Animals Help Us Heal
I have experienced significant trauma in my life. I didn’t talk about it much when I was younger. I didn’t want the attention. I don’t want the attention now either. I talk about it now because it’s part of who I am. I am a survivor who still tries every day to navigate her way through the jungle.
My pets have always been good for my mental health. Because of them, I am rarely lonely. The discipline of having to care for an animal keeps me moving forward, one step at a time. During times of intense stress, they calm me and focus me. These days I have two big dogs – Charlie and King. I couldn’t be more grateful. The things I need, they need as well. They need to eat, go to the bathroom, and sleep. But, they also need to play. Today was a day without enough play. I am stressed and they can feel it. I will make it up to them tomorrow. I will allow myself time to play.
Halm, M. A. (2008). The healing power of the human-animal connection. American journal of critical care, 17(4), 373-376.