Animals as therapy effectively improves physiological, psychological, emotional, and social well-being with benefits generally seen in terms of improved quality of life, enhanced social connections and reduced loneliness [1].
The years of Milly (below) were times of, despite being a total mess, being unconditionally accepted and loved, connected and appreciated by a being who heartily and gently took my totality without judgement rather accepting nurturance to herself celebrate the simple joys in life like company, walks, belly rubs, food, attempting to jump into bed etc. She made me feel that even in my isolated mess of black darkness there was a ray of light in the world. She was loving-kind connection and hearty goodness in a dark world. I had no inner will to live but she kept pushing me to stay despite me consistently being a mess.
Pets provided people with important physical contact while providing a source of vibrancy and connection to life unavailable from elsewhere.
Pets "promote social interaction and provide secure and intimate relationships which support the management of symptoms." They "provided an extension and reinforcement to an individual's sense of self which militated against the negative experiences associated with mental illness".
They provide positive emotional manifestations including feelings of "feeling happy, feeling relaxed, and feeling calm." and in various clinical populations, increase prosocial behaviours, participation, pleasure, and relationship with others
Provides:
Encouragement of routine and exercise
Distraction from upsetting thoughts and a sense of feeling alone
Meaning to one's life and maintains a positive view of the self, world and future which does not appear to be available from elsewhere within social networks. They allow development or maintenance of personal identity through depth and consistency of relationality, provision of self-esteem and mediating how others viewed them.
Conduits to social interaction for their owners through increasing the quality of existing and supporting the development of new social connections
"Being identified as a pet owner, rather than being defined as someone with a mental health problem was also viewed as important in terms of self-identity and reducing felt stigma."
Comments