How Can Animal-Assisted Therapy Help With Addiction Recovery?

Most of us have heard dogs referred to as “man’s best friend.” Well, there is a reason this cliche is said so often. It’s true! Pets like dogs have the ability to show unconditional love, which can be crucial when it comes to addiction recovery. This is also why animal-assisted therapy can be so helpful for those individuals looking to recover in the long term.

What Does It Mean to Heal at the Cellular Level?

Ultimately, what does it mean to heal at the cellular level? It means to heal all aspects of the capital “S” Self — to heal the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of the “Self.” This is holistic healing (holistic meaning “whole”). Healing at the cellular level is also about getting to the underlying issues of one’s addiction rather than just focusing on the surface-level issues. One must go deeper.

However, healing at the cellular level doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of work and focus. The good news is that, at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we have the means, methods, and modalities (including animal-assisted therapy) necessary to help one recover in the long term. 

The Importance of Individualized and Comprehensive Addiction Care

The fact of the matter is that the recovery industry is now worth billions of dollars. While this is positive in that there are more means for people to recover, there are also many bad actors who are no longer looking out for their clients. They are looking to cash in on the boom of addiction recovery. These predatory places are putting their financial bottom line over their clients’ well-being.

They also tend to offer only single-modality treatment plans. Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we know that overarching “one-note” recovery plans rarely work. Many of these places also have a skewed concept of what addiction is. They think of it more as a “choice” than what it really is – a disease. Many people don’t realize that addiction is a disease. Yes, millions of people struggle with addiction every day. This is especially true in the U.S., where many people stigmatize addiction as some type of moral failing. However, most recovery and medical professionals agree that addiction has more in common with other chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

It is also important to understand that addiction is a “family disease.” This means that addiction affects more than just the individual who is struggling. It affects everyone around that individual, especially the family. This is why many people refer to addiction as a “tornado that destroys everyone and everything in its path.” However, while yes, the family often takes the brunt of the negative effects of a loved one’s addiction, they also have a unique opportunity to get them the help that they need. This is due to their close relationship and proximity. But to be of service to their loved ones, they must first be able to spot the signs and symptoms of addiction.

A Chronic Disease: The Signs and Symptoms of Addiction

Now, the signs and symptoms of addiction are always going to vary based on the individual. However, one can look out for many universal signs and symptoms. The following are just a few of the signs and symptoms of addiction:

• Isolating away from family and close friends
• Experiencing trouble at work or school
• Having trouble with sleep cycles, including sleeping too much and not sleeping enough (hypersomnia and insomnia)
• Losing interest in activities once enjoyed
• Feeling anxious, nervous, or overly “stressed out”
• Loss of appetite and a lack of care regarding physical appearance and well-being
• Exhibiting excessive mood swings
• Having feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and helplessness
• Not being able to stop once starting to drink or use substances
• Experiencing physical ailments such as headaches, body aches, and gastrointestinal problems
• Engaging in risky behaviors
• Causing harm to oneself or others
• Having suicidal ideations

Now, many people can minimize addiction or falsely categorize it as that previously mentioned “choice.” However, as one can see, these signs and symptoms are significant and can even be deadly. This is why reaching out for professional help as soon as possible is crucial. Doing so could mean the difference between short-term side effects and long-term consequences. This is also why getting to the underlying issues of addiction is so important.

Why We Must Get to the Underlying Issues of Addiction for Long-Term Success

The root/core causes of addiction must be addressed if one is to ultimately heal at the cellular level. It is not enough just to treat the after-effects of addiction. One must get to the reason why one takes the drink or the drug in the first place – the underlying issues. Often, these issues are related to underlying traumas.

Many people don’t realize just how prevalent trauma actually is. Most people will experience some type of trauma in their lives. According to the peer-reveiwed journal Psychological Medicine, “General population studies have shown that a large proportion of people in developed countries have been exposed to at least one TE [traumatic event] in their lifetime (estimates from 28 to 90%), with the most common events being the unexpected death of a loved one, motor vehicle accidents and being mugged. Much more limited evidence for less developed countries suggests that fatalities due to injuries and accidents are more common in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries….” 

