Keeping stress low with a very stressful job

"This must be the hardest part of your job..." I heard this phrase mumbled tonight, and almost weekly as I am performing what is in fact one of the hardest things I do as a veterinarian, euthanasia. My answer every time: it is. 

This is such a heart wrenching topic. As veterinarians we are honored with the ability to end suffering when healing and treating are not an option. It is very hard to perform euthanasia's day after day, sometimes hour after hour depending on the shift. But it is a gift I am giving people and their animals. 

This is not the only stressful situation I face on a daily basis. We see horrific traumas come through the door such as hit by car cases, animals in respiratory distress, bite wounds that are so atrocious I have actually found myself crying and gagging at the same time, uncontrollable seizures, the list goes on and on. So does the stress that builds with the pressure of these cases; also add on financial constraints/limitations, emotional pet owners (we see people at their worst everyday), and long exhausting shifts with sometimes physically straining emergency surgeries. And it can feel so overwhelming at times it is difficult to move onto the next thing.

"How do you do it doc?"

So how do I cope? How do I not succumb to the stress of it all?

There is not one answer but many. I have spent my 13 years of practice thus far perfecting my stress relief tactics. Because if I cannot control my stress; it will control me. We are all not euthanizing pets regularly but everyone has stress in lots of forms and learning to cope with it can make all the difference in your quality of life. From dealing with kid tantrums to handling health issues we all have goblins we are fighting. Here are some weapons for the fight:

1. Laugh: This is is cliché but so valuable. Laughter is healing for the body and the heart. It stimulates the vagal nerve which is so important for regulating your body. D and I make sure whenever I am home we watch a comedy. We also send each other funny gifs all the time while I am gone. Not taking myself too seriously at work also helps my coworkers relax and feel more at ease in their difficult roles. 

2. Move your body: For me finding a good dance or yoga class is key to keeping my stress handled. I have recently discovered belly dancing and I love it! Go for a walk outside or around a track. The repetitive movement has been shown to be soothing to trauma responses (Read Oprah and Dr. Perry's What happened to you?: conversations on trauma, resilience, and healing) Going for a hike is a great way to reconnect to nature and move your body. (BTW Classpass is an amazing app for those of us traveling around and wanting to try fitness classes in various places)

3. Journal, create, garden: Do something to help get out of your mind, for me that is drawing, journaling, and gardening-but for you it might be something else. Brene Brown talks about this as a  pillar in whole heartedness. Her book The Gifts of Imperfection is a fantastic book in learning how to live your best life.

4. Breathe: Learn what your stressors are and learn how to breathe through them. Deep breathing is one of the best techniques I learned early in my career and I use it multiple times a day to re-center and focus. For meditation and helping give me stress relief tips I also use Headspace app. They have great bed time stories for my kids too which is an added bonus while we are traveling together. 

5. Get help: I cannot over emphasize the importance of both relationships and professional help. My family is a huge aspect of my stress relief but I also get professional therapy regularly. I do not believe anyone can do this job without some therapy. I have used Betterhelp.com and loved it as well as Lyra. 

6. Self care: This can mean so many different things from taking a bath to rewarding yourself with a special coffee. Here is my self care period kit I got myself for one particularly difficult menstrual cycle.

7. Enjoy life: All the little things around you that can bring you joy from moment to moment. Do not overlook these little things because they are what make up life! Pet your dog or cat, smell a flower you pass by, feel the sun on your face, savor the first bite of a delicious food, there are things to enjoy all around us. 

Here is my board on stress relief https://www.pinterest.com/adrifish22/stress-relief/