The Healing Power of Pets
Recently I thrifted the cutest book, We’ll Prescribe You a Cat. And while I can’t lie, I bought it because the cover was cute, the book was about something very dear to me- emotional support animals. Just like the nature of this book, the job of an emotional support animal can be a little mysterious. Let’s break it down.
What is an emotional support animal?
An emotional support animal is not a service animal nor a therapy animal. These animals can be any domesticated animal, however are often dogs, cats. These animals are not trained to perform any specific job or task. The benefits of an emotional support animal come from the animal’s natural sense of companionship. Having an emotional support animal has been proven to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD through constant companionship and a sense of unconditional love.
The basics
In this book, We’ll Prescribe You a Cat, the doctor “prescribed” cats for many different characters for a wide variety of reasons. Some for insomnia, some for job stress, some for loneliness. And in all cases, the cat seemed to be very effective within 2 weeks of the “prescription.” Having an emotional support animal can create a sense of purpose. Caring for an animal, such as feeding, walking, playing, or grooming, creates a daily routine and a sense of responsibility that can improve mental health. The presence of the emotional support animal provides constant companionship, helping break cycles of isolation and low mood. When considering trauma, emotional support animals can provide a sense of safety and comfort to individuals dealing with PTSD.
The Science
We have a chemical in our body called “oxytocin”, a nine amino-acid neuropeptide, commonly known as the “love hormone.” This is produced in the brain by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland into the bloodstream and brain. This chemical can be found in both humans and animals. In humans, it is commonly produced and released during childbirth, breastfeeding, sexual activity, or even when hugging. Simply petting an animal can increase oxytocin production in your body within 10 minutes. Oxytocin has been linked to lowering blood pressure and anxiety, creating a sense of calm and connection. Newer research states that it may support immune function and reduce inflammation. Studies have shown that dogs show an increased oxytocin production, up to 57%, when having a positive interaction with their owners, compared to cats who on average have a 12% increase. If you are a cat owner you know this is exactly on brand for them.
Fun facts!
–During a 2013 study, dogs were more successful in a problem solving task with their bonded owner as opposed to with a stranger
-Scientists in 2014 imaged both a human brain and a dog brain and found that the same parts of the brain were stimulated when they were shown a picture of their dog/owner
Emotional support animals and trauma
As previously mentioned, emotional support animals can be especially helpful to individuals who have suffered some sort of trauma and experience PTSD like symptoms. These animals can provide nervous system calming just by interacting with them during panic, emotional overwhelm and dissociation. They can provide sensory and emotional anchoring in the present moment. Emotional support animals can help interrupt flashbacks, redirect attention from intrusive thoughts, and can create a sense of predictability and stability for emotional grounding. Some individuals have stated that sleeping next to a dog or cat has increased their sense of safety at night, knowing that the animal will stir or alert if there is danger detected, allowing the individual to leave the fight or flight state, encouraging deeper sleep. Similarly, some individuals have reported a decrease in nightmares due to the distraction of the animal while falling asleep. Animals have an ability to detect emotional dysregulation with their bonded owner, sometimes even before the human may notice within themselves. Animals can also respond to this dysregulation without formal training. They may stay close during distress, or interrupt crying or panicking by offering an opportunity to interact (potentially frustratingly so, but effective nonetheless!).
Recap
So beyond just being cute and fluffy, animals can add a level of comfort beyond what we may consider. Next time that you are gazing at your cat, or petting your dog, rest assured that your body is chemically reacting to this interaction and creating a state of calm and comfort all on its own. And this is not just beneficial for you, the human, this is happening automatically for your pet as well- win win!
Andover Family Counseling does not provide any ESA evaluations or recommendations for clients at this time.
-Haley Martin, LMSW, LMAC