Now, there are many ways to get at these underlying issues of trauma and overarching issues of addiction. The key is to do so with a multi-angled approach that utilizes modalities from all realms of recovery. This includes “traditional” psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), experiential therapies like nature-immersion therapy, and holistic healing methods like aroma therapy, meditation, and yoga. These plans may also include animal-assisted therapy.

The Benefits of Connecting With Animals

Humans have long had a special bond with animals. Animals help us to calm down and remind us that there is more to life than the mere day-to-day doldrums. 

Connecting with animals also teaches us essential life skills. When we learn to look after another living creature, it also helps us to learn to look out for ourselves. 

Also, animals can simply bring a sense of joy into our lives. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “Nothing compares to the joy of coming home to a loyal companion. The unconditional love of a pet can do more than keep you company. Pets may also decrease stress, improve heart health, and even help children with their emotional and social skills.” This joy also transfers over to the realm of animal-assisted therapy.

What Is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-assisted therapy is more than just a theory. According to the peer-reviewed journal JMIRx Med, “In the past 50 years, the field of human-animal interaction and, specifically, animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has made significant advancements and progress. AAT is a therapeutic approach that uses animals to improve overall health and well-being [and] it encompasses emotional, psychological, and physical interactions between individuals, animals, and the environment….These interventions often involve collaborative activities between human-animal teams, aiming to promote therapeutic and supportive outcomes.” 

It is also important to understand that while simply having a pet and/or simply being around animals can be beneficial, there are more benefits to be had via more structured animal-assisted therapy. That is why it is important to work with specifically licensed animal-assisted therapy specialists.

According to the European Journal of Integrative Medicine, “The ‘Pet Partners’ (an organization dedicated to improving people’s health through the interaction with animals) pointed out the differences between AAT and Animal Assisted Activity (AAA), less structured and mainly composed by pet visitation. The AAA, as described above, is slightly structured and it includes, primarily, pet-visitation. These kinds of activities are, in general, spontaneous, grouping several patients, and poorly standardized with regard to duration and type of activities.” Animal-assisted therapy sessions are much more structured and include specific sessions with specialists. This also helps to ensure that the proper data is collected to show the efficacy of animal-assisted therapy.

What Are the Benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy?

According to the peer-reviewed journal Animals: An Open Access Journal From MDPI, “There is evidence confirming that AAT is associated with a reduction in stress and an increase in positive emotions. Likewise, it has been shown to be a self-esteem enhancer, a catalyst for mood improvement, and a facilitator of social interactions. In addition, AAT, specifically dog-assisted therapy (DAT), has been found to benefit the well-being of healthcare professionals by improving the hospital atmosphere and reducing perceived stress by staff.” There are also many other benefits that can be gained from animal-assisted therapy. 

The benefits of animal-assisted therapy can be vast and carried. The following are just a few of those benefits:

• Reduced anxiety and increased self-esteem
• Increased emotional awareness and reduced feelings of aggression
• Better communication skills
• Lowered blood pressure
• Improved mood and increased mental capacity
• Reduced stress and increased feelings of positivity
• Lowered feelings of loneliness
• Improved social skills
• Reduced feelings of self-harm and suicide

As one can see, these benefits are not to be minimized. These benefits also increase in efficacy when they are used in tandem with other modalities.

Utilizing Animal-Assisted Therapy With Other Effective Modalities

It is important to connect with a recovery center that utilizes a multi-angled approach to recovery. This simply means that they use as many effective means, methods, and modalities for recovery as possible. This may include equine-assisted therapy. 

