Although dogs are often trained as service animals to help those with blindness or other disabilities, they can also help out with mental problems too. One of the most interesting developments in modern mental health treatment is the use of therapy dogs who help treat mental illness.
As anyone who has owned a pet can attest, being with animals often has a calming effect. This is especially true for dogs, which can often help relieve stress or improve mood when they interact with a human. Playing with or petting a dog can help lower blood pressure and release positive neurotransmitters in the brain.
Some of these benefits were first noticed during World War Two, although systematic use of the therapy dogs did not begin until the 1970’s. Today, therapy dogs are commonly owned by those with mental health issues or taken around hospitals to cheer up patients. There are even other therapy animals such as birds, cats, or rabbits.
Some of the most common disorders treated with therapy dogs includes PTSD and depression, because they help calm patients down and improve their moods. They can also be used for people suffering from emotional disorders, high amounts of stress, or even autism. In some cases, therapy dogs are treated as service animals, and can be taken to just as many places as a seeing-eye dog.
Although many different types of dogs can be used as therapy animals, one of the most common breeds is the Golden Retriever. Golden Retrievers are fun-loving, social, and friendly even to strangers, making them a great choice for relaxing and improving mental health. They are also gentle and extremely loyal, making them a great therapy aid whether they are owned as an individual’s service animal or are used for several patients at a hospital or mental institution. Finally, Golden Retrievers are also highly intelligent and can be trained for whatever the therapy situation requires. Vizlas also make good therapy dogs.
Although dog-based therapy is relatively new, the bond between humans and dogs is not. A good therapy dog can have some amazing benefits for those with mental health problems.
Health Benefits of Treatment with Therapy Dogs
Like most people, you probably know firsthand that spending time with dogs is a great way to have fun and boost your mood. However, did you know that treatment with trained therapy dogs can actually improve your health? If you spend enough time with therapy dogs, you may start noticing the following positive changes in your physical and mental well-being.
Less Anxiety
Anxiety can range from mild feelings of fear and worry to full-out panic attacks. Therapy dogs can help relieve feelings of anxiety and some of the associated symptoms. Spending time with a therapy dog can reduce your general anxiety and your feelings of fear about specific things, such as upcoming medical procedures.
Lower Blood Pressure
In addition to reducing anxiety, treatment with therapy dogs can lower your blood pressure. Visits with therapy dogs often reduce anxiety and stress, which are huge contributing factors to high blood pressure. The health benefits that this offers cannot be overstated, since high blood pressure can open the door to many serious conditions, such as heart disease and stroke.
Healthier Hormonal Levels
Spending time with a therapy dog can also have a positive effect on various hormones that regulate your moods. Research indicates that people show the following changes after treatment with therapy dogs:
- Increased endorphin levels. Endorphins provide physical and mental benefits by reducing perceptions of pain or anxiety.
- Greater levels of oxytocin. This hormone encourages bonding and promotes feelings of happiness and empathy.
- Reduced levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine. These stimulants play an essential role in the brain, but overly high levels can have negative effects.
For some people, visits with a therapy dog may offer a healthy way to regulate these hormones without medication.
Other Health Gains
These are just a few of the established positive effects of treatment with trained therapy dogs. In time, research might reveal other benefits of this type of therapy. Still, all of these findings just confirm what many people already know — that time spent with dogs offers a wealth of unique physical and mental benefits.
How Therapy Dogs Help Treatment of PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can develop following the experience or witnessing of a traumatic event, and it can cause extreme anxiety, sleeplessness, feelings of hyper vigilance, nightmares, and the inability to form healthy relationships with family and friends. This disorder can make it very difficult to function in everyday life, yet using dogs for therapy and as support animals has shown promise in helping to treat PTSD sufferers.
The Benefits of Being a Canine Caregiver
Taking care of a dog or even just attending therapy sessions with a specially trained service dog can provide many benefits for individuals with PTSD, such as:
- A calming effect for increased emotional coping skills
- A listening, non-judgmental ear
- Decreased feelings of depression and anxiety
- Offer a fun outlet for stress
- Provide a feeling of safety and security
- Motivation to exercise, get outside, and help meet new people
- Sense of purpose and responsibility
- Unconditional love
The Perfect Pet for PTSD
With their overall calm demeanor and reward-oriented behavior, dogs are the perfect animals to help individuals find relief from their PTSD symptoms. Canines can provide the tactile stimulation needed when an individuals’ mind begins to wander back to the traumatic events they have experienced. Specially trained PTSD dogs can sense this change, and will lick their handler’s face or nudge them gently to help bring them back to the present and out of the upsetting event.
Aside from the emotional support of a service dog, being able to bond with a four-legged friend can also have a biological effect for pet owners and handlers, as bonding with a pet has been shown to help elevate the levels of the hormone oxytocin and serotonin in the bloodstream—leading to more stable moods and feelings of happiness and well-being.
No matter the breed, from a Great Dane to a Chihuahua, the constant companionship that a canine can offer can provide great relief for individuals suffering from PTSD.