How #MomingMac helped my Mental Health — The Law According To Amber

When I first moved back to Memphis and got my own place I was so excited. Until I actually moved in, I kept hearing all these “house noises” I wasn’t used to. My anxiety was through the roof from just being in a new place, not being used to being alone, things like that. I have always had pets growing up and when I would have bad anxiety attacks I would cuddle with my dogs Angel and Musiq. I’ve dealt with depression, anxiety, and PTSD since middle school and taking medicine always bothered me. Like most people I just want to feel better without taking something, and having pets growing up really helped with that.

A symptom I notice in women a lot who have experienced trauma is wanting something that loves them and is all their own. Most women have babies because of this, but I’ve always loved dogs, and growing up my mom knew how beneficial having a dog would be for me. Going into adulthood once again feeing my anxiety getting worse, I figured it was a great time to get my own dog. So I decided to go to Memphis Animal Services and adopt a dog because here in Memphis they euthanize animals when the shelter gets overcrowded.

The first time I saw Mac he looked at me and immediately eased my soul, and I knew he was the one. I think people highly underestimate Animal Therapy and how effective it is. But dogs of Mac’s breed, German Shepherd Blood Hound Mix, are also extremely smart. He recognizes when I go into a panic attack and my heart is racing and I’m freaking out and he lays his weight on me. It almost feels like someone is hugging me. That pressure and closeness helps me to meditate and calm myself down, and it’s not anything I taught him, it’s just his intuition.

The first day I saw Mac at the pound here in Memphis

Mac also gave me a sense of responsibility and routine. People who have depression or anxiety thrive when they have a schedule and routine. I know I have to be up at 8am to take Mac out and walk him and if I’m not he wakes me up himself lol. I know I have to feed him by a certain to keep him on schedule, and be home by a certain time so I can walk him again and spend time with him. The sense of responsibility was probably the most eye opening. People don’t tell you having a dog is like having a baby, but it is. I know that I’m very selfish and not ready for a child but getting Mac had multiple benefits. The responsibility of #MomingMac is huge to me, most people who follow my Facebook see the cute pictures I post, but he’s way more valuable to me than a selfie. He’s a living being and I want nothing but the best for him, succeeding in raising Mac is huge for a millennial like me though, because he’s really my only responsibility besides myself.

If I haven’t convinced you yet how amazing having a pet is, think about these statistics.From UCLA Health, the simple act of petting animals releases an automatic relaxation response. Humans interacting with animals have found that petting the animal promoted the release of serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin- all hormones that can play a part in elevating moods. That alone was proof enough for me, I hope after reading this blog post you’ll consider Pet Therapy and the amazing benefits to your mental health.