I'm on week 9 now and I have made progress, a little bit of progress, up until week 8. But recently I got my dream of having my own dog and for some reason it has made me so happy and so calm. Does anyone know why? It's the strangest thing.
My little miniature pinscher makes me love life again. I know I can't be anxious around her or be angry or depressed because she will see it and be affected by it. So by not wanting her to feel bad, I make myself better. Odd huh?
And I can't focus on myself as much anymore, instead I'd rather play with her or take her for a walk. So that makes me less depressed. It actually makes me unable to worry. Ha! I'm worry-impaired.
If anyone can explain to me how this works, I would love to hear it. But I'm so happy I have her.
Dramatic improvement because of a dog?
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Guest
Dear Juno,
So glad to hear you are feeling relief.
You are not the only one who has had this experience. I can't explain it though. Doggie's are just good that way. Organizations even take dogs into hospitals to pick up patient's spirits.
Have you ever seen the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic channel?
There was a woman on who got her dog from an organization in California specifically for her anxiety/agoraphobia.
I have been looking for something like that in Canada.
Don't forget the program. You are feeling better right now but you want to feel better all the time. Doggie can help bunches.
So glad to hear you are feeling relief.
You are not the only one who has had this experience. I can't explain it though. Doggie's are just good that way. Organizations even take dogs into hospitals to pick up patient's spirits.
Have you ever seen the Dog Whisperer on National Geographic channel?
There was a woman on who got her dog from an organization in California specifically for her anxiety/agoraphobia.
I have been looking for something like that in Canada.
Don't forget the program. You are feeling better right now but you want to feel better all the time. Doggie can help bunches.
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Guest
Thanks Marshmellowgirl. I have seen the dog whisperer and that's really interesting. The effect is amazing. Dogs live in the moment and so you just have to along with that when you spend time with them. May be that's why it works so well. They are also very compassionate.
I certainly am staying with the progam. I see this as a big step forward. Without the program I would never had had enough faith in myself that I could take care of a dog. I had dogs since I was 4, yet I was afraid I wouldn't do well taking care of one. Now I see that as so rediculous. I'm glad the program made me take such a wonderful step. I hope to take many more.
I certainly am staying with the progam. I see this as a big step forward. Without the program I would never had had enough faith in myself that I could take care of a dog. I had dogs since I was 4, yet I was afraid I wouldn't do well taking care of one. Now I see that as so rediculous. I'm glad the program made me take such a wonderful step. I hope to take many more.
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Hello happiness
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- Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:00 pm
Pets can be such great therapy. They do live in the moment and when we are with them it brings us into the present moment too. This is a good thing, and I can easily see why they are used as therapy in nursing homes. I used to visit a friend every week in a nursing home and would take her little dog (who she had to give to her brother when she went into the home) over to visit. This little dog did more for the people in the home than their regular activities. Everyone had such a smile on their faces when he arrived and the dog got so much attention that he didn't want to go home. Maybe you could start a pet therapy for the nursing homes.?? Here they need to be certified for pet therapy to make sure they don't bite people, but it really isn't hard to get this certification. Something so simple can bring such joy to someone's life.
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Guest
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Guest
Thanks Blueskies. I encourage everyone to seek out things they love. Whether it's gardening or animals or scuba diving. Some activies really awaken certain people and open them up. I think if you can find that and pursue it, that makes recovery so much faster and easier.
I really think doing that leads to positive thinking and less worrying. Some experiences just naturally lead your thinking down a healthier path so why not do what you love more often? I have learned that that is one way you can set yourself up for success in this program, not only learning the coping skills, but by exposing yourself to positive things. This way the skills just come naturally.
I really think doing that leads to positive thinking and less worrying. Some experiences just naturally lead your thinking down a healthier path so why not do what you love more often? I have learned that that is one way you can set yourself up for success in this program, not only learning the coping skills, but by exposing yourself to positive things. This way the skills just come naturally.
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Guest
I just wanted to say that I am so happy for you, and I completely understand. My story is that two years ago in April, our family finally got a dog as well:). We have a son with severe autism, and we had been struggling over the decision, and it's a long story about the way it happened, but we felt that God clearly worked it our for us:). One time, a babysitter that wasn't good for our son let our dog get lost and didn't tell us as soon as it happened. This was a sign that she wasn't a good person for our son. It was a horrible night with many tears, but he came back the next morning, and I really felt like God gave me these signs beforehand that he would come back. So, I feel like God has used my dog to help me with my faith:).
