicide.

An engaging and humorous speaker, Martin said that State Bar President Robin Frazer Clark and the members of the LAP Committee are on a mission...

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