Dogs, Cats, Coworkers, Clients, and……. Anxiety?

We all come into veterinary medicine, in some respects as similar people. We are all highly empathetic, compassionate, driven, intellectual, and service orientated. We hold ourselves to a very high (sometimes unrealistic) standard. The expectations we place upon ourselves are frequently anxiety provoking on their own.

We can: Help this family; identify and treat this illness, Successfully perform this highrisk anesthesia, save this life. These are extraordinary pressures.

The identification of anxiety is becoming significantly more prevalent in veterinary medicine. A study conducted with more than 500 Veterinarians indicated the following:

• 67% has or have experienced a period of depression, 37% of which met the requirements for clinical depression
• 47% had a personal history of depression, anxiety, or substance abuse 
• 25% were taking medication for diagnosed depression or anxiety
• 5% had contemplated suicide

These are staggering numbers which easily prove that the conversation around anxiety and depression must be happening.

The effects of anxiety disorders can be significant. Many people with anxiety disorders are high-achieving, busy, and highly effective in both their professional and personal lives. This outside appearance covers overwhelming fear of letting others down, making mistakes, being a burden to a team, and many other fears. These worries are often disproportionate to the actual event causing the fear. Because these people typically mask the worries well and are highly effective, people think there is nothing wrong with them.

When the worry sneaks out, it displays itself to observant people in small ways. For example: Chronic double-checking, biting nails, busyness, excited chatter, and seeking approval. On a whole however, people experiencing anxiety do not appear the way we expect them to. Then to make matters worse, these individuals rarely permit themselves to seek help.

It is a dreadful vicious cycle sometimes resulting in an inability to try to take on certain tasks as the fear associated with it is just too much (even though the individual may be fully capable of the task).

To go home at the end of the day with these anxious thoughts still in your head are damaging even if we mask them and carry on as if nothing is wrong. If we are not dealing with the anxiety (and/or depression) appropriately it can increase risk of suicide. ‘Depression (Harris and Barraclough 1997), anxiety (Sareen and others 2005) and comorbid depression and anxiety (Sareen and others 2005, Hawgood and De Leo 2008) amplify the risk of suicide and suicidal behaviours. The current study provides evidence that these disorders may play a role in the elevated suicide rate among the veterinary profession.’

Fortunately, we are now living in a time when people are ready to talk about these sorts of issues. The supports available are becoming better and better. If you, or someone you know, is having mental health struggles (including anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, etc) please reach out.

Some readily accessible resources are (but not limited to):

• National Crisis Hotlines (including; Crisis Services Canada, Centre for Suicide Prevention)
• National Resources for Information about Mental Illness (including; Bell Let’s Talk, Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, Canadian Mental Health Association, Mental Health Commission, Mood Disorders Society of Canada, Canadian Psychological Association)

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association is also providing numerous resources for veterinarians, technicians, and support staff. If you identify concerning behavior or changes of behavior in a colleague, talk to them. It is so important to simply ask someone if they are okay. You will likely not be able to help them on your own, but at least by opening a dialogue, you can encourage them to seek the help they need.

My own journey with anxiety is an ongoing one. I have good days and bad; some triggers I can talk myself through, and some I really struggle with.

At the end of the day, I accept that Generalized Anxiety Disorder is part of who I am. There are even days where I embrace it a bit and it can make me better. Better in ways in which I pay attention to small details or ‘Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a disorder characterized by unrealistic or excessive anxiety about two or more aspects of life (work, social relationships, financial matters, etc), often accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or dizziness.’ double-check drug draws or prescription labels.

There are some days when the nasty thoughts from anxiety creep in and get hold. Those days are challenging, but in getting through them I feel I am stronger for having had them.

I am a huge believer in accessing supports you need and having good supports in your life. I feel the best fi rst step in this journey with things like anxiety is identifying it. After we identify it, we can talk about it.

We can all walk a better path; One that is open and truthful. A path that is better for us, for our patients, and for our industry.

GillespieUpdated, C. (n.d.). 7 Silent Signs of High
Functioning Anxiety. Retrieved from www. thehealthy.com/mental-health/anxiety/high- 
functioning-aniexty/.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Definition of Generalized Anxiety Disorder by Lexico. (n.d.). 
Retrieved from www.lexico.com/en/ definition/generalized_anxiety_disorder

Svma.sk.ca. (2019). A Cross-Sectional Study of Mental Health and Well-Being and their Associations 
in the UK Veterinary Profession.
[online] Available at: svma.sk.ca/uploads/ pdf/Wellness_A%20cross-sectional%20study%20 
of%20mental%20health%20and%20well-being%20 and%20their%20associations%20in%20the%20 
UK%20Veterinary%20Profession.pdf

Larkin, M. (2016, April 13). Studies confirm poor well-being in veterinary professionals, students. 
Retrieved from www.avma.org/News/JA-
VMANews/Pages/160501c.aspx