Man’s Best friend: The Therapeutic Effects of Animal Relationships on Individuals with PTSD
Author: Daphney Benjamin, BSN-RN, PMHNP
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can happen to anyone. It particularly affects individuals who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events in their lives. It can occur directly as in an individual who has participated in combat, an individual who has experience sexual assault or an individual who has been involved in a really bad car accident. PTSD can also occur indirectly as in witnessing or exposure to someone else’s trauma (American Psychiatric association, 2022). Not everyone who experiences trauma will develop PTSD and symptoms can vary in their severity from person to person. An individual diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has had significant exposure to trauma that is now causing impairment in social and occupational functioning.
Symptoms of PTSD typically include:
- One intrusive symptom such as recurrent, distressing dreams, memories, flashbacks or nightmares.
- One avoidant symptom such as avoidance of thoughts or feelings. This can also include avoiding people, situations or activities that remind them of the trauma.
- Two negative alterations to cognition or mood. This can include persistent negative beliefs about themselves or the world around them as well as extreme shame, self-blame or blaming of others.
- Two symptoms of alterations in arousal and reactivity (Schrader, 2021). This can include irritability, angry outburst, difficulty concentrating and difficulty sleeping.
One major aspect of life that PTSD affects is an individual’s social cognition. Social cognition is the ability to perceive and process social information and to respond appropriately (Couette et al., 2020). It also means being able to understand the mental states of ourselves and others. Individuals with PTSD show significant impairment in social cognition as evidenced by their inability to predict what others feel, think or believe. Social cognition is essential for successful social interaction, enabling individuals to navigate complex social environments, form and maintain relationships, and understand the thoughts and feelings of others. It plays a fundamental role in shaping human behavior and society. This consequence of PTSD adds to the functional impairment and disability of these individuals.
While traditional therapeutic approaches such as medication and talk therapy are beneficial, there’s growing recognition of the healing power of animal relationships in managing PTSD symptoms. It is now being recognized how service animals and pets have profound effects on individuals with PTSD. Research is showing that these peculiar relationships facilitate healing and enhance overall well-being. PTSD can have significant effects on an individual’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being, impacting various aspects of their life, including work, relationships, and overall quality of life. However, with appropriate treatment and support such as animal therapy, many people with PTSD can experience significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life.
One of the therapeutic values of animal-human relationships in PTSD is having companionship and emotional support. Individuals with PTSD often experience feelings of isolation and detachment from others. Animal relationships provide unconditional love, companionship, and emotional support, fostering feelings of connection and belonging. Service animals, such as dogs trained to assist individuals with PTSD, offer constant companionship and emotional grounding. Their presence provides a sense of security and reassurance, minimizing the hypervigilance and anxiety that can occur with PTSD.
Animal-Human relationships also help individuals with PTSD with stress reduction and emotional regulation. Individuals with PTSD are typically on edge and struggle with anxiety and irritability. Interactions with animals have been shown to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation by triggering the release of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine, neurotransmitters associated with feelings of well-being and pleasure. Engaging in activities such as grooming, petting, or playing with animals can help individuals with PTSD regulate emotions, alleviate symptoms of hyperarousal, and decrease the physiological markers of stress, including heart rate and cortisol levels. Animal relationships allow for those struggling with PTSD to feel calmness and serenity.
Animal-Human relationships help individuals with PTSD have a sense of purpose and responsibility. Caring for an animal, whether it’s a service animal or a pet helps to instill a sense of purpose and responsibility in individuals with PTSD. The daily routines of feeding, grooming, and exercising animals provide structure and predictability, which are essential for managing PTSD symptoms. Taking care of an animal promotes self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment, as individuals witness the tangible impact of their actions on the well-being of their animal companion. Individuals with PTSD will feel like they have a duty to fulfill, thus a sense of purpose in their lives when they have an animal to care for.
Individuals with PTSD often have to take many different types of medications. This can be overwhelming. Animals offer a free form of therapy that minimizes the need for so many medications. Animals allow those with PTSD to self-regulate their emotions by helping enhance connection with humans. This connection releases a hormone called Oxytocin that aids in positive emotion. Requiring less medications would be extremely beneficial for those struggling with PTSD.
Animal relationships also help individuals with PTSD by helping them facilitate social interactions. Individuals with PTSD may sometimes feel the need to avoid others due to their overwhelming circumstances. Animals serve as social facilitators, breaking down barriers and initiating interactions between individuals with PTSD and others. Individuals make those who struggle with PTSD to appear more inviting. Service animals, in particular, act as social icebreakers, providing a conversation starter and reducing social anxiety in various settings. Pet ownership can lead to increased socialization opportunities, as individuals may meet others through pet-related activities such as dog parks or pet therapy groups. These interactions combat feelings of loneliness and promote a sense of community.
Lastly, Animal-Human relationships help individuals with PTSD with mindfulness and grounding techniques. Animals, especially dogs, are great at sensing changes in their owner’s mood and behavior. Service dogs trained in grounding techniques can intervene during PTSD-related episodes by nudging or licking, redirecting their owner’s focus and bringing them back to the present moment. Interacting with animals encourages mindfulness practices, such as focusing on sensory experiences and nonjudgmental awareness. For individuals with PTSD, this promotes emotional regulation and reduces the frequency and intensity of intrusive thoughts and flashbacks.
In conclusion, research is now showing how interspecies relationships between humans and animals can cause significant improvement in PTSD symptoms. This is extremely exciting news for those individuals who do not have means to healthcare. Animal relationships can help those who struggle with being adherent with medications and keeping up with doctors’ appointments regulate their emotions in another healthy way. Human and animal relationships, specifically dogs and horses have shown to foster emotional resilience and well-being in people with PTSD in many ways. Caring for animals help those with PTSD shift their focus from personal problems to a loving connection. For those who struggle with stress and sleep disturbances, service dogs are trained to respond to nightmares, sleepwalking and sleep apnea (Psychology today). Service animals also allow for a decrease in medication requirements, help with mindfulness, as well as facilitating social interactions.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
Couette, M., Mouchabac, S., Bourla, A., Nuss, P., & Ferreri, F. (2020). Social cognition in post‐traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59(2), 117–138. https://doi-org.libproxy.usouthal.edu/10.1111/bjc.12238
Schrader C, Ross A. A Review of PTSD and Current Treatment Strategies. Mo Med. 2021 Nov-Dec;118(6):546-551. PMID: 34924624; PMCID: PMC8672952.
Sussex Publishers. (n.d.). The healing power of animal-human relationships. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/rhythms-of-recovery/202405/the-healing-power-of-animal-human-relationships