It’s not actually the end of the world
“CATASTROPHIC THINKERS.”
Our very first week of vet school included countless introductory activities, but the phrase that has stuck with me from all the obligatory orientation was “catastrophic thinkers.” In an amusing talk that also hit very close to home, a wise faculty member offered an insightful take on what tends to go through the mind of a typical veterinarian-to-be.
Due to the competitive nature and demanding schedule of the DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) program, it is not uncommon for the class to be full of so-called “Type A personalities.”
Often, veterinary students are self-declared ‘perfectionists,’ placing harsh and often unrealistic expectations on ourselves for essentially everything we do.
Sometimes we unfairly project these expectations on others, which is unfortunate. More often, though, we inflict these demands for flawlessness upon ourselves and, when results don’t meet our high standards, we tend to punish ourselves internally.
While the drive to succeed and constantly outdo ourselves is admittedly what helped us get into this increasingly competitive program, the side effects of persistent self-criticism have contributed to a crisis within the veterinary field. The statistics show disproportionate rates of mental health challenges in this sector, and point towards an alarming issue that will not be disappearing any time soon.When I walked out of a particularly tough test last month, I knew things had gone badly. The first few questions left me staring blankly at the page, their words replaced with visions of dancing question marks and ‘what ifs.’ What if I fail this test? What if I fail this year? What if I fail vet school? What if I never WAS good enough for vet school and they just let me in by accident?!
Naturally, this is a very unhealthy pattern of thinking. Yet after so much pressure to achieve the absolute highest grades possible, it is not particularly shocking that many veterinary students struggle with accepting subpar academic performance. Although I don’t currently possess the means to change the system that contributes to this dangerous oversimplification of what makes a good vet (or any professional), I can remind my colleagues that we are all in this together.
Mistakes are inevitable. Vet school is a difficult place to accustom ourselves to this reality, but it’s also the right place. The sooner we permit ourselves to be imperfect, the sooner we can channel our energy towards becoming the best doctors we can be. And really, isn’t that what we’re all here to do?
Art by Barbara Salsberg Mathews