Are you someone who is fond of animals or got a pet of your own? Well, in that case you may not need any other therapist on the days you feel gloomy or low. Yes, you heard that right; your pets have the power to brighten your days and uplift your spirits.
It is a widely accepted fact that people of all ages can benefit from having pets at home. Undoubtedly, having these furry companions like cats, dogs and even birds enhance our lives immeasurably. For most people, the presence of an animal prompts the body to release serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin. According to health experts, these hormones generate a relaxation and stress-reducing response. Release of these hormones can lower symptoms of depression and sadness and aids good mental health.
This is precisely why Psychologists and mental health professionals are now moving towards Pet Therapy or Animal Therapy that help their patients to recover faster, especially children. In the recent times, animals across the world have started to help humans in settings away from the home – such as hospitals and care homes for the elderly, as well as schools, universities, prisons and rehabilitation centres.
Animal-assisted therapy, also known as pet therapy, uses dogs and other animals, including horses mostly in the western countries, to help people as they recover from physical and mental health conditions. When someone is dealing with a serious medical or mental health condition, they face a significant amount of stress. That stress can hinder their healing. Animals bring comfort to people, and spending time with animals can make healing faster and easier. This form of pet therapy allows a trained service or therapy animal to come to an appointment or visit someone in the hospital. The animal will come with the owner or handler who is knowledgeable about working with service animals. The animal will spend a set amount of time with a patient (usually around 15 minutes), who gets to pet the animal and ask the owner questions. The presence of the animal provides a needed distraction and helps reduce stress for the patient, and this can speed up healing.
Building relationships and social connections through socialising and human interaction is a key part of maintaining and improving our mental health. Research with dogs and cats have found that they too can read and respond to our body language, facial expressions and voices. Apparently, they can understand what is happening in our interactions with them, too. Therefore, it may not be a bad idea to express your feelings to your dogs or cats. The best part about that interaction would be they would listen to your without judgement. Believe it or not, most of the time, that’s all we humans need – someone to listen to us without passing any sort of judgements or making us uncomfortable.
Keerthi, who owns two rescued dogs, says she cannot imagine her life without them. She says, “my dogs have no idea what difference they have made to my life, they were destined to come into our home and they ensure to keep everyone at home happy just by being the way they are”.
Aaron who lives in Bangalore and has a Rottweiler expresses –“my dog is my best bud. No one knows me the way he does and I am lucky to have him in my life”.
Pearl who has 2 Himalayan cats says her fur companions are her family and spending time with them is something she cannot ever miss”.
If you have ever spent time cuddling dog or cat and felt an immediate emotional boost, then you have experienced one of the mental health benefits of animal or pet therapy.
Pet therapy touches humans psychologically, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. These pets can heal you in ways beyond your imagination. For the abundance of unconditional love they will shower upon you, all they’ll crave in return is a bit of your time and attention. Now where can you find such amazing and cost-effective therapists?