Posted on 08/15/2019 8:52:27 AM PDT by a little elbow grease
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CHICAGO — Spending all day surrounded by dogs and cats probably sounds like heaven for many people, but a new study finds that veterinarians and others who work with animals on a daily basis deal with stressful and emotional events that put them at a higher risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts.
“People who work or volunteer with animals are often drawn to it because they see it as a personal calling,” says Dr. Angela K. Fournier of Bemidji State University in a statement. “However, they are faced with animal suffering and death on a routine basis, which can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue and mental health issues.”
(Excerpt) Read more at studyfinds.org ...
God bless them.
Second highest profession for substance abuse primarily because of access.
I wonder where retail workers fit in.
Life is stressful. Live with it.
Sad, indeed. Our daughter is a Veterinary Technician specializing in animal pain management and rehabilitation. Her patients are frequently elderly dogs. She is able to work wonders improving their quality of life and their owners are very happy their beloved pet is more mobile and has reduced pain. Unlike a veterinarian who sees an animal maybe once a year, our daughter sees the animals weekly for therapy and gets attached to them. I worry about her attachment to her patients and her experiencing loss when they do pass away.
Our son is an EMT and completing his Paramedic training, so he will be exposed to compassion fatigue, too.
I can imagine. When I think of the deaths and bad diagnoses my wife and I have experienced with our pets through the years, it must be tough for the vets and vet techs to experience them even if vicariously.
I worked as a Vet tech for years. Had to quit because it was getting to me. I was starting to hate the animals I was committed to help. It wasn’t the animal’s fault. I just didn’t want to deal with it anymore. I don’t want to be too graphic, but it was the maggots that got to me. They were a constant.
And people who treat dems suffer the greatest risk, body mind and soul. Even moreso after 2020
Hmmm, I wonder if emotional support animals are actually like psychic vampires slowly sapping the emotional and mental health of their over indulgent owners.
Pet maggots need love too!
Anyone care to guess at the first?
My dog’s Veterinarian is a Desert Storm veteran. SHE was an engineer in the service. When she left the military she studied to be a Veterinarian and an animal orthopedic surgeon. Being a Veterinarian and seeing the suffering of animals and the way they are sometimes treated drove her to become a competitive mountain bike cyclist. She needed a way to relieve stress from being a Veterinarian more than she did from being a soldier.
I love animals and worked as a Vet tech for a while many years ago. I wanted to be a Vet. My heart couldn’t stand it. It did teach me how cruel and crummy so many humans can be though.
My dog’s Veterinarian is a Desert Storm veteran. SHE was an engineer in the service. When she left the military she studied to be a Veterinarian and an animal orthopedic surgeon. Being a Veterinarian and seeing the suffering of animals and the way they are sometimes treated drove her to become a competitive mountain bike cyclist. She needed a way to relieve stress from being a Veterinarian more than she did from being a soldier.
I love animals and worked as a Vet tech for a while many years ago. I wanted to be a Vet. My heart couldn’t stand it. It did teach me how cruel and crummy so many humans can be though.
And I don’t know why my posts are double posted. It seems to be happening a lot in here lately.
My daughter wanted to be veterinarian but she read about the suicide rates of vets and changed her mind.
I can believe it. My Vet cry when he told me it was Blondie time. It was a very rough.
The positive side: He was very excited when I show up with my new puppy 9 months later.
I think I will make it a special effort to send them a Thank your Christmas card this year. They really do care.
I have a farm with several animal species. I find myself more at peace being around them. I don’t deny that the work to keep up the farm doesn’t’ take a toll, but I sense my animals appreciate it in their own way event though I have no way of knowing it.
I would think the toughest thing about being a Vet is dealing with the sick ones, putting them down, and then with the grieving owners.
Pharmacists or doctors.
I can understand this, but from the other side as a pet owner. I had dogs continuously for the last 50 years, a few cats, a couple of horses and even a Guinea pig once. A week ago I had to put my old dog down due to “the infirmaties of old age.” He was my last dog for two reasons. First that their end of life became harder and harder for me to face through the years, not easier. And second because I worried what would happen to them if something happened to me as I got older. Even though there is a particular kind of lonliness that has set in from not having a dog around anymore, there is also a sort of reluctant peace.
Everybody needs Jesus. Pets bring love. Love is sacrifice. Jesus knows that best. And laughter with those we love.
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