The Effects of Pets On Owners’ Recovery

Our pets are more than just our lovely companions in life. There have been numerous studies that have shown how pets have an incredible effect on our mental health. The effects of pets on owners’ recovery during their journey to sobriety cannot be underestimated. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should get a pet simply because you know you will be heading to a Palm Beach rehab facility. However, if this is something you have been contemplating for quite some time, then now might be the right time to do it. If you are an animal lover, then this article was tailored for you.

The effects of pets on owners’ recovery and how they assist treatment

We have to start by saying that your pet alone is not going to be enough to help you overcome your addiction. Depending on the type and severity of your addiction, you will need to look into an alcohol and drug rehab Palm Beach facility. However, there are quite a few benefits that come with owning pets during recovery. And all of these benefits will have a positive effect on your journey – in one way or another.

Pets provide companionship

People who are going through recovery oftentimes report feeling lonely. And truth be told, a lengthy stay in crack cocaine rehab can be isolating. And while it’s always important to rely on the help and support of friends and family, some people don’t have the luxury of having a large group around them. But as long as you love animals and are willing to properly care for them, you can have a faithful companion by your side – every step of the way.

Your pet might not be able to have a conversation with you, but they are more than able to provide one with the warmth and love that’s needed. And just because they can’t talk back doesn’t mean that they can’t listen. You can feel free to tell them all about your experiences in an alcohol rehab Florida center and take a load off of your shoulder.

You get unconditional love

We all want to feel loved. And one of the best effects of pets on owners’ recovery is the unconditional love and support that they always give. Unlike people, your dog or cat won’t judge you. Moreover, they don’t know how to exploit you. All they need is for you to treat them well and they won’t hesitate to shower you with love. It goes without saying that the love an animal can give is best when combined with human love and companionship. That mix can tremendously help one get through a partial hospitalization program Florida facilities have to offer.

Animals can help you fill your time

If you are attending an outpatient program in Florida, then you will have plenty of free time on your hands. Depending on what you do to occupy your time, this can be both a good and a bad thing. Some people will use that time to hang around the old crowd and ruin any progress they have made thus far. However, other people will see this as an opportunity to advance and fill their time with therapeutic activities. From walking to cooking and reading, there’s plenty that you can do to fill up your time between sessions – including spending time with your pet.

You don’t have to take your dog for a walk – even just spending the night with them on your lap will help you find some solace. Of course, how you fill your time with your pet depends on the animal that you are taking care of. It’s safe to say that the plan of a person who has a dog will differ from the plan of a person who has a rabbit. Both are equally fun and fulfilling, but they provide different opportunities.

You get access to plenty of different activities

All people entering our meth rehab Palm Beach facility are advised to find a good way to fill up their time. Once again, it’s very important to find good and productive ways to fill up your days. The only way to do that is by engaging in some fun yet safe activities. What do we mean by this? Well, you need to find a way to spend some quality time where you won’t be in the vicinity of drugs and alcohol. And that’s where your pet (or pets) enter the scene.

Your lovely pooch will help keep you busy in numerous ways. You can take them to the nearby dog park, play catch, take them to get a new haircut, or even shop for dog clothes – whatever floats your boat. The point is that you’ll get to experience all the positive effects of pets on owners’ recovery simply by having them around. We dare to say that your pet will be just as important as a human companion during recovery. Granted, they can’t help you by asking questions such as does insurance cover drug rehab, but they can give you the love, support, and distraction that you are needing.

By taking care of them, you’ll get to experience the positive effects of pets on owners’ recovery

Now, this is a rather big one. People who are in recovery are oftentimes stripped of all real-life responsibility. The people around them tend to treat them as delicate flowers whose only job is to get better. We wholeheartedly agree that you should be completely dedicated to therapy during your stay in singles or couples rehab in Florida. But we don’t think that you should be completely void of all and any responsibility – at least not for long periods of time. It goes without saying that the biggest responsibility you have is to yourself. However, it doesn’t hurt to have responsibility for someone else – someone like your pet.

