Does a Pet Dog Support Your Sobriety?
Addiction is a chronic disorder, which changes the brain and impedes the way it works. This is similar to many other long-standing illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, which damages the heart and changes its functioning.
In 2019, 19.3 million people in the United States, over the age of 18 years, had a substance use disorder. Today we look at the effects of a pet dog on addiction (and recovery!)
Drug use can cause the release of large amounts of dopamine into the brain’s pleasure center. Our brain interprets this as a reward, and there is a feeling of pleasure.
Eventually, the brain adapts to the effects of the drug, and dopamine has less impact. The drug is less pleasurable than it used to be. This means that more frequent, and larger amounts are required in order to feel high.
Advances in research regarding addiction treatment have resulted in the implementation of many types of addiction interventions. The emergence of animal-assisted, or pet therapy is one such example.
Can Getting a Pet Dog Help Your Addiction Recovery?
For many people struggling with substance abuse and addiction, pet ownership can help make their recovery process go more smoothly. One of the most difficult aspects of having a substance use disorder is the isolation and lack of purpose this condition can cause.
Getting a new pet can help these individuals stay sober, or finally start on their path to achieving long-term sobriety if they haven’t already. While any pet can help improve its owner’s well-being, dogs in particular make great companions for recovering addicts.
Having dogs as pets can be a lot of responsibility. Which, for many people recovering from an addiction, is exactly what they need in their life. Knowing that they have a pet at home relying on them for love and care can keep them motivated to stay away from addictive substances.
Addiction is a complicated disease and will require much more than having a furry friend to be treated properly. But, there are still many benefits to having a pet dog as a recovering addict.
Understanding Addiction As a Chronic Disease
Addiction is a chronic disorder, which changes the brain and impedes the way it works. This is similar to many other long-standing illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, which damages the heart and changes its functioning.
Drug and alcohol abuse can cause the release of large amounts of dopamine into the brain’s pleasure center. Our brain interprets this as a reward, causing pleasure and euphoria.
Eventually, the brain adapts to the effects of the drug, and dopamine has less impact. The drug is less pleasurable than it used to be. This means that more frequent, and larger amounts are required in order to feel high.
Advances in research regarding addiction treatment have resulted in the implementation of many types of addiction interventions. The emergence of animal-assisted treatment or pet therapy is one such example.
In 2019, 19.3 million people in the United States, over the age of 18 years, had a substance use disorder. Today we look at the effects of a pet dog on addiction (and recovery!)
What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?
It is well established that social isolation and loneliness can affect people’s lives detrimentally. A person who is struggling with addiction is highly likely to have these feelings, since they are changing their whole social landscape, including losing many former associates and friends.
There is a direct correlation between animals and healing. Long before Florence Nightingale (1869) used animals in a therapeutic setting, rabbits and birds were utilized by the Quaker York Retreat in England, the first recorded use of therapy animals in 1792.
Pet therapy, for a pet dog, cat, or any other animal, can generally be achieved through three methods:
Activities in Clinic Settings
This is when a dog will be brought to a setting for an hour or two each week. The handler will accompany the dog at all times. These dogs have generally been assessed, to make sure they remain calm in unexpected situations.
The clinic clients can spend time patting, playing, or talking to the therapy animal, in a safe, secure environment. This can have many therapeutic benefits, including reduced loneliness, stress, and tension.
While therapy dogs are typically the most commonly used in clinical settings, some treatment providers may have cats, birds, and even reptiles as their animal companions of choice.
Volunteer Work in Community Shelters
There are millions of shelter animals that need help. The daily care of vulnerable animals can create a feeling of purpose and altruism in the volunteer. It also helps with developing healthy bonds and promoting accountability.
Volunteering can even be a way to get back into the workplace. Learning to perform tasks and exercise responsibility in a professional environment can help recovering individuals re-learn how to be healthy and productive members of society.
Working in a shelter will also allow you to see if owning a dog is a good idea for you and whether a new pet will be a reasonable addition to your daily life.
Having a Dog at Home
A 2016 survey done by the Human Bond Research Institute reports that 71% of pet owners say owning a pet has improved their mental health. For some people, owning a dog has even improved their physical health as they are able to exercise and reduce stress with their new furry companion.
