Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions for Animal Workers Julie Squires

Today's episode is from the archives of 2022. 
An Autobiography in Five Chapters
by Portia Nelson
Chapter 1
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in. I am lost….I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 2
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the side walk.
I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I fall in….it’s a habit…but my eyes are open.
I know where I am. It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter 5
I walk down a different street.

"Compartmentalization is a defense mechanism in which people mentally separate conflicting thoughts, emotions, or experiences to avoid the discomfort of contradiction" according to Psychology Today. I believe compartmentalization can be an effective coping strategy for people who work in the emotionally charged fields of vet med, animal welfare and lab animal research. But it has to be conscious. Listen and learn what I mean by that. 

Understanding the interconnectedness of your thoughts, feelings and behavior is the key to self-awareness and empowerment. We all just want others to behave differently so we can feel better. That's the long way. 

Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits. (Harvard Health Publishing)
Understanding that not everyone's brain works the same is the crux of this interview I have with Nicole Clausen, founder of Veterinary Care Logistics, an inventory management company. 
You can find out more about Nicole's company, Veterinary Care Logistics at: www.vetlogic.co
Book recommendations by Nicole:
Here are my 3(ish) book recs:
(extra one for personal/romantic relationships) "Us" by Terrence Real "The Mountain is You" or "This is How You Heal" by Brianna Wiest "Unmasking Autism" by Devon Price "The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control" by Katherine Morgan Schafler

Euthanizing animals brings up a plethora of emotions including compassion, guilt and doubt. What your relationship is with the animal also tends to dictate what emotional path you may go down. Pet owner, veterinary professional and animal welfare personnel may all feel a different level or attachment or detachment. But what about lab animal professionals? These folks work with research animals to find cures, therapies, discoveries and innovations that extend lives to humans and animals. So how do the folks that dedicate their lives to lab animal research cope with the levels of euthanasia they perform? Especially if it's "just" a mouse. 

This week I'm sharing two of my favorite readings. One's that speaks to why as an animal professional you need to make space for grief. This is from Dr. Rachel Remen's "Kitchen Table Wisdom" book and this chapter is aptly named "Professionals Don't Cry". Also in the episode I read from John Roedel's "Remedy", poem #37. 
Registration is currently open for my 6-month online group for women veterinarians, Living A Life You Love. This group runs April-September and you can get all the info here. 
Registration closes on March 29, 2024 at 11:59pm ET.