May 2023

Engineer In school, engineers spend a tremendous amount of time learning about how to deal with stress. That is stress defined as “force applied to an object divided by the object’s cross-sectional area”. Little time, if any, was devoted to learing about mental stress or mental health. Mental stress does not have a simple mathematical formula that you can use to calculate it and design a structure to support the applied stress. Engineers in our industry have most of the same life stress that most people do, family, home life, financial, etc. In our work life as engineers, we can encounter some unique and dramatic sources of stress. In our daily practice, we are making engineering judgments and preparing designs that, if incor rect, can have dire and life-threatening consequences. We often have to respond to failures or disasters that have dramatically disrupted people’s homes and lives. Sometimes, these disasters have caused serious injuries or death(s). All of these experiences can put tremendous mental stress on an engineer. To become a Professional Engineer, an engineer-in-training must work under the direct supervision of a licensed engineer for four years. In this process, the supervising Professional Engineer must serve as a mentor and has a duty to expose junior engineers to the stresses of the profession, while teaching them how to handle those stresses in a healthy way. This should create an environment where engineers have a support team to talk through those issues. As older engineers, hopefully, we have devel oped relationships with other professionals that we can call on to talk through challenging and stressful situations. I find that relationships with other engineers are one of the best tools we have to deal with stresses in our professional lives. — Steven J. Morris, P.E., R.S. Morris Engineering, LLC

Attorney As attorneys, we spend a great deal of time and energy research

ing and solving complex legal matters. While this type of mental activity is intellectually stimulating, it can also negatively impact mental health if we don’t take the time to manage daily stress. One of the best ways to manage the stress of being an attorney is to go outside and do something physical. Whether it’s walking a dog, hiking, running, or biking, physical activity and nature are proven stress management strategies. According to studies, exercise reduces stress hormones and stimulates endorphins while even a few minutes of exposure to nature reduces blood pressure, releases muscle tension, and lowers stress hormone levels. In addition to getting out of our heads and exercising outdoors, it’s helpful to get social support. Colleagues who understand the toll that long hours and stressful cases can take on us and be a healthy sounding board when we need it. Even if we work remotely, it’s important to connect with them regularly and make the effort to meet for lunch. Family and friends also help by reminding us of the importance of recharging and maintaining a work-life balance. — Damon M. Kress, Esq. McGovern Legal Services, LLC

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