Topic Tuesday //The pet effect: animals are good for our wellbeing! // Tues 18 Feb, 7pm AEDT

[cutiepiekitty]

Thanks @Former-Member I have my 2 cats

[Former-Member]

@CheerBear you mentioned being able to reach out and feel the fluffy fur of your cat being comforting. The idea of connecting with senses is great for grounding techniques generally. Have people found that when it comes to animals in their worlds they can helpful to connect to self care strategies? Such as, if you were struggling with a bit of panic, stopping to listen to a bird could help or patting an animal. 

[BlueBay]

I'm sorry @Former-Member I need to go. I should go snd pat my dog. She will calm me. 

[Former-Member]

Yes @Former-Member Holly provides all of that for me. But its also a huge responsibility having a pet. I worry a lot about her. Sadly she is becoming deaf and is no longer the fabulous little watchdog she used to be. And it seems odd talking to her when I know she cant hear me. She used to be such a good listener too, and understood so much. 

But she remains a great comfort to me regardless. Like @CheerBear I wake a lot at night, often in a bad state, and to feel Holly by my side is very grounding.

[Shaz51]

Ohh yes @Former-Member  I have had lots of different animals in my life 

And now I have my customers pets who I see every week xoxo 

[Snowie]

Hi all,

My little cavoodle helps me through some rough days. She is helping me tonight after a hard day. I think I will just stay in the background tonight.

[Former-Member]

No worries @BlueBay - glad you can go and have some pats to calm its been lovely having you with us, you are welcome to pop back at anytime!

@Shaz51 so great you get to connect with your customers pets too

@Former-Member yes it can be hard when they start to age, but how wonderful that we can support them in turn and give them what they need as much as they have for us. And even though she is deaf, I believe that animals can understand us when we have such strong bonds with them!

[CheerBear]

Perhaps the quiet and still that some animals need could be a kind of self-care connection @Former-Member. I have a quite scaredy cat (lol) cat who needs me to be calm and still around her (she doesn't like the kids at all 😆). In a way she helps me to find some kind of 'stillness' sometimes.

[Shaz51]

@Snowie  I love your Izzy xx

@BlueBay , I love you Jersey

@Former-Member , I love your holly and now you stray cat 

@Zoe7 , love your Toby and cat xxx

[frog]

@Former-Member my dog helps me pause which can be a real circuit breaker in terms of reflecting on self care. The other thing is humour. She's funny - another circuit breaker for me, and helps me with perspective. Tonight she discovered a caterpillar and it was if she'd never seen such an interesting thing before! 

Hi @Scoo @cutiepiekitty @Holly 

I'm having trouble remembering everyone now lol - the sign of good gathering!

@CheerBear @outlander @Adge @Former-Member @BlueBay @Shaz51