Pet Therapy
How can one resist this fuzzy face???
The comfort of a pet or animal is like no other. It’s wonderful to see so many methods of pet/animal therapy available today. They provide such a sense of happiness and calm for people of all walks of life. Even when we are out and about – walking through town or the park, there is always that inevitable smile that comes across so many people’s faces when they see a dog. I can relate with our dog as she is known as my “favorite” child. When I am stressed out, taking the time to sit with her for a few minutes, petting her and getting lots of love from her – tends to make the circumstances a whole lot better! She also is a major motivator in getting me outside – even in the winter (which is a huge feat). I enjoy our walks – trying to get one in almost every day. And seeing how happy she is, makes me happy. 😊
It is wonderful to see Pet/Animal Therapy as a real method for treating so many health issues. From cancer patients to those with disabilities and others with mental illness, they make a huge impact on people and their overall outcome. There is so much that we don’t even know about all the positive effects this has on someone that is ill. On a personal level, I know I feel the benefits and hear this from so many other people.
If you are not a huge dog/animal lover, my recommendation is to give it a try. I have seen many converted from non-dog lover to avid dog lovers. Once they grab a hold of your heart strings and you see the benefits of what they provide, one becomes converted and never look back.
Known benefits include the following:
- Exposure to outside air
- Increased self-esteem
- Decrease in anxiety
- Increase dopamine levels – happy hormone
- Sense of normalcy
- Sense of connection
In my opinion, I feel that having a dog in our home helps my entire family. And usually we are not even tuned into that fact as we get involved with our daily lives. It can be hidden in the subconscious mind. I can speak to when our family of four is out together and getting close to home, we all get excited about seeing Riley. We start talking about her, what she was doing while we were gone and just simply getting giddy to see her. Then we all make a big fuss when walking in the door – all with smiles on our faces. She helps us to be closer and more cohesive as a family. We all have a different bond with her, and she truly gives us so much joy. She definitely makes our lives more complete.
They say that a dog is man’s best friend and we can certainly see why – especially with all of the above benefits. Next time you are out and about, take the time to pet a fuzzy furball (be sure to ask the owner first) – it’s sure to put a smile on your face.
Check out my recipes here – the list will continue to grow.
NEW FEATURE: Several recipes now include short instructional videos.
https://christihealthcoach.com/recipes-all/
https://christihealthcoach.com/clean-coconut-yogurt/
https://christihealthcoach.com/chia-seed-pudding/
https://christihealthcoach.com/quick-simple-chicken-sausage/
How is YOUR health? If you still aren’t sure where to start, schedule a time to talk with me.
Let me help you stay on track and meet your goals this 2020!
Visit https://christihealthcoach.com/contact/ to get started and schedule a consultation today!
Cheers To Your Health,
Coach Christi
