DOGS BRING OUT THE GOOD IN US !
Dogs play a major role in Human experiences. We learn so much from Dogs, but most of us don’t really understand that dogs are not just pets that guard our houses, but animals who can help us establish ourselves emotionally and psychologically. It is not a new idea to have dogs be a part of the mental healing process for humans in therapy. The First Formal Research of Animal assistance in therapy can be traced back to the 1960s.This therapy was initiated by Dr. Boris Levinson, a professionally trained clinician who formally introduced and documented that dogs and other animals have a positive effect on mentally ill patients. He discovered that his patients were most comfortable and socialised better with dogs than with other humans.
Therapy dogs also known as “comfort dogs” help in the overall well-being of human beings and not necessarily with people suffering from mental illness. These comfort dogs are trained to provide love, comfort, and affection to people in Hospital, Schools, and Retirement houses. Dog Therapy has proved to be an effective Non-Conventional Therapy for various mental illness including, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and, Alzheimer’s. Understanding the connection between dogs and mental health Research results suggest that animal-assisted therapy plays an important part of mental health treatment.
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Interacting with a friendly dog reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. And it increases the release of oxytocin—another chemical in the body that reduces stress naturally. The sensory act of stroking a pet lowers blood pressure resulting in the reduction of stress. Animal therapy helps in the overall development of Self-Esteem and Well-Being of an individual. This therapy can help people become more mindful. Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to the present moment. Dog therapy also helps in the management of emotions. In addition, this therapy is considered as a means of distracting oneself from the symptoms of their mental health condition. Animal therapy helps in building healthy habits and routines that pets support social connection. Comfort dogs also relieve social anxiety because they provide a common topic to talk about. Hence, pets counteract social anxiety.
Dog therapy does not just help people suffering from Mental illness, but also has a positive impact on children as well as mentally challenged children. Animals are naturally a part of a child’s world. When witnessed, the child-animal bond is something pure. A child’s bond with animals teaches empathy and compassion- as well as a host of other skills such as; fine motor, gross motor, sensory regulation, emotional regulation, and social skills to name a few.
Dog therapy is very common across the globe and India is certainly catching up with the progress. There are various educational institutions, Corporate Sectors and, Hospitals are incorporating Dog therapy to reduce stress, anxiety, and to blur the lines of fear between children and dogs. And most importantly comfort dogs provide unconditional love which is good for the mental health. In scientific terms, it stimulates the brain to release dopamine, the chemical responsible in sensing pleasure.
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Mental health has been an increasingly popular topic of conversation recently, and rightfully so. With this website we aim to familiarise the general audience with the basics of mental health. This includes basic disorders, recovery and how one should go about the nooks and crooks of mental health, all under one URL.