#TimeToTalkMentalHealth

[juliekerrrvt]

Locum Adventures: Thriving in a preferred environment

I placed an IV today, in an old, sick cat. It’s hard to explain to anyone outside the industry perhaps, on why that is so bone deep, soul satisfying, but it is, and I suspect if you’re in veterinary medicine, you know what I’m saying.

Two weeks after starting my first locum as an RVT, I reflect that the shift to satisfaction was immediate upon stepping back in to clinical medicine. Despite my gap from the industry for mental health healing (Locum Adventures: The Beginning), my skills have come back with competence and confidence. I am relieved. I am ecstatic.

Julie and the travelling tomato - thriving in a preferred environment.

Overcoming the three-year gap to have a first day, first week back in clinical medicine is behind me. I’m looking forward: to the skills that are refreshing like the muscle memory they are, celebrating those that are easy strengths, working on building those that are less strong, and to the new skills I’m going to learn as is inevitable, clinic to clinic as I locum.

Locuming, with its travel and the necessity of walking in to new clinics hitting the ground running, isn’t going to be for everyone. It is suiting me to a tee. What I will say, in recognition of mental health in veterinary medicine, is that no matter what anyone’s story or experience is, there are options for future successes available. The skills we have gained as veterinary professionals are there for us to nurture, even if we have to pause awhile. If we so choose, they’ll be there, ready to support us when we step back in to a clinical setting. I am thriving. I am happy. The long hard road has been worth it, to be here now.

What is the right step for each of us? That’s hard to say. Only we know that, only we can explore that for ourselves. Here’s the thing though – there is hope for us all. First, I took care of me: it is a simple truth that I can take care of no one and nothing if I don’t first take care of me. My mental health required a huge change; I thought my career was over in a profession I love. I went on a journey far from clinical medicine. It was an interesting journey, but I didn’t thrive. Next, I returned to helping others, but in a healthier manner for me, having set new boundaries and expectations to ensure I thrive.

It pleases me immensely to share my story with my peers; from sorrow and stress to thriving. It is possible and definitely probable when we first take care of ourselves. I am now thriving in my preferred environment, proof of the possibility I considered over three years ago – to support this industry with locum RVT services.

Watching the tide come in as I scan for marine wildlife. My first locum is on the ocean, and I'm enjoying it utterly on my downtime.

[bpd-matters-blog]

Repost @time2talkmentalhealth Still in hospital ppl I will get back to ppl when I’m out. I’m completely shattered and exhausted living with this mental health disorder 😓 @timetotalkmentalhealth #abuse #mentalabuse #silence #anxiety #bipolar #bpdrecovery #bpdawareness #anxiety #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #bpdawarenessmonth #ocd #schizophrenia #personalitydisorder #bipolar #eatingdisorder #anxietyquotes #like4like #bpdrecovery #bpdawareness #bipolar #mentalhealthblog https://www.instagram.com/p/BoEVW0bn676/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13ancsnu7ftfm

[imlivingbipolar]

#Repost @time2talkmentalhealth (@get_repost) ・・・ @timetotalkmentalhealth #anxiety #bipolar #bpdrecovery #bpdawareness #anxiety #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #bpdawarenessmonth #ocd #schizophrenia #personalitydisorder #bipolar #eatingdisorder #anxietyquotes #like4like #bpdrecovery #bpdawareness #bipolar #mentalhealthblog

[bpd-matters-blog]

Repost @time2talkmentalhealth - @timetotalkmentalhealth #abuse #mentalabuse #silence #anxiety #bipolar #bpdrecovery #bpdawareness #anxiety #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #bpdawarenessmonth #ocd #schizophrenia #personalitydisorder #bipolar #eatingdisorder #anxietyquotes #like4like #bpdrecovery #bpdawareness #bipolar #mentalhealthblog https://www.instagram.com/p/BnUKzUDgJnE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xd9hf097g4de

[imlivingbipolar]

I read this and abt cried. This is so so so true. I'm just gonna have a day... . . . #bipolar #bipolarblogger #bipolardisoder #Repost @timetotalkmentalhealth (@get_repost) ・・・ (at Columbus, Ohio)