Your pet is very much going to be like a baby – they will depend on you to feed and bathe them. Thus, not only will you have some daily responsibility for which you will have to get out of bed, but these tasks will also take up your time. And we’ve already discussed how important it is to keep yourself busy during recovery. Providing care for another living being is going to make you feel incredibly useful and fulfilled. These feelings are important even if you are not going through addiction recovery. But they are even more important when going through rehab.

Pets encourage physical activity

While on the subject of all the things you will have to do with and for your pet, it’s important to mention one other benefit of owning pets during recovery – they will help you remain physically active. Taking your pet to the vet, playing frisbee, and taking them for a daily walk will all work their magic on you. Now, you don’t need us to tell you how important it is to keep yourself on the move throughout the day. This is important even if you are not in recovery, as we all need regular physical activity. However, exercising holds special power when going through rehab in an Oxycodone rehab center.

Exercising is so beneficial due to the production of endorphins. They help produce feelings of happiness and tranquility, which are the two things every person in rehab needs. Besides, physical activity can help you transform your body which might have taken a toll due to your addiction. And while the physical changes aren’t what you should be focusing on while trying to get better, noticing a positive change in your physique is certainly going to help you feel better about yourself. And we think you should take every chance you can for that.

They are great conversation starters

Speaking about the effects of pets on owners’ recovery, we can’t forget about the social effect they will have. Pets will give you a great opportunity to talk to other pet owners during your daily stroll in the park. You will be able to bond with other people who most likely share a great passion for pets. By engaging in social activities, you will get to broaden your circle of friends and, with it, your horizons. Of course, you can also meet plenty of different people while in an Adderall addiction rehab Boynton Beach center, and you might even form significant friendships with them. But if that doesn’t happen, there’s no need to panic – your dog will take care of that.

We suggest you kill two birds with one stone and always take your dog for a walk when going out and running errands. You never know when someone might be looking for the perfect opportunity to talk to you. By seeing that you are a dog owner as well, other dog owners will most likely instantly feel connected to you. That will give them the push they need to start talking to you, helping you make a friend when you least expected to. And you can also use your pet to start a conversation with another person. You never know when they might have the information you need – they might even be able to answer questions like ‘does Humana cover drug rehab.’ How great would that be?

Pets are a great distraction

A person going through rehab might be fully preoccupied with their journey to sobriety. And while that’s great, as it provides you with a chance to truly focus on what you are going through, we do believe that there is a fine line between focus and obsession. If there’s something you don’t want to do, it is to let your addiction become the sole focus of your life. You are much more than your addiction, but it might take you some time to remember that. However, until that happens, you can use your pet as a great distraction.

By taking care of them, feeding them, and fulfilling all of their needs, there will come a time when you will forget about your problems. That’s why we suggest that you turn to them as soon as you start feeling worried and preoccupied with your addiction. Make no mistake – you shouldn’t completely disregard what you are going through. It’s just that you should find a balance between asking questions such as does Tricare cover alcohol rehab once and constantly thinking about rehab, insurance, the costs – you get the gist. While one helps you recover, the other one sets you back.

You will be able to establish a routine

Not a lot of people actually see a routine as a good thing. However, when it comes to addiction recovery, having a routine is actually a great thing. It will help you stay on the right path by giving you a sense of security. We all know that addiction and recovery are unpredictable, and that’s one of the most difficult things about it. The good news is that all the obligations that you have around your pet will help you maintain a routine. You’ll know when you are supposed to walk your dog, feed him/her, and take them to a vet – all of which will get you out of your head.

Make no mistake – this routine shouldn’t take anything away from your recovery. The last thing you want to do is to forget to inquire about your treatment options and does Aetna cover rehab because you are swamped with duties surrounding your pet. But once all the duties surrounding your treatment are finished, it would be wise to establish some sort of routine. Trust us – this one little thing will have a snowball effect, and you’ll start introducing other good changes in your life. For example, you are very much likely to understand the importance of a good night’s sleep and how necessary it is to focus on good nutrition.

