Wellbeing in the Veterinary Industry 2024 - PDF

Wellbeing in the Veterinary Industry Part 1 – Terminology, Stress and how to cope personally NSCI5712 Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Practice 2024 Start off gentle… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLbK0o9Bk7Q 2 What is Mental Health? “A stat...

Wellbeing in the Veterinary Industry Part 1 – Terminology, Stress and how to cope personally NSCI5712 Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Practice 2024 Start off gentle… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLbK0o9Bk7Q 2 What is Mental Health? “A state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” World Health Organization (2014) 3 What is Mental Illness? These are conditions that affect your mood, thinking, and behaviour. Mood Disorders Eating Disorders Addictions & Substance Abuse Personality Disorders Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD) 4 What is Mental Wellbeing? It is more than the absence of mental illness and it is more than feeling happy. It is the ability to cope with the day-to-day stresses of life, work productively, interact positively with others and realise our own potential. 5 What is Stress? Stress is normal! It is a natural feeling of not being able to cope with specific demands and events. These demands can come from work, relationships, financial pressures, and other situations, but anything that poses a real or perceived challenge or threat to a person’s well-being can cause stress. Responses can be physical, mental, or emotional. Fight , Flight, Blood pressure and pulse rise, breathing speeds up digestive system slows Danger Nervous Adrenalin and Freeze, or down, immune activity decreases, muscles become more tense System Cortisol Fawn 7  Life happens… 8 Food for Thought… Pressure > external Stress > an emotional response to pressure High pressure environments can lead to high stress Stress is ruminating about emotional upset “Now” is all that exists The past & future are imagined In the present there isn't any stress FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real! Watch: Stress, Portrait of a Killer 1 – YouTube 9.58 min. 3 Things that High sense of contribute to uncertainty High Stress Low sense of control Stakes seem high Signs of Stress From Depression - The Mental Wealth Project Brainstorm Can stress be good? Can there be too little stress? How Stress Affects Your Body & Mind How Stress Affects Your Body and Mind – YouTube 2:32 min. Thought Experiment Consider a time in your life when you were overstressed and notice how much ‘ruminating’ or ‘overthinking’ you were doing about it: E.g. upcoming exams, an argument you had with a loved one; Now compare that to a time in your life when you had high pressure but no stress E.g. playing sport or game you are good at, getting into a good debate. Notice how you don’t ruminate over the high pressure/no stress situations. Do you know someone who has low levels of pressure/stress but still worries a lot? It is likely they are ‘ruminating’ a lot. How to spend less time ruminating… Reflect, don’t ruminate. Consider “am I reflecting to make a plan to improve for next time?” or “am I ruminating and making myself stressed?”  A lot of our ‘awake’ time is spent daydreaming or having our minds wander … by being Practice mindfulness – bring your attention to the current moment to present refocus Allow yourself to have a set time for ‘rumination’ each day. E.g. spend 5 minutes writing all the things that bother you down in a journal or allow yourself 5 minutes with a ‘rumination buddy’ to vent and get everything out. Mindfulness Or 6 Daily Habits to Reduce Stress & Anxiety (6.23 min.) Refocus – Redefine what is in your control Consider writing down all the things that you have within your control in a circle Write all the things outside of your control outside the circle How do You Reduce Stress? Working Well Under Pressure in a Veterinary Practice – YouTube (3:30 min.)  Reducing Stress Practical ways: Psychological ways: Time management Humour Problem-solving Prioritising Talking to others Choosing not to react Personal development training Changing focus Balanced diet Changing expectations Relaxation techniques Accepting change Daily physical exercise Consciously changing state Enough sleep Reframe how you think Mindfulness Positivity Increasing resilience… 22