Can Pets Help with Addiction Recovery?

Pets have long been thought to benefit mental health, offering unconditional love and companionship. For people in addiction recovery, a pet can provide support and a host of benefits that can help them maintain sobriety. Animals can also be helpful during the treatment process, with what’s known as animal-assisted therapy (AAT).

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT)

In AAT, the most commonly used animals are dogs, cats, and horses. The therapy involves interacting with an animal, which stimulates natural pleasure pathways in the brain. This can help to promote healthy habits using natural pleasure stimulators rather than substances.

AAT also helps to relieve the stress and anxiety that many experience during the treatment process and provides companionship for the patient.

AAT as a Supplement to Evidence Based Therapy

AAT is a supplement to evidence-based therapy methods, not a substitute. It is used in conjunction with proven therapies that include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT teaches patients to recognize their own destructive or negative thoughts and to challenge them using reason. It also teaches healthy coping skills to manage stressful situations without substances. In substance abuse treatment programs, including those provided at Bridges of Hope, CBT is the most commonly used therapy.
• Motivational Interviewing: In motivational interviewing, the therapist encourages the patient to set recovery and life goals and helps them to build motivation to meet those goals.
• Relapse Prevention: Relapse prevention teaches patients with substance abuse disorders to recognize the triggers that can lead relapse, and to use healthy coping strategies to avoid relapsing.

Benefits of Pet Ownership After Addiction Treatment

After treatment, pet ownership can provide ongoing support and several other important benefits.

Love and Companionship

People in recovery often feel isolated and lonely, in part because their former friends still use substances. It takes time to form new healthy relationships, but having a pet provides the unconditional love and companionship that they need. Pets don’t judge and they are always present, which can create feelings of being supported and safe.

Relief from Anxiety and Depression

A large number of people with substance abuse disorders suffer from anxiety and/or depression. Pets induce feelings of calm and pleasure which can relieve the stress involved in anxiety and depression. This is true even for people who are not in recovery, but who suffer from mental health disorders. In a survey by the American Psychiatric Association, 86% of pet owners who were polled reported that their pets had a mostly positive effect on their mental health.

Accountability

With pet ownership comes responsibility, which means the pet owner must hold themselves accountable for the pet’s well-being. Knowing that the pet relies on the owner breeds feelings of self-worth as well as the motivation to stay sober in order to fulfill their responsibilities to the pet. These feelings are extremely important during the recovery process, particularly in increasing self-esteem, which people with substance use disorders often struggle with.

Socialization

People in recovery often feel isolated, and interaction with others can reduce these feelings. Dogs in particular can be a catalyst for interaction. Walking a dog regularly can often lead to friendly chats with neighbors and may even lead to healthy friendships. Pets in general are also a topic of conversation when the pet owner meets people who also own pets.

Physical Activity

Physical activity improves mental health by releasing endorphins that can reduce stress and anxiety. Pet ownership requires physical activity, whether it’s playing with and caring for a cat, or walking a dog regularly. The resulting reduction in stress can help to prevent relapse.

Is Pet Ownership in Recovery Right for You?

Pet ownership is not a good fit for everyone. Several factors should be considered before you decide to get a pet to help with your recovery.

1. Can you afford a pet?

Pets require food, vet visits, and other supplies. You need to make sure that this fits into your budget.

2. Are you allowed to have pets?

If you rent your home, you’ll need to make sure that the owner allows you to have the type of pet that you’re considering.

3. Is your home pet friendly?

You need to ensure that you have adequate space for your pet to be able to roam, sleep, and eat. If you’re considering a cat, make sure that you have space for a litterbox. If you’re considering a dog, you need areas to be able to let the dog out or walk it.

4. Will you have time for the pet?

If you are frequently away from home at work or school, your pet may not get adequate attention. Dogs, for example, need to go out regularly.

5. Do you have experience with pets?

If you don’t, then you should do some research about the ins and outs of caring for the pet that you’re considering.

In Closing

Pets have a unique effect on mental health, providing comfort, companionship, and a soothing presence. If you are struggling with addiction, animal-assisted therapy may be an option for you as a supplement to your treatment. After treatment, owning a pet may be a wonderful way to get through the recovery process, offering priceless support. Just make sure that you are fully prepared to handle the responsibility of a pet. If you can, then you can go out and find a pet that will be your companion for years to come as you move on to a better, more fulfilling life.