Pets are great for fighting stress

Stress is something that can have horrible consequences for our health – both physical and mental. And while fighting off stress is important in regular circumstances, it’s even more important when you are going through recovery. It’s a known fact that stress and some undesirable circumstances can push one into addiction. Some people don’t know how to cope with stressful circumstances, so they end up abusing drugs and alcohol. We are not saying that pets will necessarily keep you away from rehab and from having to ask does Cigna cover alcohol rehab – but we are saying that pets can reduce your stress levels, making you less prone to turn to addiction.

Everything that we have mentioned thus far is how your pet will help you fight off stress. By giving you their unconditional love and affection, they will positively impact your mental wellbeing. By showering you with responsibilities, they will help keep you accountable and busy. Spending time with your lovely pooch is going to release oxytocin, and this has been backed up by numerous studies. The love hormone will help you feel less lonely, which can be important when going through addiction. And the closer you are to your pet, the better will the effects of pets on owners’ recovery be. That’s why it pays off to invest in some quality time with your furry friend.

Should you get a dog/cat to assist in your recovery?

As wonderful as it is to have a cat or a dog, you need to understand that animals are human beings. More importantly, domestic cats and dogs are animals that don’t know how to take care of themselves. They might have that hunter’s instinct, but they certainly can’t take themselves to the vet. That’s why the first thing you need to understand is that pets are a big responsibility. We wouldn’t say that having a pet is equal to having a baby, but it’s not that different. Thus, we suggest that you first assess your current standing in life. Are you financially capable to have a pet and pay for everything that comes with them? Do you have enough time to dedicate to their grooming, habits, and health? Do you even love animals and melt at the very sight of them?

If your answer to these questions is yes, and you have been pining after a pet for quite some time, we suggest that you go out and get one. If you are currently busy making the necessary arrangements for your treatment and wondering is rehab covered under FMLA, then you can get a pet after you leave the rehab facility. There are two ways to go about getting a pet – purchasing one or going for adoption. If you want to feel extra good about yourself, we suggest you look for a shelter in your vicinity.

Which pet is best for animal-assisted therapy?

People like to take care of many different pets. However, we have to admit that there is one animal that takes precedence when it comes to animal-assisted therapy – dogs. We are guessing you already knew that. Because of their exceptional loyalty, playfulness, and bravery, dogs are the perfect companions for a person going through recovery. Their obedient temperament makes them ideal for someone who is looking for companionship during recovery. However, while canines are the ideal companions, they are not the only pet that you can take care of during recovery.

Cats, ponies, rabbits, hamsters, parrots, domestic rats – you name it, the list goes on and on. That’s why we wouldn’t choose to single out a type of animal that’s going to take precedence. Instead, we believe that you can benefit most from a pet that you are going to love. If you are a cat person, then the best companion for you would be a cat. If you are into something that’s not so common, then you would opt for a domestic rat or an iguana. Likewise, there are no limits when it comes to the size of the animal. Some people prefer lap dogs while others are in love with bigger animals.

We think you should enjoy the fact that you can do what feels right at this step. Unfortunately, when it comes to rehab, you won’t always have to do what feels right at that time. For example, you might not be looking forward to asking does AmeriHealth cover drug rehab, but you’ll have to do it either way. Your pet is the one area of drug and alcohol rehab where you should make no compromises.

Don’t focus so much on the amazing effects of pet ownership during recovery

Instead, try to enjoy your pet for what it is – a wonderful addition to your life. Your days are already going to be filled with unpleasant moments and questions such as does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover drug rehab, so why make it even more uncomfortable by missing your chance to enjoy the beautiful times? And, as it usually goes, by letting go and enjoying yourself, you will be able to take advantage of all the wonderful effects of pets on owners’ recovery. However, if you don’t have a pet and you are thinking about getting one simply because it can aid in your recovery, we advise you to reconsider your decision. Pets are living beings that come with a lot of responsibility, so they shouldn’t be something you want to take advantage of. Quite the contrary – they should be a wonderful addition to your life.