Compassion Fatigue For Vet Techs
Being a vet tech can be a very emotionally draining job. You care so much for the pets that sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves and we end up with what many people call compassion fatigue. Here are some symptoms and things you can do to prevent it…
As vet techs we tend to take the pain of a clients pet loss or suffering very personally. Also all kinds of on the job stress can cause us to shut down. Here are some common symptoms of compassion fatigue:
• Emotional numbing
• Always focusing on the problems of others
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Physical symptoms like headaches and GI disturbances
• Sleep disturbances
• Jumpiness
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you could have a problem.
So what is the solution if we don’t want to quit our great jobs as vet techs?
Well there are many ways to overcome compassion fatigue.
First of all take care of yourself. Eat right and exercise. Keep yourself well groomed and take some yoga or meditation classes. For some people this might mean praying more or going to church.
Second, figure out what situations are causing you the most distress. If you are the vet tech that always does the euthanasias, ask another tech to assist the vet. Be eliminating or decreasing your exposure to potential problems you can start to heal yourself.
Third, focus on what meaningful things you have accomplished today. Look at all the pets you helped and the owners that have gone home happy. If you truly look at your day you will realize you do some tremendous things, so acknowledge them.
Don’t ignore the signs of compassion fatigue. If you know of anyone exhibiting these symptoms talk to them and give them pointers to help deal with it.
