Dealing with drug and alcohol addiction: How pets can aid in the recovery process by Options Okanagan Treatment Center in Kelowna, British Columbia treating Opiate addiction and recovery.
Jeff does not feel good about himself. He is having trouble trusting others. He does not feel comfortable with his place in the world. He does not have any meaningful relationships. However, amidst all this pain, Jeff is able to find some measure of peace. The never ending love of a dog has reached his heart and helped him begin to heal. He is not alone, either. Pets can have a huge impact on both physical and psychological health.
What is the secret?
Cortisol is the stress hormone in the body. Pets help cut back on the amount of cortisol that a person has, and they increase the amount of serotonin, which is responsible for happier feelings.
Pets do more than just have an impact on hormones and chemicals, however. They also cut back on stress and feelings of anger and anxiety. They help people feel better about themselves and feel more confident in their abilities. They also have a positive impact on trust and how people relate to others. Many recovering addicts struggle with all of these feelings and emotions; therefore, having a pet around can help them to heal and move forward with their life.
Pets Have Unique Benefits in Therapy
There are a number of reasons why it is a good idea to have a pet present in therapy. They encourage recovering addicts to talk more about their past. They are more willing to open up, and as a result, they are able to grow and learn from their experiences. Often, the individual begins by talking about the pet. This then leads into sharing additional information about their family, which then leads into other topics. In addition, as the therapist watches the interaction the patient has with the pet, they may be able to pick up on additional areas that need support. Furthermore, because the addict enjoys the presence of the pet so much, it may help them overcome any negative feelings about therapy.
Do Pets Encourage Permanent Change?
Having a pet means that the recovering addict has to be responsible. This responsibility may help keep them from relapsing. In addition, because the individual has to feed, love and take care of their animal, it helps them to think less about themselves and more about another creature. They begin to see that they are capable of caring for someone or something else, and they begin to feel better about their place in the world. Finally, having the love of a pet means having a love that never goes away. Many addicts desperately need this.
Options Okanagan Opiate and Alcohol Treatment Centers in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Vancouver, British Columbia – Men and Women are recovering and healing from Alcohol and Drug Abuse at our treatment center here in the Okanagan right now.
Our unique and distinctive Opiate Drug and Alcohol treatment program allows men and women to come in from Calgary as well as Edmonton as we offer airport pickup.
Numerous clients come to us from Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and other locations in Alberta and even other provinces for Opiate addiction treatment, meth drug treatment, many other drug and alcohol addictions for rehabilitation because of the uniqueness of our treatment center.
Our Treatment Location:
Options Okanagan Opiate Treatment Center
551 Sherrydale Crescent, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 2E6
Toll Free Phone Number : 1-855-335-0331