Exceeds Expectations, So Why the Reservations?

RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF HIGH-FUNCTIONING ANXIETY IN YOUR WORKPLACE, AND HOW TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT.

- Ian Dembling, FVMA Communications Specialist

You may have someone working at your practice whom you admire for their work ethic, their punctuality, or even their overenthusiasm about mundane job responsibilities.

Secretly, however, this employee is struggling to accept his/herself, or the job s/he is doing as “good enough.” This person is overwhelmed by the continuous workload management puts on him/her every day, while, at the same time, is fearful of how “well-liked” s/he is by those same managers.

This employee could be struggling with high-functioning anxiety, and, whether you realize it or not, it’s severely affecting his/her life, both at work, and once s/he clocks out for the day.

Our Mission

As a nonprofit organization aimed at assisting those in the veterinary profession, we here at the FVMA make an effort to spotlight issues regarding mental health, wellness and well-being.

Our goal is to educate and protect those in this business from burning out, and provide resources to help them be successful in their veterinary careers. It’s important to remember mental health issues are unseen battles.

Your employees and coworkers may be making a vigorous effort to hide their emotions in order to not appear weak or incapable – an added burden in an already intense profession.

High-functioning Anxiety

High-functioning anxiety is not a “real” medical diagnosis, but a self-appointed term.

According to psychiatric professors and members of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, this undiagnosed condition may exist because those with high-functioning anxiety are too anxious to receive an official diagnosis. A recent report from the ADAA estimates that 15 million Americans (about 6.8 percent of the U.S. population) have a social anxiety disorder (SAD).

Another survey from the ADAA found that 36% of those with social anxiety refused to seek help, despite struggling with these symptoms for 10 or more years.

Often, those with high-functioning anxiety "grin and bear it," while their mental health goes untreated. This propensity to hide the issue can lead to it going unrecognized even by family, friends, and, most especially, bosses.

If someone in your office struggles with high-functioning anxiety, understand that whenever you show dissatisfaction on an assigned task, this employee is likely living with an unrelenting dread that you believe s/he is "incompetent" or "weak".

It’s Affecting the Veterinary Profession Each Day

Veterinarians and staff members alike feel the effects of high-functioning anxiety the most when plans go off course. This used to be a common problem for the FVMA's Professional Wellness and Well-being Committee Chair, Dr. Phillip Richmond.

“I had explanations in my mind about how it might all end up – with me losing my job by the end of my brain’s mental gymnastics routine,” he says. “Sometimes, I just couldn’t get a case, or something someone said, out of my head. This would often lead to me not being able to be fully present, which in turn led to more opportunities for my irrational thinking to take hold.”

As more and more professionals in the veterinary field began openly expressing these concerns, the FVMA and AVMA began offering resources for those struggling in the veterinary profession. The FVMA now has an entire section on our website (www. fvma.org) dedicated to providing resources for those struggling with a mental health condition.

We also work to add a mental health article, such as this one, in each issue of The Advocate. If you would like to contribute or share a personal experience you think could help others in the veterinary community, feel free to reach out to us over email (info@fvma.org) or through one of our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).

“There are tools to help challenge those thoughts and see them for what they are,” Dr. Richmond says, “My mind is a much calmer place to hang out, now.”

How Managers can Combat this Growing Issue

Here are some strategies managers can use in the workplace to help anyone secretly struggling with high-functioning anxiety.

• Be Understanding: Don’t assume mental health disorders are not in your workplace, or that whomever you’re speaking to isn’t struggling.

• Be Proactive: Educate those in your workplace about different types of mental health disorders, so that each person in the office treats everyone with kindness and respect.

• Be Resourceful: Promote the resources your company already has available to those who may need additional assistance outside of work hours.

• Be Aware: Individually reach out to those who are not already utilizing these resources and make sure they know how much they are appreciated for the job they do at your company. Remind them you're always willing to listen, if there's anything they need to share with you.

• Be Mindful: Some people may need altered work conditions in order to achieve the success you are looking for. These accommodations include, but aren’t limited to: modified workspaces, flexible schedules, or permission for additional breaks throughout the work day.

• Be Empathetic: Realize that mistakes will happen on the job, and if someone seems genuinely upset about a mistake they made, reach out to them individually to remind them of their worth and past accomplishments.

Managers looking to help their employees see their own strengths should consider turning stale meetings into team-building opportunities and creating more incentives for jobs well done (as opposed to fear of punishment for imperfections).

In teambuilding challenges, the objective is to help everyone realize that the entire office is working towards the same ultimate goals, and that each person, regardless of one's job title, brings his/her own strengths to the team. These team challenges can include, but aren’t limited to, the following activities:

• Capturing the best or funniest pictures of a patient.

• Contests to see who can prepare the cleanest exam room.

• Coming up with the funniest animal-related jokes.

• Recognizing team members who go above and beyond, or who always make you smile.

Incentives for team-building challenges may include movie passes, gift cards, trophies, extra vacation days, a donation to the winner’s charity of choice, or a picture of the winning team/individual on the practice’s bulletin board or social media channels (granted all winners are comfortable with you doing so).

Conclusion

While no one may ever be cured of anxiety, a more open environment to discuss struggles and a greater recognition of those doing an above-average job can lead to a better dialogue between all employees, as they work toward the same goals.

People with high-functioning anxiety aren’t looking for special treatment, but instead want understanding, respect for their work ethic, and resources to be the best veterinary professionals they can be.

If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255. Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your confidential and toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals.