Having a pet can improve the quality of your life on so many levels: “mentally, physically, and spiritually.” Your new “ best friend” can help decrease depression as they help to increase serotonin and pets have been shown to help to decrease anxiety and stress as they lower cortisol levels.. Pet parents have lower blood pressure and pets can ease loneliness. As humans, we all need touch but if you have experienced trauma then touch can be a “trigger” although you may long for a “safe” touch. This is where these precious animal companions can be used by God as:” miracle workers” in the healing process. These precious ones can help you to enjoy and give and receive a “safe touch” as well as “unconditional love” and help you to come out of being shut down and to “open your heart”
1. THE HEALING POWER OF “SAFE TOUCH” FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH TRAUMA
“Safe touch” can help sooo much! So many of my clients who are trauma survivors had built “walls” around themselves in an attempt to protect themselves from others as they are fearful of being “intruded” upon and in the process were unable to allow themselves the opportunity to begin to enjoy touch when it s a “safe touch” from a “safe person”. I work with my dog Mercy and my two cats:Faithful and Goodness and these little ones can melt the “hardest” and “most anxious/depresssed”heart. These little ones have encouraged so many of my clients to open their hearts and homes to a precious animal companion and have been a great part of the healing process as joy and playfulness and love touch traumatized hearts!!
2. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE AN ANTIDOTE TO SHAME
These precious pets could care less about your past or how you look or what job you have or how old you are as they come into your life to love you and receive love without conditions… yes you will need to get out of bed when you do not feel like it and feed them or walk in the cold, rain, snow as your baby needs to be walked and through it all, you are building a strong bond with each other and through it all God is using this little one to heal you from the inside out and for you to “stretch past your comfort zones” so that change and growth take place.
3. STRUCTURE TO YOUR DAY
We all need structure in our lives and these guys can surely help you to have the structure that you need as structure provides a sense of security that you need as well as your precious one also needs. There is a routine that you will need to get in place as you care for your little one on a daily basis. If you adopt a dog then walks will be in order a few times a day as well as feeding at least twice daily and playtime. Walking your dog will provide more socialization and exercise for both of you. If you have adopted a cat then cleaning the litter box at least twice and providing healthy wet food and scratching posts and toys are in order(for dogs need toys too)Time spent together is the most important element as we give time to what are our priorities. Having a pet will bless both of you greatly! You will never regret all the joy that comes from this relationship!!
THERAPY WITH THE “RIGHT” THERAPIST CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Making the decision to adopt a pet is a life-affirming one and as a trauma survivor having the “right” therapist is also life-affirming as well as essential for healing and moving forward.. Would love to walk along this healing journey and be part of it with you! If what I am saying is something you can relate to then give me a call!