I think the concerns you mention can be attributed to many areas. Law school was incredibly expensive and stressful. I am a Black female and one of the few in my class and I felt the pressure to exceed. We all have 'things' we carry for one reason or another & I felt as if I was there as a representative of my race.

Each time we discussed the civil rights cases or the illegitimacy cases,(can't forget the dreaded OJ case,)employment discrimination,affirmative action cases etc. etc. I felt people ALWAYS looked to me for some insight . It is a hard thing to explain in this limited forum but I also worked FT, had a commute, family issues ( life, like everyone else) & on & on. I look back now and wished I had understood that I had already done well-- my school accepted one out of every 500 applicants so I was already in pretty good company, had a good job,and most importantly great relationships & a great support system.

I do not regret any of it but it was very hard work. I cringe when people trash lawyers or mock law school ( "C students"--whatever but, come the wettest hour lawyers of course become your BFF.) or compare legal education to medical education ( is that even necessary?) & just when you think you are all set and free from the pressure of the Socratic method and reading 30 page cases, you have to study for and sit for the bar exam in order to be admitted to practice.

Sometimes the pressure was so heavy I felt as if I were going to explode.I am one of the few in my family to graduate from college and many of them did not understand the pressure, they tried but they just couldn't.

Now,many people assume that being a lawyer means you are versed in all areas of the law and can answer things for them off the cuff ( too many TV lawyer shows!!) & if you can't you are just some dumb lawyer who twists the law to serve your purpose.

One more thing, lawyers aren't deemed sweet & cuddly like veterinarians. For the most part, vets are seen as kind, helpful, and while introverted, still someone people depend on but lawyers? Not so much. It is always shocking when we read about a 'mean' vet or a vet is sued or brought before a state board. With lawyers it is seen as par for the course.

Sad face.

Jurisgal: I bet you do cringe when people mock and trash lawyers. But as a client, I can see why it happens. And the bad bananas are in EVERY single profession, hand out to take your money and may be: unethical, inept, or just damn lazy.

Veterinarians are sweet and cuddly? You hope that, but when it comes to a lawyer--I sure do not want sweet, cuddly, afraid, or intimidated. Most of all, I expect honesty.

When I filed suit against two veterinary clinics (I should say, when my lawyers filed), I expected work of which I was willing to pay for, going forward with the technical aspects, and MOST of all: honesty and candidness. I got some, but not the important parts.

Apparently in New Hampshire, you can engage into an agreement with a client, ask for hefty retainers and replenishing, HAVE a CONFLICT of interest without DISCLOSURE, and the ultimately WITHDRAW from the case with a simple filing of : my client and I have breakdown of communications-----GRANTED!!

So as far as "professionals" and the worry of sanctions for bad behavior in my state: it doesn't matter what the profession is , they all can do as they please (small population here)

Do I regret filing suit? NOT for a minute and would do it all over again, only with reading that "fine print" contract and carefully "vetting my attorneys" as I should have carefully "vetted my Vets".

As far as depression among Vet students? I have a whole 'nother take on that one that has zero to do with hard work, debt, or spare time.And I'll post that separately

It would be interesting to see a continuing study about those same vet students as they graduate and begin practice. Does the depression lift or does it become heavier as they struggle to repay student loans and have to start dealing with the realities of clients and their ability to pay for care?

As a note for the two posters above, one of my best friends worker her backside off to get a law degree. She worked full time and attended law school full time, graduating at the very top of her class. She's a true animal person and is, for sure, "sweet and cuddly".

To Juris Gal - Thank you for your post - and for persevering. I mean that. I don't know why, but your story touches & inspires me.

To Dr Justine Lee - regarding depression in veterinary students - thanks for an interesting article. My field is mental health - and your article made a lot of sense. When depression is related to specific events, EMDR is a very fast way of addressing the ways our brains work with the factors that 'turn it into' depression. EMDR has been used with kids in Israel after bombings; in Central America & New Orleans after hurricanes; in Bosnia after their horrible war-experiences, and works really good at the biological underpinnings of ptsd-type of symptoms (which can be there even when PTSD itself isn't the primary "diagnosis"). I wish more people knew about it. It's "perfect" for this kind of situation.

Kiki: Your comment intrigues me as well. I have a close person that is now undergoing EDSR for delayed PTSD and although I do not know if it is successful.

It was very long after I sought therapy that I learned of ESDR , and wondered if this may have been a good choice. I've read a little about it and have some nervous trepidations. Long story short, I chose conventional drug therapy and counseling after experiencing horrible moderate & uncontrollable depression and PTSD in 2006 (at the ripe age of 50 yrs) after witnessing my beloved 11 1/2 year old dog suffer needlessly and inhumanely 'euthanized' by an extremely cruel method (Cathy Gajewski, DVM) in my presence. This happened only after a week of fraudulent treatment and basic body deprivation and starvation at the recommendation of John M. MacGregor, DVM, DACVIM citing "improvement" and ultimate successful outcome.

I only add the details to give a clear explanation to my cause of illness.

Pocket's Story from New Hampshire

sorry: EMDR

The good part about being in a situation that causes one to push themsleves farther than they ever thought possible is discovering strength.

Most people go through their lives never hitting a wall. Never being in such a tough position that they are sure they will loose their minds because the pressure is so great. I think thats what you must have went through.

Getting to a point when you think going on is going to be impossible. But you get through it and then you realize you were smarter and stronger than you ever thought possible. There is something to be said for being tempered by fire, a character developes that is with us for the rest of our lives. No matter what comes along, one that has been stretched and tested to the limits always knows there is nothing than cannot be achieved. Now tell me...how many people have lived like that?