Resource Highlight - Vets4Vets
Today’s drip covers A FREE, PROFESSIONAL resource that is available to you.
Click below to visit VIN Foundation’s Vets4Vets website:
https://vinfoundation.org/resources/vets4vets/
Vets4Vets helps veterinarians cope with depression, anxiety, dependency and other mental health crises so they don’t have to deal with these issues by THEMSELVES.
If you know of a colleague who is struggling, don’t try to diagnose or treat them by yourself just because you think that you’re the best person to support them. Make sure that they get professional help. The difference can literally be life and death.
If you personally are struggling, get professional help. You wouldn’t perform surgery on yourself!
Reach out to Vets4Vets for help if you are going through a difficult time, or if you know of a colleague who is struggling.
The VIN Foundation team has assembled PROFESSIONALS who know how to deal with a variety of the mental, emotional and physical struggles that veterinarians routinely face.
Vets4Vets is totally confidential and has helped many veterinarians along their path. Keep in mind, this resource is also available to students, in addition to the resources offered on campus.
Vets4Vets is a perfect example of veterinarians helping other veterinarians. You are now part of a wonderful profession where we care about our colleagues' well-being and success. We want you to know these resources are available should you or a colleague need assistance! Just as you would plead with your client not to harm their pet (while trying to help), I’m pleading with you to bookmark this website!
Be well!
Stress Reduction
No one has to remind you that life is filled with stress. If you do nothing to reduce that stress, it will lead to damage to your health. We are all physiologists here, cortisol is the hormone that wreaks havoc on every cell in your body. It’s not just mildly annoying, but can cause major health issues if left unchecked.
Practicing stress reduction should become a way of life, and be built into your daily routine. Check in on yourself. Are you feeling stressed? Are you controlling that stress?
Lastly, know that you do not need to spend a lot of money reducing stress! The short video below has scientifically supported, inexpensive ways to reduce stress, but don’t go buy a puppy!
here is a short video on scientifically supported, inexpensive ways to reduce stress
Wellness Activities
What keeps you well? What are your wellness activities?
Firstly, what are wellness activities? What can you do to relax and recharge? These can be as personal as music or clothes! Everyone has their favorite stress relievers and there is nothing wrong with being different!
Lastly, you can have several activities, depending on the weather and season. For example, mountain biking on days that aren’t raining or muddy and running at the rec center during poor weather.
Today is about developing a plan, for when the stress of the semester hits. It’s about having a plan, developing the habits, then sticking to it, even when your time and finances are tight. Your wellness activity should keep you sane, keep you refreshed and make you MORE productive.
Here’s another thought. If your wellness activity depends on other people, that may be a problem. This activity needs to be ready when you are. You already have to free up your schedule, and consider the weather if your activity is an outdoor one. Introducing another person’s schedule may add stress, not relieve it!
Also, about other people. Some people = drama! If your activity is hanging out with friends, and that turns into a drama fest with lots of complaining and whining, then that’s not stress reducing. It’s good to commensurate problems, but here you are taking on other people’s stress!
It’s the same thing with your significant other! If your activity is spending time with your partner, that’s great, but it needs to be predictably stress reducing time. Quality time.
I promise, I’m not anti-social, but this time is about you and your own stress reduction!
The last thing about other people. Friends are great, they are very important to our wellbeing. However, it’s good to develop stress reducing strategies that don’t rely on specific individuals. It’s all about a balance. Why? Because when you graduate, you’ll go your separate ways. It’s common for a new graduate to be in a job or internship where their friends are not. It’s hard to make new friends, because you’re working so many hours.
It’s not super healthy to make friends from work, because the conversations tend to center on the practice. If you are a new graduate, and don’t have ways to cope with new levels of stress and anxiety without your vet school friends, that is a problem.
Now is the time to really analyze your habits, stress and even relationships. Again, I love and cherish friends and family, however this is about YOU and striking that healthy balance.
Here are some examples!
It’s common to have a hobby that doubles as a wellness activity. But hobbies can be expensive, time consuming and even create more stress. You don’t have to be productive or create anything. This is about unwinding. Hobbies are great if they can get you into the mental state of “flow.” More on this later.
It’s also common for your wellness activity to be physical exercise. However, it doesn’t have to be! Jogging, bicycling and going to the rec center gym are all acceptable, if this is your release. But again, you need to look forward to it! Physical activities also depend on how you feel. If you have a sprained ankle for 4 weeks, are you still going to get that release? What happens if you wake up with a cold? Do you have a replacement activity?
Last tip - use your activity to train your brain! What does this mean? When things get stressful, think about your activity and look forward to doing it. Use it as a reward. For example, I’ll study for the next 2 hours, then I’ll go ____ for 1 hour.” This creates an “aura” around the activity and makes it even more fun.
When you are in the activity, then it’s time to train your brain to turn off. Leave the cell phone behind or turn off notifications. Concentrate on the positives of the day. We are trying to create a space where you can inexpensively go to relax, recharge and become well.