Animals to help with mental illness

HG my wife and I got a cat in June. Previously growing up we had dogs but decided a cat was better for our situation. We changed his name because he's kind of prissy. Right now he's I'll and it's really had on us but I'm willing to be with him as much as possible and bring him food and water and snuggle him in a blanket. I don't think he's going to like Chicago winters but we will keep him as warm as we can. He really is pampered. He gives us reasons to get up. He knocks on the bed frame when he wants cuddles. He meows at us in the morning to wake us for work and to feed him. He also let's us know when he needs his litter box cleaned.

When I get really bad he comes to me and won't leave me alone. He really is an amazing little boy. The only in our lives.

Yes, I have a cat who helps me with MI, and i like to think of him as a service cat, although he is not officially a service cat and therefore I cannot bring him into shops and the library. I walk him on a harness and he enjoys the excercise as I do. At times he attacks me out of playfulness but mostly he is very calm and has a soothing effect on me.

I have had from 1 to 3 feline pets over the past 25 years. They were my lifeline. For past 5 years I've had a precious dog. He is the one thing that keeps me going--the love of my life. Whenever I even think about doing anything to harm myself, I think about my dog and what would happen to him. I guess I care more about him than myself but it keeps me staying with the program--taking meds, seeing therapist, exercising and staying socially involved.

My dogs have been connections to my soul. They've been my confidants, kids and best friends. They are the ones that I feel safe with & usually the only physical contact I have with a living, breathing being. Last year, about a month after my dad died, so did my dog. I was alone for the first time in my life. I didn't want another dog because I wasn't planning on sticking around. Then, just before Christmas, my PDoc gave me one of his dogs. I loved her from first sight. She is so sweet & funny & loving. I "hand-polish" her a lot; I love running my hands through her soft fur. I take her with me whenever I can. She loves the new car. I love the irony of taking my PDoc's dog to see my T. When I get home from doctor appointments or shopping, she gives me the most amazing welcome. When I wake up in the morning, she is usually watching me. She's the reason I get out of bed & why I go outside. My first dog used to lick away my teenage angsty tears. My second dog was the really big soul connection. My third dog taught me to laugh again. And my current dog, well, she's a combination of the first three.

As an added bonus, I also "have" a feral cat. It took forever to get her/him to come near me & there are still trust issues on both sides.

Me! I always wanted a cat but wasn't allowed, then when I got sick I was allowed get one to help me with it, and he really has. He's always by my side and it's just nice to have someone who you don't have to worry about saying or doing the wrong thing and annoying them. They just take you as you are and love you anyway. I love my baby more than anyone

I rescued an older black Labrador retriever from a neglectful situation and named her Blossom, hoping she would blossom from a timid, shy dog to one of confidence. I have schizophrenia and ptsd. She slept on my bed. When she sensed I was waking up, she would come around and give me a good morning kiss and I would kiss her back. After letting her out, we would go to the kitchen and have our silent conversations as I made my breakfast and shared a bagel with her. It was all telepathic. The message that always came to each other was LOVE and always be the best that you can be today. That partnership help us both. She would listen to all my secrets and I would caress her with loving hands telling her how wonderful she is.

I definitely agree that pets are a big help for people with mental illness. I lost my mini-schnauzer a year ago and I have been lost since. The pain of losing him and finances have kept me from getting another dog. I really need another dog to be in my life but for now I will have to wait.

He was my pride and joy and since I didn't have kids, he was my kid. I miss him so deeply. He helped with my anxiety and kept me company. He seemed to know when I was down and at times nudged me when I was at my worst.

As a kid I had a cat who basically kept me alive... she was the one and only thing in my life that I truly felt loved me. When I had to put her down while in university it was the hardest thing I've ever done... ten years later I still have dreams about her and wake up and cry.

I have a new cat now, but I wasn't planning on getting another cat after her. But this one I basically rescued - he'd been at the shelter long enough that they were going to put him down... all because he's had to have his ears and tail amputated. No one adopted him. He's the most loving and cuddly cat you could hope for... so a lot of families here really, really, missed out.

Here is my baby looking after me (he reached out his paw and took my hand first) at least I know someone one loves me

I definitely think animals can help us in our time of need. I moved in with a friend of mine and her family and her three dogs and two cats became like my own. They took care of me on my darkest days and would always help to lift my spirits. Especially my little buddy. He was always by my side and a true friend (a lab and retriever mix).

I remember when I had my wisdom teeth removed. I was totally out of it. I had gone to sleep that night and the pets were scattered throughout the house. I ended up waking up in the middle of the night and to my surprise they were surrounding me. It was the sweetest thing! I had fallen asleep on the couch and they were all around me. My best buddy (the lab and retriever mix) was lying on my legs and the others were either on the floor or somewhere on the couch. I felt like they were all taking care of me and wanted to make sure I was okay. I felt so special.

It can cut two ways. When I had my dog, I used to do a lot with her. I had to go out walking with her every day. That helped my depression. On the other hand, she was a high maintenance dog . . . . needed a lot of exercise . . . . couldn't be left alone for more than an hour or two. Trying to provide for her needs was a constant source of stress.

On the one hand, I thought that I could never seriously consider suicide, while she was alive because I wouldn't have wanted to leave her behind. On the other hand, I did have my most serious breakdowns while I had her. I stayed in a living arrangement that wasn't good for me for her sake.

Then, after she died, it took me 5 years to get over the grief. But all-in-all, I would say she enriched my life enormously. Now I enjoy remembering my time with her. In some ways, she was the best friend I ever had. I never expected a dog to care about me as much as she did.

I hope some day I will feel able to take on the responsibility of another dog. I would love to have a dog to do things with . . . and for company around the house. I just want to feel that I can give a dog all that a dog deserves. Right now I don't feel I can.

My hound Remy (who has since returned to heaven) was so important to me when I started hearing voices. She didn't hear the voices and was a gauge for me towards reality. Also the voices would say "we want to see Remy" and I'd hold her and they would say how much they loved her. Also when the voices didn't believe I was an earthling I would hold her and they would be like "oh my god you are on earth". I have two beagles now, Sammy and Duke and they help me so much to stay focused on "this reality".