Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a concept that involves the use of animals to help people deal with mental and physical health conditions. Anxiety is fast becoming a common mental condition among people, and one of the ways used to cope with it in therapeutic settings is through the support of animals.
Pet therapy is fast becoming prevalent in today’s world in helping to manage anxiety. The main aim of this therapy is to improve the well-being of people suffering from anxiety and also support them to live fulfilling lives.
If you are wondering what pet therapy is and how it can help to deal with anxiety, continue reading this post to know and understand this approach.
What is Pet Therapy?
Pet Therapy is a concept that leverages the bond between humans and animals. It is used as a form of therapy to provide emotional support and relief to people dealing with or suffering from anxiety.
Animals usually bond with humans empathetically. There are lots of beliefs that animals have a positive energy that can be channeled to the emotional well-being of humans. Pet therapy takes advantage of this connection to help people suffering from some kind of mental breakdown.
Animals and human bonding is not something that started recently. This is an old-age practice that has been used a long time ago. Animals were used before civilization to provide comfort and fulfillment to a person.
Does Pet Therapy Really Work?
When you think of animal therapy, you should also know that this is not limited to dogs. Lots of animals like cats, dolphins, horses, rabbits, and even birds are used in therapy. They each can cater to the needs of every individual in a different way.
Pet therapy has a lot of success rate. They have been shown to help in releasing endorphins and lowering blood pressure in humans. It is also a major concept that can be used to manage stress and reduce anxiety.
How Does Therapy Work with Pets?
Pet therapies are recommended based on individual struggles and conditions. What determines how it works will be its expected goal. It can be prescribed for various reasons which include providing comfort and improving social skills or movement skills. This kind of therapy can also help someone dealing with depression. It will aim to motivate them toward a range of activities.
The concept of pet therapy involves a person who is the pet’s handler. The animal handlers will work with a doctor and ensure the animals attend each therapy session. There are lots of organizations out there that help to train handlers and connect them to medical providers.
Becoming a handler or a therapy animal is not as easy as you might think. They usually go through various trainings to get certified and approved for therapy. Once they have their certifications, the necessary organization will connect them to healthcare providers.
Animal Handler in Pet Therapy
Animal handlers are usually volunteers and trained in the act of interacting with pets. The pets, on the other hand, go through medical checks such as physical exams and immunization records. They also go through tests to check if they are disease-free and healthy enough to be used for therapy. Their temperament is also tested to know how they behave with people.
After this has been done, the handler and pet will then have to go through obedience training. These checks, training, and tests are done to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the process.
What is the role of Pet Therapy in Reducing Anxiety?
Animal therapies are majorly used in the management of anxiety disorders. The human-animal bond helps to provide mental and emotional support.
- The techniques used in this kind of therapy to deal with anxiety can be different from one person to another. They will look into the specific case of a person and recommend activities that can help them with anxiety reduction. Some of the activities involved include playing with the animals, petting and cuddling them. This can help with mindfulness, comfort, and relaxation.
- Pet therapy can give a person a sense of responsibility. Grooming a pet and being responsible for them can help deal with anxiety as well as depression. The person with this condition will have a sense of purpose by caring for a pet and this can help them reduce their symptoms.
Interacting with a pet all the time can also help in dealing with loneliness and provide support, which will improve the overall emotional well-being of a person. Pet therapy can help improve and enhance the quality of a person’s life.
Benefits of Pet Therapy
Some of the benefits of pet therapy include:
- It helps in reducing boredom or loneliness and provides support and companionship.
- It helps to improve the mood and mental and emotional well-being of individuals.
- It helps in increasing physical activities and social interactions.
- It can help with the reduction of mental conditions like anxiety, depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, and dementia.
- It can serve as a marker of conditions like cancer, heart failure, stroke, and epilepsy.
Types of Pets Used in Anxiety Therapy
As mentioned before, the kind of pets used in therapy can be different based on an individual’s needs and goals. The most common animal used in therapy is dogs. As man’s best friend, they are loyal creatures and can offer mental and emotional support. Other therapy animals include guinea pigs, dolphins, birds, horses, and cats. These animals offer unique benefits to help people in the management and reduction of anxiety.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pet therapy is a concept that is used to help people deal with and manage mental and physical conditions. The bond between humans and animals can be used to render medical aid to humans. This kind of therapy is also useful in the management and reduction of anxiety. So, if this feeling is overwhelming at points, consider seeking professional help for anxiety. This is a kind of therapy you might want to consider.
Related Questions
1. Does having a pet reduce anxiety?
A pet that has been trained can help ease your anxiety and minimize its symptoms. They won’t judge you and they will be there for you always.
2. What is animal-assisted therapy for anxiety disorders?
Animal-assisted therapy uses the bond between humans and animals to help people and animals relate and provide support.
3. How does pet therapy help depression?
Grooming and caring for a pet can cause your brain to release endorphins which will give you a sense of purpose and make you happy.
4. What do dogs do to help with anxiety?
Cuddling and petting a dog can trigger the release of feel-good hormones that will make you happy. Dogs also love unconditionally and this can be a source of joy.
5. What are the risks associated with Pet Therapy?
The only risk associated with animal therapy is safety and sanitation. This is why you should go through professional means to get your pet. This will ensure they have gone through various screening and testing.