I could keep going on and on:)! My anxiety really went down after I got him. Also, I love to do art, and attempted to do a picture of him and it turned out really well(I don't mean that in a ****y way at all, but I love to do art but have low self-esteem about it so it meant a lot to me that it turned out better than expected, and doing art helps me with my anxiety:)). A year later, we had an acquaintance who is sick with leukemia. Her dog really helps comfort her, and having my dog helped me understand how special her dog is to her. I was a little scared to put myself out there, but I did a picture of her dog for her, and she and her husband said that it has really brought them comfort. It was like the process of doing the picture actually helped me:). My husband had to travel for a job interview, and it was the first time in years we had left our state because of my agoraphobia. Doing the picture beforehand landed me some complements which boosted my self-esteem and gave me a sense of purpose and then help me put my anxiety into perspective compared to this girl's leukemia. I was like, "If she can battle leukemia, I can certainly go on this trip." We went on the trip with my dog in my lap, and the last trip I had went on, I had struggled eventhough we made it, but this time, I had so much peace:). I don't have words to express how that makes me feel in a positive way, but again, I think God has used my dog in many positive ways in my life and our family's lives which helps on so many levels.
Also, my husband and I have horrible extended family members who don't help us with our son. I wouldn't say I'm completely cured of my obsession over my in-law's and what they think of me, but it's a lot better. It's kind of like our dog is our witness to what we all are going through with our son. It's hard to explain, and that makes me focus less on the in-law's or others who don't like us:). Although the interactions between my son and his dog aren't "miraculous", there are so many precious moments. My son curled up with him on the couch last week, and it was just beautiful. I tried to snap a picture, and both of them are wary of pictures so they both fled!:) It was a miracle to us to see that, and they do have those times. Our dog completely understands how to relate to our son with his autistic behaviors!
I hope I didn't hijack, but I just wanted to let you know that I understand. I know my dog can't drive for me, and I can't be dependent on him, but his unconditional love has helped me and our family in so many ways:). I'm happy your dog has helped you in so many ways as well:).
Take care,
luvpiggy
I could keep going on and on:)! My anxiety really went down after I got him. Also, I love to do art, and attempted to do a picture of him and it turned out really well(I don't mean that in a ****y way at all, but I love to do art but have low self-esteem about it so it meant a lot to me that it turned out better than expected, and doing art helps me with my anxiety:)). A year later, we had an acquaintance who is sick with leukemia. Her dog really helps comfort her, and having my dog helped me understand how special her dog is to her. I was a little scared to put myself out there, but I did a picture of her dog for her, and she and her husband said that it has really brought them comfort. It was like the process of doing the picture actually helped me:). My husband had to travel for a job interview, and it was the first time in years we had left our state because of my agoraphobia. Doing the picture beforehand landed me some complements which boosted my self-esteem and gave me a sense of purpose and then help me put my anxiety into perspective compared to this girl's leukemia. I was like, "If she can battle leukemia, I can certainly go on this trip." We went on the trip with my dog in my lap, and the last trip I had went on, I had struggled eventhough we made it, but this time, I had so much peace:). I don't have words to express how that makes me feel in a positive way, but again, I think God has used my dog in many positive ways in my life and our family's lives which helps on so many levels.
Also, my husband and I have horrible extended family members who don't help us with our son. I wouldn't say I'm completely cured of my obsession over my in-law's and what they think of me, but it's a lot better. It's kind of like our dog is our witness to what we all are going through with our son. It's hard to explain, and that makes me focus less on the in-law's or others who don't like us:). Although the interactions between my son and his dog aren't "miraculous", there are so many precious moments. My son curled up with him on the couch last week, and it was just beautiful. I tried to snap a picture, and both of them are wary of pictures so they both fled!:) It was a miracle to us to see that, and they do have those times. Our dog completely understands how to relate to our son with his autistic behaviors!
I hope I didn't hijack, but I just wanted to let you know that I understand. I know my dog can't drive for me, and I can't be dependent on him, but his unconditional love has helped me and our family in so many ways:). I'm happy your dog has helped you in so many ways as well:).
Take care,
luvpiggy