Sometimes, especially when times are tough, we just want someone to sit with us. Someone who won’t ask questions or offer advice. Someone who can offer comfort and kindness without saying a word. Someone whose love for us is unconditional and unwavering. Having access to someone like that can be a benefit to anyone—and especially for those in recovery from a substance use disorder.
And that kind of someone very well might be a pet.
If you are in recovery and already have a pet—a cat, a dog, a rabbit, a bird, a lizard—you are probably aware of at least some of the ways their presence can be helpful to you. But if you don’t have an animal in your life, you may be surprised to learn of the many benefits of spending time with this special kind of companion. We will look at a number of pet positives below.
A note before we begin, however. Bringing a pet into your home should not be an impulse decision. You have to decide in advance whether you have the wherewithal to care for an animal long-term. Do you have enough space? Can you afford food, vet care, and other expenses? Do you know a reputable source for animals in your community—like a rescue shelter, for example? What animals, if any, are you allergic to? You will want to think carefully about all of these things before bringing an animal home.
Having a pet is not a commitment to be taken lightly—but under the right circumstances, it can be a great joy and a boon to your recovery.
Best Benefits of Your New Best Friend
So, how can a pet support your recovery? In lots of ways, as it would turn it.
For example, in her blog, Positively Present, Dani DiPirro writes:
Probably the most basic of all recovery benefits is the comfort spending time with an animal brings. It’s been shown that playing with or petting a pet can help lower oxytocin levels in the brain, which helps you feel more relaxed and less stressed — two factors that definitely help with the anxiety that comes with any kind of recovery. Most of us who have pets know that petting an animal is calming, and it’s also been shown to help keep blood pressure levels lower.
Some of that comfort stems from the fact that a pet can be a steadfast companion, sticking by your side most of the day (and often all night, too). This ongoing companionship can help ward off loneliness, which can be a dangerous state of mind for someone in recovery. Your furry (or not-so-furry) friend keeps you company and can prevent boredom from threatening your sobriety. A vigorous game of fetch can be good for both of you!
Your relationship with a pet also offers an important kind of give and take. Your animal companion offers unconditional love and loyalty, and in return, you take care of the animal’s needs. The caretaking—feeding, cleaning (and cleaning up after), walking (which gets you some exercise, too), getting regular check-ups, and more—can be excellent exercise for a person in recovery. Caring for your animal friend helps you shift the focus from yourself (and the temptations of returning to drug or alcohol use) to another creature, and in doing so, you may find your spirits lifted.
Option If You Can’t Have an Animal Friend at Home
In some cases, bringing an animal into your home may not be an option. Perhaps someone in your family is allergic to most animals or simply has an aversion to them. You might live in an apartment complex or a rental home where pets are not allowed. Or you may simply not feel up to the full-time and long-lasting commitment that comes with welcoming a pet into your life.
Even so, you can still benefit from spending time with animals—and you can help animals find their forever homes. Volunteering at an animal shelter offers many of the same benefits as having a pet of your own. You can experience much of the same joy in the companionship of animals while also knowing that you are making a real difference for animals who might otherwise be in dire straits.
And if your living situation changes in such a way as to allow you to bring a friend home, you will know just where to find the perfect companion.
Before You Can Care for a Pet, You Have to Care for Yourself
If you are suffering from a substance use disorder, you may well be struggling to take care of yourself, let alone any pets—and your relationships with other humans may be in jeopardy, as well. At Bel Aire Recovery Center, we are ready to help you overcome your struggles with drugs or alcohol as well as any co-occurring mental health disorders like anxiety or depression. Once you are on the road to recovery, you may find you would like to have an animal friend share the journey with you. We will get you pointed the right direction, and your pet can help keep you on the right path.
