If you work in a veterinary practice or in the pet industry or in a business that supplies goods or services to the industry and you have something to say - why not become a 'Guest Blogger'?
For more information click here to read our: Guidelines for Guest Bloggers
In the previous post, I told you about my little ‘moment’ at work and what I think led to it.
Now, I’d like to look at a few strategies I’ll try to employ to avoid this – because isn’t that the point of strong negative emotions: to teach you something?
But first, a few thoughts on what helped me de-escalate in the moment.
I think a semi-regular meditation practice has helped me be more self-aware of my emotions by reading their physical manifestations and hearing the associated self-talk in a semi-detached way – “..watching the dancing from up on the balcony’” as someone once told me.
Being cerebrally aware of my tight chest and thumping heart was a clear signal to listen to what was going on in my head, which was something along the lines of “f…f….f…., I don’t think I can do this. All I wanted was a quiet shift. Why do I always get the challenging cases?! I just want to be at home – I don’t need this in my life.”
This step of recognition is useful for several reasons:
What will I do differently for my next shift? Like I said last time, we all know the answers, right?
We hear about all the basic self-care stuff but don’t do it because, honestly, if we did all of this well, we’d have about two hours left for work each day.
So what’s the solution? For me, it’s a mix of mindset and strategy:
These are hard things and not something we will likely get right consistently. (Cue the occasional emotional episode to help you correct the course!) But that, in itself, is something to be grateful for. If your life is busy and full of expectations from others with a seemingly endless to-do list, it means you are needed, not entirely useless, and, most importantly, not dead yet.
This first appeared in The Vet Vault 3.2.1 email on 16.8.24
Hubert Hiemstra is the friendly voice behind The Vet Vault and Vet Vault Clinical Podcasts. With over two decades of veterinary experience across three continents, he's on a mission to help fellow vets find fulfillment in their careers. Through his podcasts and conversations with hundreds of veterinary professionals, Hugh empowers vets worldwide by filling in knowledge gaps and boosting clinical skills. When he's not in the clinic or podcasting, he loves hanging out with his wife and energetic boys, catching some waves, going for a run, or just soaking up nature.
Connect with Dr Hubert:
In recent years, the field of veterinary oncology has seen remarkable advancements, bringing new hope to pet owners and their beloved companions facing cancer diagnoses. At The Pet Oncologist, we're at the forefront of these developments, constantly updating our...
