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Dogs are known to have affected their human's mental and physical well-being. But do you know that your emotional and health issues might be affecting the health of your dog too?
Dogs are known to have affected their human’s mental and physical well-being. But do you know that your emotional and health issues might be affecting the health of your dog too?
I myself never thought of penning down an article on this topic until I lost my dog due to cancer. It took me weeks to come out with the news of her loss, rather many of my friends still don’t know until now. I chose not to share it; to announce this, as somewhere deep inside she hasn’t really gone from our lives, she is still there present in our hearts.
It isn’t hidden that dogs indeed have been useful for treating people dealing with mental and health issues. Several researches have proved they can actually sense your emotions.
The major reason is that dogs understand non-verbal communication and 90% of human communication is non-verbal. You may even try this sitting in front of your dog and see how it reacts with every change of your facial expression. Petting an animal causes the release of endorphins (a feel good neurotransmitter) which puts an extremely positive impact over the patients dealing with depressive disorders.
In history too, there have been cases where the dogs have been seen taking all health problems and depressions away from the master. Such is their powerful love for their masters.
My dog has been the center of our family. And why not, that life gave us all the love and affection we have ever wanted to have from somewhere outside or may be from someone else. It may sound weird but yes somewhere deep inside I have the guilt that it’s my share of sorrow and depression my dog took away.
Sometime back I had been dealing with lots of issues in my own daily life; it’s not that I have never dealt with any. Rather every time I have been in a troublesome situation my dog has remained besides me as my saviour. But this time it was pretty different, rather huge. Issues sprouted up from almost every side and section of my life. I even thought of quitting my job at one point. That is the time when by sweetheart, my doggy was diagnosed with cancer.
It may be a mere coincidence but yes the series of events did happen simultaneously. Even while we took our dog to the chemotherapy sessions, the doctor informed us that a major part of healing depends on our state of mind, because technically our mental state affects the dog’s as well.
Generally everywhere there are write-ups about why and how dogs are used to treat the human depression. But somewhere the things go other way round as well. You may be making your dog sick. Your mental state is affecting your dog’s health. If you care for your dog in true sense, its healthy to stay happy for you as well as your dog.
So stay happy as much as you can. Not just for your own health and well-being, but for your loved ones, regardless of who it is; human or an animal.
Published earlier here.
Image source: pet dog by Shutterstock.
PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLOR FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. MA PSYCHOLOGY, Diploma in Community Mental Health, NIMHANS Former Forensic Psychologist Intern. Former content writer. Double Masters in Computer Applications & in Psychology. B.A in Hindustani Classical Music. read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Women today don’t want to be in a partnership that complicates their lives further. They need an equal partner with whom they can figure out life as a team, playing by each other’s strengths.
We all are familiar with that one annoying aunty who is more interested in our marital status than in the dessert counter at a wedding. But these aunties have somehow become obsolete now. Now they are replaced by men we have in our lives. Friends, family, and even work colleagues. It’s the men who are worried about why we are not saying yes to one among their clans. What is wrong with us? Aren’t we scared of dying alone? Like them?
A recent interaction with a guy friend of mine turned sour when he lectured me about how I would regret not getting married at the right time. He lectured that every event in our lives needs to be completed within a certain timeframe set by society else we are doomed. I wasn’t angry. I was just disappointed to realize that annoying aunties are rapidly doubling in our society. And they don’t just appear at weddings or family functions anymore. They are everywhere. They are the real pandemic.
Let’s examine this a little closer.
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