05.13.07
I Seem to Have a Lot of Anxiety
This is a little off-topic from my usual posts, but I had a wicked anxiety dream last night that I just cannot shake. As I have mentioned before, I have not actually had a trial, though I have a few cases that are likely headed that way fairly soon. I also have two motions scheduled for the last week of this month.
Apparently, this impending performance is wreaking havoc on my brain, as I dreamed last night that I was changing into my pajamas one evening when I got a frantic call from the courthouse that my trial was about to start. I had no idea that I had a trial scheduled and had never even met my client before. I didn’t even know what the charges were. I had to get into a suit, drive like crazy, and as soon as I walked into the courtroom, the judge told me to begin my opening statement. The jury was there, waiting for me. And I said…something that made no sense at all. The judge recessed and, for some reason, I went home and didn’t make it back to court on time. When I got back, someone told me my client had been found not guilty. I still had no idea who my client was or what she was charged with. But she was acquitted. So I guess that’s good. But dear god, this feeling of anxiety has been haunting me all day. I know it’s a typical anxiety dream, along the lines of showing up for school and realizing you have to take a final when you didn’t even know you were enrolled in the class. But it’s still terrifying.
Gideon said,
May 13, 2007 at 8:48 pm
It’s a rough feeling. A feeling of helplessness and worse - ineffectiveness.
I had my first oral argument a few months ago. About a week after I submitted my brief, I had the same dream for about a fortnight:
That I was standing in the Supreme Court, arguing the appeal and the judges were asking me questions.
Their heads didn’t turn into monsters or anything; in fact the dream was very detailed - they were asking real questions about the case and I was answering them.
It was still freaky.
Just prepare yourself as best you can and you will do fine - the anxiety will go away once you utter that first word. It’s like a drug, only legal
Monday Morning jumpstart | a public defender said,
May 14, 2007 at 8:36 am
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