15. Perfectionism and Mental Health

The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 22% of individuals will be bereaved by suicide in their lifetime. In our veterinary community, with its elevated rate of suicide compared to the general population, I expect that number is much higher. In today's episode I walk you through the aspects of grieving a loss by suicide that make it uniquely difficult.  After a suicide: A guide for Veterinary WorkplacesThoughtful Life Counseling's Bookclub!Sign up for the TLC Newsletter

The imposter phenomenon (sometimes called the imposter syndrome) describes how an objectively successful individual can fail to internalize their accomplishments. This leaves them feeling as though their position or achievements are the result of luck or oversight and they dread being discovered as an imposter. This episode describes the possible origins of the phenomenon and how one might begin to address it. 

We would like to think we view the world objectively, but under stress we are actually more likely to interpret the neutral expressions of others as negative. This episode discusses how this occurs, its implications for your mental health as well as for clinical practice, and what we can do about it. 

Managing one's mental health can be challenging in the best of times, and whatever your individual views, I think we can agree that we are a ways off from ideal. Conversation is key to our ability to feel connected to and supported by those who we consider friends and family. Connection and support are key to mental health. But what happens when navigating conversations becomes its own source of stress. This is an impromptu podcast that delves into these thoughts, and examines what we can do to reduce conversational conflict. 

Protecting yourself from stress and burnout is critical for quality of life. This podcast explores the different categories of stress we experience on a day-to-day basis, how stress can contribute to burnout, and how to approach stress management. 

Even if you have reached the conclusion that counseling may be beneficial in your life, the prospect of finding a counselor may be daunting. This podcast breaks down the steps of finding the best mental health professional for you as well as what to expect if you have never been in counseling before. 

Procrastination is the voluntary avoidance of a task DESPITE the anticipation of negative consequences. Maybe your task is completed by the deadline, but if you are staying up all night to make that happen, you are still suffering from the consequences of procrastination. Today's podcast takes a look at why we procrastinate and also the clever ways in which we sometimes hide it from ourselves. 

Time management may feel like an abstract or an overly formal concept that shouldn't require explanation. However, as our most precious and finite resource, we should think carefully about how our time is being spent. Restructuring our time often means we can find moments to devote to self care and wellness as well as make progress on projects long thought unreachable. 

Anxiety is part of the normal human experience. It is even an essential mechanism by which we are able to keep ourselves out of the way of danger and anticipate challenges. Unfortunately, anxiety doesn't always confine itself to helpful levels and can instead become a mental health concern ranging from distressing to debilitating. Today's podcast describes how anxiety arises in the brain and how to approach anxiety management.  Access Handout: Engaging with AnxietySign up for the TLC Newsletter

Maladaptive perfectionism can contribute to a number of wellbeing challenges, including depression, anxiety, and stress. It is not necessarily the act of setting high standards, but more the attitude with which you approach the standards you are aiming for. Today's podcast explores the three primary dimension of perfectionism, behavioral characteristics of perfectionism, and strategies for overcoming perfectionistic tendencies. Access Handout: Access Perfectionism Self-AssessmentSign up for the TLC Newsletter