There are huge numbers of dogs needing a forever home and available for adoption. There are many potential benefits to adopting a dog, including boosted self-esteem and mental well-being from the unconditional love of your new furry friend.
Service Dogs vs Emotional Support Dogs
There can be quite a bit of confusion surrounding the differences between emotional support dogs, therapy dogs, and service dogs. While each of these roles can help improve their owner or patient’s quality of life, their responsibilities do vary.
Emotional support animals (ESAs) can help ease the negative emotions and thoughts of those struggling with mental health issues or challenging life circumstances. They can also help those undergoing substance abuse treatment stick to their treatment process and prevent relapse in the early stages of recovery.
Service animals, on the other hand, serve specific roles that help their owners to function better in their day-to-day lives. Individuals with mobility issues, seizure disorders, and diabetes are amongst the most common service animal owners.
With that being said, individuals with certain debilitating mental health disorders – post-traumatic stress disorder, for example – may benefit from having a service dog. According to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ACA), certain cases of addiction can also qualify as a disability.
Therapy animals are similar to ESAs, but are better equipped to work with large groups or in professional environments. Some mental health professionals will have therapy animals present during therapy sessions, or bring these animals to nursing homes, schools, and workplaces to help reduce stress and tension in these environments.
How Can a Dog Help with Recovery?
There are many high-quality, peer-reviewed studies that support the benefits of human-dog interaction. Anecdotal evidence also supports the advantages of owning a pet dog, and there can be no question that dogs help with recovery and intervention.
Harvard Medical School found that owning a dog can help those struggling with a physical or mental health disorder by reducing blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease. Dogs make us more resilient. When we have a dog, we live ‘in the moment’ with them. We are more mindful and appreciate life more.
In a meta-analysis of 65, peer-reviewed, scientific studies, ownership or contact with dogs was found to have the following effects:
- Lower heart rate and blood pressure
- Reduction in loneliness and depression
- Improved mental illness symptoms
- Improved social functioning and socialization
- Reduction in anxiety, fear and stress
- Increased activity
- Lower cortisol
- Lower stress-related parameters such as epinephrine and norepinephrine
How Does Having a Pet Dog Help with Recovery?
Taking care of a dog keeps you in a routine and gives you a sense of purpose. You simply have to do things for your dog, such as regular feeding, exercising, and toileting.
The companionship of a dog is known to benefit all humans, regardless of age. Stroking and petting a dog fulfills the human need to touch another warm, living being. They help you with social interactions, and keeping fit, and their unwavering loyalty is beyond question.
Lowering cortisol levels results in a reduction of stress and anxiety, along with many other health benefits including reducing our risk of heart disease, diabetes and bone disorders.
Oxytocin is known as the ‘love hormone’, and it plays a role in human behaviors such as recognition, trust, love, and bonding. Reduction in epinephrine and norepinephrine is known to have a positive effect on cardiovascular health.
This means that people who interact and take care of dogs have been found to have increased Oxytocin levels, and experience less cardiovascular reactivity during times of stress. Their heart rate and blood pressure are slow to rise and return to normal much more rapidly.
Knowing Your Addiction Treatment Options
While getting a dog can certainly bring a level of companionship and furry support to your life, you will still need to seek professional help to truly achieve and maintain sobriety. This may include participating in various treatment programs, such as:
- Medical detox
- Inpatient or residential rehab
- Outpatient programs
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Behavioral therapies
With so many treatment options to choose from, knowing which of these will be best for you can be confusing. The Find Addiction Rehabs team can help walk you through the treatment process and determine which levels of care will best serve your recovery needs!
Find Help Getting Sober Today!
Dogs are known as ‘man’s best friend.’ Their love, loyalty, and companionship go a long way toward satisfying our need for pleasurable and rewarding feelings. The success rates of animal-assisted therapy are high, as patients and clients feel a commitment to the animal that has shown them unconditional love.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction and are ready to start a new life free from substance abuse, the Find Addiction Rehabs team is here to help. We can walk you through the treatment process and answer all of your recovery questions.
Call our 24/7 hotline now, and we will help you take the first step on your path to sobriety, today!
Guest Post Author Bio:
Laura Horton, MSc. Clinical Research, is the founder of Hound101.com. She is also a registered health professional with many years of experience in diagnostic imaging, teaching, and health research.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-horton-53143762/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoundsBestFriend/
