b'ARTICLESO, YOU FEEL LIKEAN IMPOSTER? So why do we feel this way inYou were always enough. veterinary medicine? Often, itsEven when you forget. Your By Dr. Katie Ford BVSc(Hons) CertAVP(SAM) PGCert MSc(Wellbeing) MRCVS because we have an idea of whovalue isnt determined by we should be. Psychologist Valerie Young identified five imposterexternal achievements or archetypes that highlight commonothers opinions of your pressures:veterinary skills.1. THE PERFECTIONIST: Believing you must perform every veterinary procedure flawlessly (or youre anmoments? Maybe youre feeling this imposter). way because youre growing, stretching 2. THE EXPERT: Feeling you shouldyourself, or simply need to release some know everything about veterinaryof the pressures youve been carrying.medicine (or youre an imposter). One trap I see veterinary professionals 3. THE NATURAL GENIUS: Thinkingfall into is the need to label imposter you should excel effortlessly onfeelings as either good or bad. You the first try with new veterinarymight see LinkedIn gurus proclaiming, techniques (or youre an imposter). Feeling like an imposter is great! It means youre challenging yourself! 4. THE SOLOIST: Believing you mustWhile well-intentioned, this can make handle every case alone withoutpeople feel even worse if theyre not consulting colleagues (or youre anenjoying the experience. The truth imposter). is, it doesnt have to be either. Its an 5. THE SUPERWOMAN/MAN: Strivingexperience, and like all experiences, it to be the best in every aspect ofcan be complex.veterinary practice and personal lifeSo, what can you do when these (or youre an imposter). feelings arise in your veterinary career? Remember, as everyone has different inputs to this experience, different things will help different people.These archetypes are influenced byHere are some strategies Ive found societal stereotypes of veterinaryhelpful, both personally and with my professionals and personal experiences.veterinary clients:Many of us have felt not good enough due to various factors in our lives and1. REGULATE YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM: careers. When we dont meet theseImposter feelings often trigger fear impossible standards, a part of us feelsresponses. Take a moment to breathe scared. But heres the thing: nobodymore slowly, deeply into your belly, meets all these standards. Theyreground yourself, and recognise that unrealistic and often based on outdatedyoure safe in this moment. information weve internalised. 2. NOTICE HOW YOU FEEL: Instead of Its crucial to understand that everyonepushing the feelings away, observe them in the veterinary field has their ownwith curiosity, if you can. What physical unique inputs to feeling this way.sensations do you notice? What thoughts Experiences, family dynamics, education,are running through your mind? What and societal pressures all play a role.do you need right now? Could this be Recognising this can help you approachbecause youre pushing comfort zones?your feelings with curiosity rather than3. JOURNAL: Write down your thoughts criticism. and feelings. This can help you identify Imposter feelings often crop up when wepatterns and gain perspective on your step out of our comfort zones or tackleveterinary experiences.new challenges in veterinary practice.4. GET TO KNOW YOURSELF: Understand When it feels scary or different, its easyyour values and strengths as a veterinary to conclude, It must be me. I must be aprofessional. Whats truly important to fraud. But what if we reframed theseyou? What are you naturally good at? www.inspiredvet.co.uk23'