layout: true background-image: url(../../images/slide_background.jpg) background-size: cover class: middle --- # Speak to Somebody ### Medium Quotes --- ### “It can be difficult if you don’t talk to somebody about it. If you’re feeling really emotional and overburdened, it can be easy to go away and put yourself in isolation which is the wrong thing to do unless you’ve got another mechanism like relaxing or mindfulness.” --- ### “I know that not having the mechanisms in place and turning to things like alcohol to make you relax and forget is the wrong coping mechanism. So since then, I’ve learned things like mindfulness and talking and listening to others as well, so that you don’t feel as alone. But it has to be someone who understands, nice to have someone in the team who is going to listen, is not going to judge. A problem shared is a problem halved as they say.” --- ### “I think having someone supportive and someone who understands but who will just listen to you – offload some of the negativity that you’re feeling and get it out of your system. So, I feel a lot better now because I’ve got rid of that and someone understands me. I think in your practice or team there should be a go-to person (or several), who you can go and talk to.” --- ### “I think that initially that early part of your career is when you kind of sit there and think actually I am ever going to be a good vet. Have I made the right decision choice? … that’s where being able to pick up the phone and speak to someone is really, really important.” --- ### “I think a bit of an improved network of knowing where people were and that they were able to respond … I know as a Vetlife volunteer, I know a lot of the calls I take ultimately could be dealt with if they’d been run through with a cup of coffee with someone at the end of the day, not everyone by any stretch, but a number of those calls are about offloading after a tough day. And that’s quite telling, to know that they’ve not been able to do that at the end of the day.” --- ### “… talking it through with friends, colleagues, trying to rationalise what’s happened, whether you could have done better or not. Doesn’t necessarily numb that pain, but sometimes it does help a little bit.” --- ### “… very important, is to analyse anything that happens at work or on farms and think what could I have done differently and being better prepared for next time. Talking to colleagues, important to have meetings, discussions. And thinking ahead – if you have a stressful visit ahead, it’s good to have a bit of time to prepare yourself so that you’re not overwhelmed when you arrive.” --- ### “I had one of those (rock bottom day) and I nearly resigned on the day and “you can try and chase me for my two months’ notice but bring it on”! It was actually my partner who talked me down from that ledge. Life is way too short for some of the stuff you have to deal with. People can have the biggest negative impact on you. I’m not the best at pulling myself up – I need other people. I tend to run.” --- ### “Talking to others. My wife is a doctor, and doctors locally seem to have a better support network than vets do. And I wonder if that’s because vets can see themselves as business competitors as well as colleagues in the same profession. I think that has an impact in certain situations.” --- ### “… they (student group) first start with others of a similar age – and tend to keep them until they retire – maintaining that social support group. Getting older and going through similar stresses and strains at a similar time so can relate to and support each other.” --- ### “talk to someone who has been through that cycle, older and more experienced in not only in practice, but life. Someone who has family and financial responsibilities as well as veterinary experience.” --- ### “I think I am actually now a boss and if my colleague felt like that at 2.00 am in the morning, I hope they’d pick up the phone to me. I don’t want to talk about the joys of spring but if they’re feeling distressed then, absolutely, they should talk.”