Permission to Pause: Mental Health in Vet Med

Permission to Pause: Mental Health in Vet Med

You just finished a difficult euthanasia. You have two more appointments waiting, the phone is ringing, and you haven't peed since 9 AM. You feel that familiar, tight knot in your chest - the one that says, “I have to keep going.”

In veterinary medicine, caring for others is what we do. It’s the core of who we are: every patient, every client, every single day. But in the midst of packed schedules, emotionally draining cases, and the constant professional pressure to do more, it’s incredibly easy to overlook one essential question: “How am I doing today?”

April is Mental Health Awareness Month, so let’s stop overlooking it and recognize that taking a mental health break isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

What Is a Mental Health Break (And Why It’s Not Always About Taking a Vacation)

A mental health break (MHB) is a deliberate, intentional pause to create physical and emotional space. It's a conscious moment to step away, reset your nervous system, and reconnect with yourself, all while you're still on the clock.

It doesn’t have to be long. It just has to be intentional. We aren't talking about a week-long vacation (though those are great, too). We're talking about a few minutes between appointments or an intentional, scheduled lunch. Even brief resets can help you return more present, for your patients, your team, and yourself.

Why the Pause Matters (Especially in Vet Med)

Veterinary teams operate in high-demand, high-empathy environments. Every day, we absorb the stress and emotion of others. Without intentional recovery, that stress doesn’t just disappear, it accumulates. And over time, that accumulation can lead to burnout.

Taking intentional breaks, even short ones, can:

• Prevent burnout before it builds up

• Improve clarity and decision-making during critical cases

• Boost productivity - a rested mind is more efficient than an exhausted one

• Strengthen relationships with teammates and clients

• Support emotional resilience, helping you bounce back from tough moments

The human brain functions best when it rests every 90 - 120 minutes. Yet many of us push far beyond that, fueled by caffeine and a sense of responsibility. Sometimes, a break isn’t falling behind, it’s what allows you to move forward sustainably.

Listen to the Feedback: Signs You Need to Pause

Your body and mind are constantly sending you signals, feedback that it’s time to step away, even briefly.

You might notice:

• Mental fog, where simple tasks feel harder than usual

• Constant fatigue, even after rest

• Restless or disrupted sleep

• Apathy or loss of motivation

• Changes in eating habits

• Frequent headaches or feeling physically run down

• Irritability with teammates or clients

• Difficulty focusing on a diagnosis or conversation

Interoception: Your Body’s Internal GPS

How do you know when you need a break? It starts with interoception, which is your ability to sense what’s happening inside your body.

It’s how you notice:

• Tension in your shoulders

• A racing heart

• A tight feeling in your stomach

When we strengthen this awareness, we improve our ability to regulate and respond. Here’s the key truth: you can’t regulate what you’re not aware of. That’s why the first step in any mental health break is simple awareness, without judgment:

• What am I feeling right now?

• What is my body telling me?

From “Stressed” to Specific

Sometimes when a teammate asks how you are, “stressed” or “fine” is all you can manage. But emotions are more nuanced than that. Research shows that naming an emotion can actually reduce its intensity. Naming what you’re feeling is a powerful step toward processing it.

Instead of: “I’m overwhelmed after that case.” You might identify: “I feel anxious about the outcome, frustrated by the situation, and exhausted from the intensity.”

10 Quick Ways to Take a Break Right Now

Not all breaks require time off; many can happen right within your shift:

• Take a short walk around the clinic

• Practice slow, deep breathing

• Focus fully on a small moment (like your coffee)

• Sit in stillness for a minute or two

• Reflect on something you’re grateful for outside of work

• Look outside and reconnect with the world beyond the clinic

• Chat with a teammate about something non-work related

• Take a true screen break during lunch

• Step outside for fresh air

• Listen to music that helps reset your mood

A Simple Daily Practice

At least once a day, pause and ask yourself:

• How am I doing today?

• What am I feeling in my body?

You don’t need to fix it immediately. Just acknowledge it. That awareness is where sustainable practice begins. You deserve the same care you give so freely to others. Taking a mental health break isn’t stepping away from your work, it’s what makes this work sustainable. So, take the pause, listen inward, and care for yourself, too.

Here are some additional resources for supporting your mental health in-practice:

Not One More Vet: https://nomv.org/

Veterinary Hope Foundation: https://www.veterinaryhope.org/about-us

VetFolio (NAVC): https://www.vetfolio.com/pages/resource-center-wellbeing

AVMA Wellbeing: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/wellbeing

Find your wellbeing at Bond Vet:

And, if you’re looking for a place that supports you as much as you support your patients, we’d love to meet you. We’re hiring across our regions - you can find all our open roles at https://bondvet.com/careers/opportunities/open-positions