As a nurse, I learned about therapeutic
animals who were brought into the hospital to help patients to heal. I call
this pet therapy. As I became a member of the Twitter mental health community
as @WellMentally, I noticed how many people talked about their pets and asked
for pet pics when having a bad day. Beka often posts about her own cat, Hayley,
as well.
I, myself, have a dog that we all love very
much.
My dog, Ruby, has always guarded me from
others. She is a beautiful little English springer spaniel. When she warns
people away from me, you would think she was a pitbull!
Perhaps, she senses my anxiety around people
and my fears related to past trauma. I don't know but I do know she definitely
spends much of her time guarding me. She even lays on her bed in front of my
door whether I am sleeping days or nights. She has to be forced to go out to
the bathroom during those times.
I believe the unique relationship a person has
to the their pet, aka. pet therapy, can ease loneliness, provide structure to
the day, encourage exercise, and give a sense of safety in the case of a dog.
Click here to read an article from the British
Medical Journal that agrees with this.
There
may be affiliate links in this post. There is no cost to you by clicking on an
affiliate link. By buying products through the links, you are helping to
further the mission of Live Mentally Well. Remember I am a registered nurse,
not a physician. Please consult a doctor
for medical issues.
Easing
Loneliness
Pets provide companionship and love you
unconditionally. They are always there when you come home from a bad day at
work. Petting your furry animals can be calming. Even watching fish can soothe
you into some a meditative state.
Providing
Structure During The Day
Pets need to be fed and if a dog let out to go
to the bathroom and walked. This creates a routine you may not have when you're
home sick. This routine is can improve your mental health.
Encouraging
Daily Exercise
While you can't walk your iguana or fish, you
can walk your dog and sometimes your cat. This provides daily exercise that you
might not do for yourself but will for a beloved pet.
Providing
A Sense Of Safety
As I mentioned above, my dog is a great guard
dog. She also makes a great although sometimes faulty alarm. She will bark at
anything she hears even far away. However, it is well known that dogs reduced
the chance of break-ins. This can ease the mind of people like me who were
abused.
Take
Away
Although my dog, Ruby, sometimes drives me up
the wall with all her antics but I wouldn't trade her for anything. She calms me when I'm anxious. She comforts
me when I'm depressed. She also gets me off my butt when I'm depressed. I love
her and all her quirkiness.
How
does your pet help your mental health?
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