People typically begin fixing our problems when we confide in them, but what we really need is empathy, connection, and understanding. Not only are most dogs naturally excellent at this, but they are also genetically programmed to offer it for humans.
It’s likely that if you’re reading this, you already know how wonderful it feels to come home to a pet who has been anticipating your arrival for the entire day. I think that our fascination with dogs shows us what we actually desire from relationships with other people: to feel completely understood, appreciated, loved, significant, and unique without conditions.
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A Strong Remedy for Traumatic Psychoses
Many people ask me, as a psychologist and trauma specialist, what the most prevalent and harmful feature of trauma is. According to the studies conducted thus far, relationship ruptures such abuse, abandonment, loss, and grieving are the cause of the problem. In every aspect, relationships are the foundation of mental wellness. This is also a big part of the reason why being alone for extended periods of time can be detrimental (yes, introverts, a little to moderate alone time is OK!). and self-satisfaction are not innate in human behavior.
The most important conclusion from the literature on PTSD is that social support is the most effective component of rehabilitation. There has always been a bond between humans and some animals, particularly dogs. In light of this, dogs can help counteract the main causes of human sorrow, which are loss, meaninglessness, and loneliness—so long as we don’t become unduly dependent on them and cut ourselves off from other people.
1. Pets strongly influence the social circuitry in our brains.
Because of the social circuitry encoded into our brains, our innate demand for intimate bonds and connections is prioritized. They are etched into our survival manual. Before we become autonomous, we are fundamentally linked. This is clear from birth; as infants, our fundamental needs are met by our attachment figures. Being alone is upsetting by nature and is not our normal condition.
The majority (though not all) of developmental delays in children are caused by their environment and caregivers failing to meet their requirements, which emphasizes how interconnected people are. It’s not necessary for these connections to be human. For many patients, pets may take up the slack when other people are unable to (Daddow, 2022).
According a recent research, during the COVID-19 pandemic, pet owners experienced significantly lower levels of depression than non-owners (Martin et al., 2021). Dog owners reported higher levels of optimism, decreased feelings of loneliness, and more social support.
As attachment and relationship pioneer John Bowlby put it, “I regard the desire to be loved and cared for as being an integral part of human nature throughout life as well as earlier and that the expression of such desires is to be expected in every person, especially in times of sickness and calamity” (Bowlby, 1979, p. 184), this is not surprising.
2. Pets are unadulterated.
Yes, sometimes pets may urinate on the carpeting to express how much they hurt to be without you. Pets, on the other hand, are not evil. They won’t gaslight you or try to extort you for anything (except from love, attention, play, time outside, or food). They would never forsake you to attend a friend’s party rather than hang out with you. They are devoted to you and will not pursue an affair as long as you treat them well—which should happen frequently, but please do treat them well nevertheless, as they deserve it!. They are everything to you and will not betray you.
Few experiences are more healing and correcting than being made to feel unique, loved, significant, and respected. As long as trauma survivors don’t become too dependent on their dogs and avoid social interactions with people, experiencing these feelings can actually help them go on to have stronger connections with other people in the future.
3. Pets are aware of and exist solely in relation.
Perhaps we should learn how to issue emotional support animal (ESA) letters for clients who require them for housing or travel, for example, even if the majority of mental health practitioners aren’t properly equipped to do so. Perhaps more instruction on how dogs can support people with specific mental health issues, like as trauma and depression, should be offered in graduate programs in mental health.
Pets communicate with us nonverbally. They are emotionally in tune with us and aren’t deterred by language or other subtleties or complications in interpersonal interactions. Emotion is the melody of relational dance, if you will (Johnson, 2019). For instance, they just adore us regardless of what’s going on; they won’t quarrel with us about politics or whose side you’re on in the Neil Young, Joe Rogan, and Spotify controversy. Emotion is what binds us to our pets and to one another.
It is quite evident from the work of emotion and relationship scientists like Brene Brown, Sue Johnson, and Les Greenberg that humans are far more emotional than cognitive, and pets understand this and take use of it to form meaningful connections with us. The same thing is desired in human interactions. How animals love, care for, and heal people has always captivated and inspired me in both my personal and professional lives. They appear to be more adept at it than most others! A vital missing element for those with mental health issues, busy families, and the lonely may be affectionate pets, such as most dogs.