When going through recovery, there are times in which you may feel alone in the journey, and sometimes it can be hard to reach out to those around you. Have you ever considered a pet? Having a pet can be beneficial to your recovery. Pets offer unconditional love, instill a sense of responsibility and accountability, and help you build confidence. Pets can be a valuable resource in the recovery process.
During recovery, you can experience many different emotions, which can sometimes be complicated to communicate with friends, family, and peers. Pets are a great source of emotional support as they can be naturally in tune with your feelings.
It can be hard to talk with those around you because sometimes you want to be heard, and it is hard for those who love and support you not to give feedback. Pets are a great outlet to express difficult emotions as they are all ears. Talking with your pet or even just being around them gives a sense of reassurance and allows you to express emotions in a verbal and non-verbal way.
A Frontier in Veterinary Science study found that pets are great for helping you navigate through emotions after a disaster. The disaster, in this case, is the event that led you to recovery. They also found that pets can reduce the effect of anxiety, stress, depression, and PTSD symptoms. Pets can also improve social skills and promote physical health, which can, in turn, boost your mental health.
Caring for a pet comes with a significant sense of responsibility as they are helpless without you and rely solely on the care you provide. This can be a comforting feeling because it gives you a sense of accountability within yourself. Having a pet also motivates you to keep moving forward because you will develop the mindset that you are responsible for yourself and them.
Having a pet helps structure a daily schedule, which is crucial to recovery. Pets need constant care and consistency, which can lead to helpful daily activities, such as daily walks and play times. Pets also help you relax. While you might feel the constant need to keep working on yourself, you must remember you need to take a step back and breathe.
With a pet, you need to provide ample play times with them, which can help to take the stress of the day away as your focus is on them and the cute things they do. This can also help when trying to relax; simply having your pet around will provide a sense of comfort.
If you cannot afford a pet or your place of living does not allow pets, there are still many ways to involve yourself with animals. For instance, volunteering at your local animal shelter is a great way to get out and engage with animals. It provides a sense of accomplishment and pride, especially when you see the animal get adopted.
Ultimately, spending time with animals allows you the opportunity to gain a feeling of responsibility as the animals in that shelter still need love and care. It also allows you to engage and give back to the community. You will also benefit from meeting other people that love animals. Not only do volunteer options help build your support network, but volunteering at a shelter might also lead to a career opportunity.
Another way to get involved is through fostering animals. Fostering allows you to care for an animal for a short time. This is a great way to connect with animals, as some in the foster system have been through difficult struggles; therefore, it teaches you how to make strong connections.
Although the recovery process is quite different between animals and humans, there are still similarities, thus allowing you to look at your recovery process through a different lens. Building a bond with any animal is unlike any other bond you will experience with any human.
There are less common but equally beneficial ways to interact with animals to help your recovery. Equine therapy is a great way to help your recovery. It involves interacting with horses to teach you some interpersonal skills like learning how to trust and how to be more "in the moment." Shared experiences with animals help build trust in yourself and them, which will carry over into other areas of your life.
The early days of recovery can be challenging, and a pet can help you overcome some of the everyday struggles that come with it. While a pet can be essential to recovery, it is only one piece of the puzzle. Sometimes you need more help to stay sober, and NorthStar Transitions can help. Located in Boulder, CO., we utilize the beautiful landscape to provide a balanced approach to care to prepare you for life's hardest challenges. Our goal is to equip you with the right tools to help you manage the root of your addiction and help you sustain recovery. Whether it is your first time in treatment or if you're recovering from a relapse, we can help. If you or a loved one needs help, get help now. To find out more about our programs, reach out to us today by calling (303) 558-6400.
