VN January 2023

Vetnews | January 2023 7 Is this PTSD? <<< 6 For some law enforcement groups, de-briefing social function or braai after a mission where officers relate their experience. Their narrative of their experiences creates an informal and less structured platform to communicate their feelings about the mission and help the other members realise that they are not the only ones who may feel distressed. The more accurate the event details, the more effective the therapy. Cognitive Strategy: Refusing negative thoughts about the event and focusing on an optimistic outlook. E.g., How many owners had pets that went home healed vs how many died or had angry owners? Avoiding, if possible, negative influences outside of the workplace. For example, constant Doomscrolling. Doomscrolling or doomsurfing is the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large quantities of negative news online. Rather invest in a positive activity that releases the “Feel good hormones”. What are the four feel-good hormones? Dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin. You can boost levels of these hormones with some simple lifestyle changes, like diet, exercise, and meditation, and possibly improve your mood in the process. Find rewards outside the workplace; for instance, if you like physical exercise, set milestones and celebrate them when achieved. Or maybe another kind of totally unrelated hobby. Ringfence your work and try not to cure every animal you encounter outside the practice scope. Behavioural Medicine: Healthy eating, sleeping, exercising, removing distractions, and unhealthy coping mechanisms. E.g., drinking, smoking, online shopping, social media addiction etc. Supportive home life makes a big difference in overcoming traumatic events at work. Not everyone’s family understands what they are going through from day to day and that in itself can be draining. But try not to take the workplace home; find a mechanism to distinguish between work and home. It may be as simple as taking off the scrubs and not talking about the work when out of scrubs. Be clear that you do not do free home consultations; people will always tell you: “My colleagues’ or friends’ “animal” has this or that; what can it be?” Be clear that you are not working at that moment and that they are welcome to bring the animal into the practice for you to have a look at. You have better lighting, diagnostic tools etc., at hand. As a last resort and in dire situations, anti-anxiety medication can work, and this is where you partner with your GP to make sure you walk a journey to better mental health. As a parting quote: “Focus on giving your body resources to manage stress, rather than seeking to eliminate the feeling of stress altogether.” v Leading Article