With Jennifer Aniston's new movie, "Marley & Me" in cinemas, I wanted to remind my readers that dogs and pets of all kind can absolutely help you heal and recover from depression. During the worst 18 months of my severe depression, my golden-retriever/chow mix Sarah, hopped on my bed and cuddled with me during those moments that I couldn't talk to a human being.
Awhile back my neighbor who had just lost her stepmom two days prior came knocking at the door.
"Can I borrow one of your dogs?" she asked.
"Sure," I said. "Why?"
"I just need a dog right now. I don't feel like talking to anyone. I just feel like walking a dog. It helps me in a way friends and family can't."
I handed her Sarah's leash, and thirty minutes later she came back looking much better.
"Thanks," she said. "I really needed that."
It made me think about all the readers who posted stories about their pets on my "Holy Dog?" post. These creatures can help us heal. Absolutely.
From Johns Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Health Alert:
Pets really do improve our mental (and physical) health. Here's why.
Pets are more than just furry friends and loyal companions. Yes, pets tug at our heartstrings, but they also improve our health, both mental and physical, helping us to live longer and happier lives. Studies over the past 25 years have shown that stroking a dog or cat can lower blood pressure and heart rate and boost levels of the mood-related brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine. Heart attack sufferers recover more quickly and survive longer when they have a pet at home, and children who are exposed to pets early in life may have a reduced risk of allergies and asthma.
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I recently had to put my doggie down after having him for over
17 years. It was an ungodly experience and I came away feeling
like I murdered him!!!!!! I stayed in the room and thought it
would be a gentle experience----------but 2 people held my dog
real tight which made him mad because he was soooo sore----and
then with all his agony he cried while they put the needle into
his leg--------which - again - was hypersensitive. I would
have thought that they would have calmed him down first and
then inject him-----------do you know if that was the way it
is always done??????????? Is this the accepted procedure?????
I cannot seem to get this horrible picture out of my mind!!!!!!
Rosee,
To my knowledge, if a dog is struggling, in pain... or otherwise won't simply 'fall asleep' gently, usually the vet does not let you stay in the room with them. They sometimes will sedate the dog before administering the final overdose of sedation. I am sooo incredibly sorry you have that image. Unfortunately, some dogs and cats do not pass peacefully... as some people do not pass peacefully. Some simply fall asleep and some have one last violent gasp and muscle spasm. Your vet should have explained that to you in helping you make the decision on whether or not you wanted to be with your dog in his final moments.
If he was in a lot of pain and his quality of life was destroyed (which it sounds like it was), please know you did a very kind thing.
But then what do you do when the dog dies and you get your depression even worse???
I've been struggling with depression since my early teens and agree with the OP that dogs and pets can help with coping. During my lowest times, I never felt alone (one of the worse things about my depression was that I always felt isolated even when around people) because I had my little dog with me. He loved and adored me, even though I was sometimes harsh with him due to my ups and downs. He never judged, always listened, and always "told" me with his eyes that I was the best, most wonderful human being he ever knew, and it never seemed placating or trite because it was sincere as only an animal can be sometimes. However, I do understand Rosee's comments because after ten years together (and a total age of 18), he recently died on March 28th of this year. To say I fell into a depression would be an understatement. I thought my world was going to end, but luckily I had another dog, wonderful friends, online forums to vent my sadness to, pet loss hotlines, a great doctor, and eventually I stabalized. I still miss him, but it's grief now and not a bottomless all-hope-is-gone feeling. I struggle with guilt (had I seen him symptoms earlier...) and regret (why didn't I spend more time with him), and my experience was similar to Rosee's in that though he died from his illness before we could even begin euthanasia, his was not quiet either. The vet said his heart had already stopped, but he gasped, his body tightened like someone had touched him with a live wire, and he defecated blood. It was gruesome, but through it all I held him and told him what a great dog he was and how I would miss him desperately and be reunited with him again one day. In about a week, I'll be picking up a new puppy. Not as a replacement. Because my other dog is lonely and has never been without a buddy, and my family feels incomplete. This new dog will never take the place of my heartdog, but I think I have enough room to let her in. Rosee, I'm sorry for your loss and hope you find your way to healing from this tragic event. And no, not all vet offices are so rough. I realize they must be efficient and didn't want to prolong the pain should the drug not be administered properly because your dog was struggling, but I've seen my share of vet offices, and the good ones will talk to your dog, soothe his or her fears, and take any steps necessary to prevent additional pain. My vet use to take up to ten minutes to calm my dog down before his exam or shots because he knew he was nervous.
same exact thing happened to my dog that I had to put down, he struggled and cried with his last bit if energy and then he was gone and I cannot put that thought out of my mind. My heart and my head do not go together on this.
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