Therapeutic effects of companion animals
Hi, friends of Steemit!
Several weeks ago I told you that we unexpectedly became owners of a beautiful parrot. Although it cost us to adapt to each other, we ended up getting used to being together and coexisting day by day. A few days ago, our beautiful pet decided to continue his way in freedom and leave without warning.
I confess that his departure affected us all, we clung to the little animal and we were nostalgic and sad. But nothing compares to the feeling of my youngest daughter who cried and missed her in a very particular way.
When I was a teenager I had a Pekingese dog, he was my faithful friend and playmate. After several years of having it, one day he ran away from the house and was hit by a motorcycle. My sadness was deep and I cried for her as if it were a very loved one. And is that pets become part of the family!
Is it inevitable to feel attachment for our pets?
A neighbor of my community has several dogs as pets that she kisses and hugs as if they were her children. I have seen her cry without consolation when one of them falls ill or dies, and at any time takes them to the vet when they are sick.
But what are the reasons for this type of affective ties between pets and their owners?
In most cases, pets that live in homes are dogs or cats. If we talk about dogs, these affective bonds are facilitated by their condition of being faithful companions that are always close. Something similar happens with cats, in spite of not being as sociable as dogs, they can also develop affective ties with their owners and feel as comfortable in home environments as in a natural environment. This also applies to the rest of the pets we usually have, such as birds, rabbits, turtles, mice, etc.
The demands of attention and care, force the owners to create responsibility and commitment to these animals and create bonding as in any family relationship.
Thus, pets are beneficial for people of different ages
The child psychologist María Luisa Ferrerós believes that a pet helps improve the child's self-esteem. The feeling of protection that the child develops to his pet and the unconditional disposition of the animal to be a playmate stimulates the establishment of a solid affective bond and very beneficial for both.
In adolescents, pets become faithful companions in solitude, reliable friends in a stage marked by disobedience, and a reason for joy that helps to calm the depression of this age. In addition, the psychologist Ferrerós explains that it also helps them overcome insecurity and shyness.
In adults and the elderly, the benefits are also significant. It stimulates the practice of exercise, improves attention, memory and reduces stress levels, according to the psychologists of the Altarriba Foundation located in Barcelona, Spain.
My father suffered a Hemiplegia during my adolescence, as a result of a Stroke that affected the right side of his body. He had difficulty writing and walking and was subjected to therapy for a long time. He had sequelae on his right leg that prevented him from walking normally. At that time we had another dog, which we adopted after the death of the Pekingese, just as cute and affectionate. My dad used to take him out to walk three times a day. Now I know that he served as a stimulus for my father and made him exercise. With time my father had remarkable improvement in yor leg.
In young couples without children, it allows them to learn the care, attention and responsibilities that the arrival of the youngest children entails.
Benefits in Health
... companion animals help reduce stress, blood pressure and heart rate. An improvement in dopamine and endorphin levels (associated with well-being) and decreased cortisol levels (associated with stressful situations) have been observed after a 30-minute session of interaction with a dog.
The reduction in blood pressure is equivalent to that achieved by a diet low in salt or reducing alcohol ... Increases survival after a myocardial infarction in patients who had pets, reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, particularly the systolic blood pressure, plasma cholesterol and triglycerides.
As you can see, having a pet despite the limits involved, is very beneficial for the physical and emotional health of people.
Healing the body and mind through the practice of animal therapy
Motivated by the tranquility and the manifestation of affection that produces the presence of an animal in people and by the evidenced therapeutic effects observed in patients who were in contact with them, health professionals such as, Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Speech Therapists , etc. have been dedicated to design therapies with companion animals that seek to improve the physical, mental and psychological health of people of any age. Supported by the work of technicians in assisted therapy with animals that are responsible for the training of the animal, its management in the activities and its physical well-being at all times.
This type of activity takes place in hospitals, geriatric centers, mental institutions and even in a personalized way if the right conditions exist.
Among the animals used in these therapies are dogs, cats, dolphins, rabbits and horses.
First achievements in animal therapy
The first time we had data on the use of pets for therapies in patients (in those cases with mental problems) was in 1792 in England. Then, in 1867, the companion animals began to intervene in the care and treatment of epileptics in a city in Germany. In 1944, the Red Cross organized a rehabilitation area in New York to rehabilitate those returning from the war with the aid of animals.
For better understanding I want to share a video, among many that we can find on Youtube, which shows how animal-assisted therapies are.
To finish, I want to share this recognized phrase of an important personage of humanity, Mahatma Gandhi.
Congratulations @ufv, this post is the forth most rewarded post (based on pending payouts) in the last 12 hours written by a Newbie account holder (accounts that hold between 0.01 and 0.1 Mega Vests). The total number of posts by newbie account holders during this period was 4719 and the total pending payments to posts in this category was $3878.39. To see the full list of highest paid posts across all accounts categories, click here.
If you do not wish to receive these messages in future, please reply stop to this comment.