Conditions a Therapy Animal Can Be Helpful With
Since ages, we have known animals to offer companionship to humans. Today, the world is recognizing animals as vital in offering therapy to humans. There are various benefits associated with the use of animals for therapy. Animals like cats, dogs, and horses have therapeutic benefits and can help people recover from disabilities and other health issues. This article examines some of the conditions a therapy animal can be helpful. They are:
- DEPRESSION
One of the conditions that animal therapy is helpful with is depression. Interacting with animals can help fight depression in victims. Caring, petting, and merely playing with animals have several effects on people. It brings a sense of purpose and stillness. This calmness is essential in fighting depression.
In most cases, people with depression suffer loneliness. The commonly used animals in fighting depression are; horses, cats, and dogs. When interacting with a pet, it stimulates your brain to release essential chemicals known as endorphins. The chemicals produced counteract how your body reacts to pain, resulting in pleasure. This process helps ease depression. You are also able to switch your attention from the stressors causing depression to the animal. This act helps take away your worries. The pet gives you a feeling of fulfillment and acceptance that you need to fight depression.
- AUTISM
According to psychologists, autistic people can hardly recognize and interpret some social cues because of low empathy, causing some defects in the brain. However, some people believe that people with autism have empathy, but low social interactions, causing them to withdraw. Children who suffer autism have shown improvement wit therapy animals. They tend to interact and socialize well with animals than they do with people. Socializing with animals works for them because it brings out their more advanced socialization skills. Autistic individuals can then use these skills with other people. People living with Autism report to receive less threat from pets. An animal is non-judgmental unlike human beings. Pets also foster responsibility in autistic children. The pets act as social lubricants to such kids. The pets also act as bridges for kids with autism. When trained, pets helps autistic kids communicate with their friends.
- MENTAL DISABILITY
Patients of mental disability benefit from animal therapy to help treat anxiety, depression, and stress. Victims of mental health who participate in animal therapy find comfort during moments of distress. Animal therapy is also essential in rebuilding self-esteem. Once you find out that you have mental disorder, you can go for an emotional support animal letter, abbreviated as ESA. This letter provides you with protection that enables you to live and travel with emotional supportive animals. If you have interest in getting an ESA letter, kindly check THERAPETIC to learn how you can get ESA letters for therapy animals. If you have the letter, you get exempted from paying deposits and fees to housing providers. Animals encourage mental health victims to talk to therapists and other patients. It is also an essential way to promote interaction and break down obstacles in any social context. Animals also reduce the feeling of alienation in such patients helping them fight mental disability.
- DEMENTIA
Dementia, commonly known as Alzheimer’s disease, is another condition a therapy animal can be helpful with. Dementia refers to memory loss, problem-solving skills, language, and other thinking capabilities. The situation can be severe to mess your life. The most common cause this condition is Alzheimer’s. Nowadays, if you walk into any dementia health care unit, you notice the presence of dogs. The dogs are usually relaxed. Whether it is a cat or a dog, having pets around someone suffering from Alzheimer’s is beneficial in numerous ways. Pets provide companionship, fun, and unconditional love. The best thing about having pets around is that they don’t judge or criticize someone. For this reason, people with dementia use animal therapy to fight their condition. The presence of pets reduces the effects of Alzheimer’s, from agitation to anxiety. Pets can cause victims to become more interactive in social settings.
- CHRONIC PAIN
Animal therapy is essential for reducing pain in people. The therapy entails the use of trained animals to provide therapeutic benefits for people with chronic pain. When it comes to treating chronic pain, animals like horses, dolphins, guinea pigs, cats, and dogs can be of help. The bottom line is finding an animal that the victim can develop connection with. Prior to initiating the therapy, the animal receives training. For instance, dogs can reduce pain and emotional distress among individuals with chronic pain. The victim can either choose to own the pet and spend most of their time with it, or, do regular visits to clinics where they spend some quality time with the animal. People reporting experiencing a decreased pain after several visits and encounter with the animals.
Conclusion
Animal therapy is essential in treating various conditions apart from the ones mentioned in these article. These are some of the conditions. If you are having a health issue, and feel the need to have animal therapy, you can contact a specialist for enquires. From this article, it is clear that interacting with animals offers several health benefits. Whether you have a health condition or not, owning a pet can help you get the support you need to push through every day.
