Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Beginner’s Guide
In the human body, there are all sorts of hormones floating around. Some of these hormones cause stress, while others induce relaxation. Some of the hormones that make you stress are aldosterone, cortisol, and adrenaline. Many others make you relax and be a happier person. Just two of these are dopamine and oxytocin. Oxytocin is a major player in making people feel better. It is exactly the opposite from cortisol (the stress hormone) and helps you calm down. It also helps you bond more easily socially and has a healing property. This is one reason why Animal-Assisted Therapy is so successful. When an animal is present, most people automatically relax, since those stress hormones immediately decrease when an animal is present. After about half an hour, oxytocin is being released, making the therapy session a relaxing environment.
Basics of Interactions
Animals don’t judge — at least,
