Remember to Take Time for You

Compassion Fatigue

Do you feel emotionally numb or drained at the end of the day? Do you enjoy your work but feel like you have nothing left to give? If so, you might be suffering from compassion fatigue – and if that’s the case, you’re not alone. Undoubtedly, the veterinary medical field attracts individuals who demonstrate a high level of compassion, empathy, and drive to care for others. Overall, veterinarians and other animal caretakers report a high level of satisfaction in their work; the caregiving work that we do rewards us with compassion satisfaction – a joy or sense of achievement found in helping and caring for others. However, repeated exposure to traumatic events (such as abuse, illness, and euthanasia) can lead to compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue and burnout are similar but not interchangeable. Compassion fatigue – also known as “vicarious trauma,” “secondary traumatic stress” or “secondary victimization” – is the result of a medical caregiver’s unique relationship with a patient, through which empathy allows the caregiver to “take on the burden” of the ill or dying patient. Veterinarians are very much at risk for compassion fatigue. Like other caregiving professionals, they deal with death and illness on a daily basis. They have to deliver bad news to clients, deal with animal cruelty, and see clients struggle to balance financial needs with the needs of their pets. Research shows that veterinarians face ethical dilemmas three to five times per week, and such moral stress is a primary contributor to compassion fatigue.

Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue

Feelings of apathy and isolation are at the top of the list of symptoms of compassion fatigue. But they are far from the only ones. This insidious disorder can cause problems both psychological and physical. Common symptoms of compassion fatigue can include: Bottled-up emotions • Sadness and apathy • Inability to get pleasure from activities that previously were enjoyable • Isolation • Difficulty concentrating • Feeling mentally and physically tired • Chronic physical ailments • Voicing excessive complaints about your job, your manager(s) and/ or co-workers • Lack of self-care, including poor hygiene and a drop-off in your appearance • Substance abuse or other compulsive behaviors such as over-eating or gambling

Stress Management

Stress is normal in the day-to-day life of a veterinarian. From juggling the competing demands of work and family, to diagnosing and treating critically ill patients, to dealing with difficult co-workers or employees, to making ends meet financially while paying off a mountain of student debt and trying to save for the future, we face stressful situations every day. But it is well known that too much stress can have negative effects on health. The Mayo Clinic suggests four strategies for coping with stress: Avoid • Alter • Accept • Adapt In some instances, you may be able to avoid stress altogether; in others, you might be able to alter your situation. But there may be other times when you simply need to accept things the way they are, or alter your own thinking or behavior.. Taking time every day to relieve stress also is vital. How you do that is up to you, and there are a wide range of possibilities. A good starting point is this stress checklist of basic stress-relief measures that anyone can utilize. Stress management can include meditation, yoga, expressive writing, mindfulness, or affirmations. Dr. Daniel J. Siegel demonstrated this simple breathing exercise proven to increase both physical and mental well-being during a keynote address at the 2016 AVMA Convention. Stress reduction also can come from physcal exercise, playing games with your family, spending time with friends, or finding 15 minutes of quiet time to be alone. Since most of us got into the veterinary profession because we love animals, it can mean taking 15 minutes extra each day to spend quality time with your pets. (We all know the value of the Human-Animal Bond; you can leverage it to help relieve stress during your day!) It doesn’t matter what approach you choose – as long as it works for you. One approach that can help throughout the day is to try to become mindful of moments when you start to feel stressed, and take immediate action to manage that stress. Breathe deeply, take a five-minute break from what you’re doing, or take a quick walk to give yourself a change of scenery. If you’re about to have a difficult conversation with a client or co-worker, take 15 seconds before you walk into the room, and just breathe deeply and prepare yourself mentally. If a situation or someone’s comment has made you angry, try to use positive thinking or the power of humor to reshape your attitude. Learn to recognize the symptoms of stress, and take immediate action when you find yourself becoming tense.

LAURA’S Plan

Individual thinkers deserve individual business insurance.

Your veterinary practice is as individual as the animals you treat, so don’t settle for a one-size fits all business insurance plan. You deserve a plan custom designed to address your specific needs.

American National agents will help you build a tailored plan, including specialty coverages that address the needs of vets, such as:

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With a coordinated array of insurance coverage for business and family, we can service your insurance needs.

Visit an.insure/vet to contact an agent near you.

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