Being arrested and convicted for driving under the influence (DUI) is a life-changing event. For many, it prompts profound and difficult realizations about their relationship with drugs or alcohol and the danger that their use may bring to themselves and others. Others may find the financial impact of these convictions can be wholly detrimental, bringing more stress to daily life that can be further exacerbated if an individual has their license restricted or has to find alternative employment.
However, while a DUI conviction has drastic effects on many aspects of each individual’s life, they also carry an intense emotional impact. Overcoming the emotional ramifications of a DUI conviction is necessary for creating a healthy future and prompting lasting recovery from substance abuse.
DUIs and Addiction
There are a number of stigmas surrounding DUI convictions. Many believe that if an individual is arrested under such charges, then they must be struggling with addiction or have some inherent selfish disregard for others’ safety. While it is common for those challenging addiction to also be arrested for driving under the influence, in reality, such charges can affect anybody, and addiction not necessarily being a prerequisite. A single ill-informed night can result in these life-changing consequences.
For those struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, DUIs can be the necessary catalyst to encourage the pursuit of professional treatment to overcome the effects of addiction on their lives. However, even if an individual is not diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD), professional treatment and care may still be necessary to address the unique effects of a DUI conviction.
Pursuing professional treatment programs following a DUI arrest, regardless of each person’s overall relationship with alcohol or drugs, can also be important for judges and their sentencing on DUI charges.
The Emotional Effects of a DUI
Being convicted of a DUI comes with many consequences. However, many of these are emotional, and such charges change how an individual views themselves and impacts how they navigate relationships with others.
Depression
It is common for those following a DUI conviction to struggle with depression as a result. Financial losses, deterioration of friendships, or even self-identifying as a criminal can all birth depression in daily life. An individual may also dwell on the events that led to such a conviction, leading to them constantly reliving their mistakes in their heads and creating an unhealthy emotional state. Depression can also be common as an individual navigates changing and complex relationships with friends and family and the pervasive and destructive stigmas therein.
Guilt
Feelings of guilt are also incredibly common. Some may feel intense guilt as a result of their mistakes, especially if an individual’s actions led to harm to others. This guilt can continue to inform other aspects of daily life, from ideas of self-worth to how an individual navigates relationships and personal responsibilities. Depression and guilt combined can also cause those convicted of a DUI to become more isolated as they address the effects of their mistakes. This may be due to compromised self-worth or the idea that an individual may be able to “spare” friends or family from further ramifications of their actions.
For those with addiction, guilt can be an even more prevalent part of these ramifications and can stem from a collection of feelings around addiction, with the DUI being just the latest consequence of the disease. Those struggling with addiction may feel guilt about any number of mistakes that result from the use of these addictive substances, further complicating their emotional health.
Coping With the Loss of Independence
DUIs fundamentally affect a person’s independence and freedom. For some, the loss of the ability to drive can cause an individual to rely more and more on friends and family, which can birth further feelings of depression, guilt, and shame if an individual feels they are negatively impacting others as a result of their mistake. Others may experience a more direct form of the loss of independence in jail time, depending on the unique situation or number of past convictions. However, both of these have profound effects on mental health.
Overcoming the Emotional Effects of a DUI
DUIs affect every aspect of a person’s life. Professional treatment is often necessary to challenge the effects of a DUI conviction while making the changes necessary for a healthy, sober transformation. Without addressing the effects of depression, guilt, shame, and more that follow a DUI conviction, it can be difficult to truly embrace change. Further, an individual may even feel compelled to reengage with addictive substances to placate these destructive feelings, creating a dangerous precedent and devastating cycle of substance abuse and arrests.
Professional detox, inpatient, and outpatient programs can all be essential in the face of a DUI conviction. Not only can these help an individual address the emotional impact of a DUI conviction, but they also ensure that each person is able to address their relationship with addictive substances in a safe space.
For some, this is absolutely necessary for challenging addiction. However, others convinced of a DUI can still benefit from addiction recovery programs as they can explore the events that led up to the arrest, the stresses or traumas that may inform their substance use, or establish the necessary skills to refuse offerings of addictive substances in the future.
DUI convictions are life-change experiences, and change is necessary to prevent further consequences of drug and alcohol use. At Buena Vista Recovery, we understand the complex nature of a DUI arrest as well as the myriad of ways in which it can affect your life. Our comprehensive approach to addiction recovery, along with emotional support and proven therapeutic modalities, allows us to personalize a recovery plan that can address the unique challenges of those navigating life after a DUI conviction. By addressing your emotional needs and substance use disorder in tandem, we can help you create a healthy, transformed lifestyle in sobriety. For more information on how we can help you, call to speak to us today at (480) 741-9414.
