Having a nonjudgmental companion by your side is one of the simplest remedies to an anxiety attack. Sometimes friends and family can’t always be by your side, but that’s when you look towards a loving pet. As a result, owning an emotional support animal has become a popular trend with people with mental illnesses.
Johanna Lass-Hennemann, a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Saarland University, tested to see if dogs not only helped people with their general anxiety, but also helped alleviate stress from a traumatic event. To test this, Lass-Hennemann monitored the reactions of four different groups as they watched a violent film clip. Lass-Henneman’s study published in Frontiers shows how dogs play pivotal anxiety-reducing roles in people’s lives, and suggests that therapy dogs could be effective in treating PTSD.
Watching Traumatic Film Clips
Lass-Hennemann recruited 80 healthy females that had no previous experience of trauma. Participants completed the Pet Attitude Scale to show their general attitude towards pets. All subjects had to be willing to work with dogs. Three hours prior to the experiment, the participants were not allowed to physically exert themselves or consume alcohol or caffeine. The 80 women were then divided into four groups of 20. For the experiment, each group watched physically and sexually violent scenes from the film Irreversible under one of four conditions:
- With a trained therapy dog: The dog laid quietly alongside the participant. If at any point the subject felt anxious, they were allowed to touch the dog.
- With a toy dog: The toy dog was given a name and was introduced to the participants.
- With a friendly stranger: A female graduate student unknown to the participants accompanied the screening with them.
- Alone: Participants watched the film without any company.
During the screening, Lass-Hennemann recorded the participants’ blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and cortisol levels.
Once the clip finished, the participants were assessed using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale (STAI-T) and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The STAIS measured levels of nervousness, tension, and apprehension in individuals. The PANAS compared changes in positive and negative moods.
The Benefits of Having a Companion
Participants in the dog group showed significantly lower anxiety levels than the toy dog and alone group. The friendly stranger group showed similar results. With that in mind, this data suggests that dogs have the ability to provide similar social support as seen in other humans. “The current investigation demonstrates that dogs do not only lead to a stress reduction during cognitive and performance stressors, but also during ‘traumatic’ stress situations, thereby providing preliminary support for the idea that service dogs may serve as a useful treatment adjunct in PTSD patients by reducing anxiety and stress, when patients are confronted with a reminder of the traumatic event,” concludes Lass-Hennemann.
How can a therapy dog improve workplace morale?
Looking at a picture of a dog always brings a smile or laughter. Laughter is known to be a remedy and having a therapy dog around adds an extra touch of humor that can boost the morale of employees and enhance productivity in the workplace. Therapy dogs have the ability to uplift moods increase happiness and alleviate stress. The advantages of having a dog as a companion, at home can also be experienced in the workplace when there is a therapy dog present.
Therapy dogs can lower blood pressure
Reduced stress levels can be accompanied by a decrease, in heart rate and blood pressure. Research indicates that these changes can be observed when we pet and hug dogs. Make sure to snuggle with your friend whenever possible and also share the benefits by taking them out to meet other people.
Therapy dogs provide stability
Are you going through a difficult time in your life? One advantage of having a therapy dog is their ability to sense your emotions and provide support. Moreover they offer stability during times when you require it the most. A reliable therapy dog is always there, for you when you need them. Bringing your companion to visit someone who is feeling down or coping with grief can be likened to offering that person the invaluable gift of empathy and understanding.
Isabella Clark, Ph.D., held the position of a professor within Emory University’s School of Medicine, working in the Department of Mental Health and Nutrition Science. Alongside this role, she served as a research associate affiliated with the National Research Center. Dr. Clark’s primary area of research centers on comprehending the mechanisms through which adverse social encounters, encompassing prolonged stress and traumatic exposure, contribute to a spectrum of detrimental mental health consequences and coexisting physical ailments like obesity. Her specific focus lies in unraveling the reasons behind the varying elevated susceptibility to stress-linked disorders between different genders.
Mark Willson, holding a Ph.D., functions as a psychotherapist in Washington, D.C. His specialized fields encompass addiction, anxiety, depression, as well as sexuality and interpersonal connections. Dr. Willson holds the distinction of being a diplomat for the American Board of Addiction and Anxiety, further serving as a certified counselor and addiction specialist.
Aside from his personal professional endeavors, Dr. Wilson has engaged in roles as an author, journalist, and creator within substantial medical documentary projects.
