Common Emotional Reactions That San Diego Criminal Defendants Exhibit
If you’ve been charged with a crime in San Diego -- be it a minor misdemeanor for violating terms of a probation, or a serious felony, like a felony DUI or a charge of manslaughter or assault and battery -- you may be feeling a range of conflicting and powerful emotions. It's important to understand that you’re not the first person to experience similar reactions to being charged with a San Diego crime. One of the keys to moving beyond feelings of vulnerability, weakness, anger, regret, and panic is to acknowledge the reality of your emotions -- this way, emotions won't get in the way of constructing your best San Diego crime defense. To that end, let's examine some emotions commonly felt by the criminally accused:
1. Guilt/remorse -- whether you injured someone in a motor vehicle crash, hurt someone in a bar brawl, or simply embarrassed yourself in front of your friends or coworkers, you may feel a strong component of remorse. In some cases, this remorse may be merited; in other cases, it may be an exaggerated emotional response. A sound and comprehensive defense strategy and treatment program can help you confront these feelings and take action on them in a constructive way. For instance, by making amends to a victim or his or her family, you may help mitigate your sentence.
2. Panic/anxiety -- the fear of the unknown is powerful. Although you’ve been charged with a crime, you don’t know exactly how your defense will play out in a court of law. Will you be able to make a plea arrangement with the prosecution? Will your case go to trial? How soon will it take to resolve the matter -- two weeks or three years? With all these unknowns at play, it's unsurprising that many defendants experience profound anxiety over their futures. A good remedy to that is to connect with a solid San Diego criminal defense attorney to plan a strategy for your defense. Once you have a plan in mind, you may find some of your anxiety and panic falling away.
3. Numbness -- accused criminal defendants often report feeling less emotion than expected. “Going numb” may indicate that you have not fully processed the event, the arrest, or other matters relating to the crime or alleged crime. The human psyche tends to be both fragile and self-protecting. For instance, in many cases, emotional numbness protects your psyche from confronting the harsh realities of the situation. One potential solution is to enter therapy as quickly as possible. This can help not only with your legal defense but also with your coping and rehabilitation strategies.
For more help about how to handle your San Diego criminal defense matter, connect with the Law Offices of Attorney Stephen R. Brodsky ASAP. Attorney Brodsky can provide a free, no obligation consultation to you and advise you about your options. Attorney Brodsky has tremendous qualifications, and he’s represented a wide variety of defendants in his more than 18 years of practicing law. Book your appointment now by phoning 1-800-GOOD-ADVICE or by emailing the firm via www.criminalattorneysandiego.com.
