[Gabyunbound]

For those of you who have pets, do they help when you're depressed, manic?

My kitty enjoys eating (like a dog, she hoovers food) and snuggling. When she's feeling snuggly, she does help me a bit when I'm down (not so much with all-out depression, but it's something). Not much help with mania, though, I'm too far gone to enjoy her attempts at snuggles.

Does your/do your pets help you when in an episode, or when just feeling down?

Sometimes they do. Sometimes they are a source of tremendous guilt because I'm too depressed to enjoy them, feel I don't deserve them and cannot take care of them. othertimes, they snuggle with me and I cry and cuddle them and it helps. I have 3 dogs and when depressed, its hard for me to give them what I think they deserve sometimes.

[Gabyunbound]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

Sometimes they do. Sometimes they are a source of tremendous guilt because I'm too depressed to enjoy them, feel I don't deserve them and cannot take care of them. othertimes, they snuggle with me and I cry and cuddle them and it helps. I have 3 dogs and when depressed, its hard for me to give them what I think they deserve sometimes.

I can definitely relate to that -I feel guilty sometimes that I can't give her what she deserves. Sometimes I want to be alone -even from her- and brush her off and when depressed (or paralyzed by anxiety) just don't clean out her litter box as often as I should

[pirilin]

Got two Dachshunds. Male and female. No chance for sex either way. Besides, she's a minor. Male is Whiskey, female Lola. Whiskey is over the hill. Will be or is eight this year.
He tries to keep up, but a teenager is too much for him.
Whiskey gets depressed when I do. Lola hasn't live enough to know about that. She's a year and a half old.
When I'm manic, I play the harmonica and they sing. I take them for walks and throw them in the pool. I hafta get them out fast. Dachs can't swim. Again dachs don't swim.
Too short legs.
I hope Whiskey will not get depressed ever again.

BTW, when Whiskey runs away I'm going thru all the neighborhood shouting Whiskey!! Whiskey!!.
Once the dog is back in the house, I wonder about the neighboors.

[tohelpafriend]

I think dogs especially feel our emotions, but their loyalty and love just keep giving. Be thankful for your pet. Mine died recently after 10 years and the emptiness is painful.
I never felt lonely or depressed with her, cause she loved me and I her.

[Daonnachd]

I have a greyhound named Keen. He's only 24 months old, so basically still a puppy in his behavior though fully grown. I think like others here, caring for a pet when depressed makes me feel worse for having let him down. That said, he is a bit of an uplifting presence. Here's a pic of him: Message - Our Gallery

[tohelpafriend]

Hi, Here's a pic of my sweet friend, Riley. Although now I am extremely depressed having lost her, I was not depressed when she was with me every day for 10 years. She got me up and going and outwardly directed. When she walked, she pranced. She was very playful, even when she got older. For the past 7 months she had kidney disease (so said the vet), but I gave her IV fluid treatment.

[~Christina]

When my dog is literally glued to my side ( more so than normal) I am always on my way into a mood shift/ episode.. He knows it before I do. Thanks to him I have been able to be more pro active sooner.

[Wander]

Since I lost my Red Cloud Kelpie named Ruby (Australian breed) last September I have broken down and wept many times. She was old and her time had come but I so miss her company. She sat with me while I wept and bugged me to get off the couch when depressed. Ruby also made me laugh and see life in a different, better way. She was OBSESSED with balls, sticks and water. Her love for life was contagious. She made me a better human. When I was in extreme distress she would often put her face in my face. It was so sweet. I felt loved. It definitely helped my moods. Now I live in a flat(for financial reasons) and can't have pets. I feel lost.

[Anxiousvalkyrie]

I have two very large Doberman Pinschers. I've raised Dobermans for the last 15 years. I love them. They are very in tune with how I'm feeling. If I'm anxious or feeling badly they always want to be right with me. Sometimes this is great because petting or scratching them calms me down. They also give me an excuse to go outside and walk in the forest which is always good for me. Sometimes though, if I'm in a particularly bad mood or am really irritable they can get on my nerves. They don't mean to, but if they bark at something outside or get under my feet when I'm walking I'll sometimes get unfairly upset with them. I always feel really guilty about that.

[GoldenSnitch]

I have actually been considering getting my dog certified to be a therapy dog because she is so wonderful. She knows when I am upset or going through something and she stays right by my side and let's me snuggle her and try to relax. If I cry, she comes to me with kisses and snuggles and sits with me as long as I need her to.

She is a really playful dog when I am feeling good so I know that she knows the difference and acts accordingly.

On days I don't have my daughter she is a big help to have around.

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