It may even include multiple types of animal-assisted therapy, such as dog-assisted therapy and equine-assisted therapy. Equine-assisted therapy can be highly beneficial. According to the peer-reviewed journal Nursing Open, “The psychosocial effects of EAT include improved self‐esteem, self‐confidence, empowerment, a sense of self‐presence, and feelings of freedom, independence, and competency. Horses can recognize human emotions and respond in an intentional way. Reports of human participants bonding with the horse are present in qualitative and quantitative research,” and “this bond is similar to a mother-child relationship explained by attachment theory.” There are also many other types of helpful modalities that work alongside animal-assisted therapy.

Animal-Assisted Therapy and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

Psychedelic therapies have been garnering much more support in recent years. According to the peer-reviewed journal Current Psychiatry Reports, “Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy offers the hope of a new treatment whose rapid onset and enduring efficacy could outpace that of other psychiatric treatments. This promise, combined with psychedelics’ cultural and historical significance, has led psychedelic therapies to garner huge amounts of attention for a treatment that remains in an investigational stage. Psychedelic therapies are discussed on the front page of the New York Times, best-selling popular books, documentaries, and beyond.”

Another psychedelic-assisted therapy that is gaining momentum due to positive results is ketamine-assisted therapy. According to the peer-reviewed journal, BJPsych Open, “Indeed, although the role of the acute psychoactive effects of ketamine remains a subject of debate, theory and research suggest that these effects may be important, and perhaps even central. For example, a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy session using a single psychedelic dose of ketamine produced higher rates of abstinence from heroin users than did a low sub-psychedelic dose. Further, an analysis of data from several studies of inpatient use of ketamine for the treatment of depression found that dissociative effects during the infusion were correlated with the antidepressant response.”

Animal-Assisted Therapy and Experiential Therapies

There are also many experiential therapies that can be very useful when used alongside animal-assisted therapy. This includes nature-based therapies like nature immersion therapy.

There is little doubt that connecting with nature can be highly beneficial for recovery. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “The ‘biophilia hypothesis’ posits that humans have evolved with nature to have an affinity for nature. Building on this concept, two major theories – Attention Restoration Theory and Stress Reduction Theory – have provided insight into the mechanisms through which spending time in nature might affect human health. Attention Restoration Theory (ART) posits that the mental fatigue associated with modern life is associated with a depleted capacity to direct attention.” Holistic healing can also occur in nature, thus compounding its positive effects.

Animal-Assisted Therapy and Holistic Healing

Holistic healing methods have been around for thousands of years. Originally, they were just utilized as spiritual practices, but they have since moved into the realm of recovery. These modalities also offer a myriad of other benefits. The following are just a few of those benefits:

• Finding a better sense of mental balance and clarity
• Helping one connect with others and heal relationships
• Increased positivity and wellness
• Improved breathing
• Better strength and posture
• A greater focus on mindfulness
• Creates empathy
• Connects individuals with new, relatable people
• Acquiring a better sense of self
• Encourages spirituality
• Reduces anxiety and depression
• Can help individuals who struggle with suicidal ideations

As one can see, these benefits are vast and varied. There are also many other types of holistic healing methods like acupuncture, aroma therapy, and massage therapy. The key is finding the right types of treatments that work together and sticking to them.

A Focus on Long-Term Success at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab

Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we strongly believe in long-term success over short-term “fixes.” That is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future. This includes our recovery plans that utilize animal-assisted therapy.

It is important to remember that recovery is all about the journey and never the destination. This journey is also best enjoyed when experienced with others, including loving and caring animals. That exciting and successful journey can start right here on the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island.

Recovery is out there. The time is now. You can do this! We can help.

Animal-assisted therapy, also known as pet therapy, can be highly beneficial for addiction recovery. Animal-assisted therapy can help one learn to trust others again, as well as instill a sense of responsibility that can be essential for long-term recovery success. Animal-assisted therapy also works very well alongside other means, methods, and modalities of recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about animal-assisted therapy and other effective addiction treatments, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.