Pets to help mental health

yard
yard Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
in Mental health and wellbeing

I just WhatsApp my landlady if I could get a pet. I've been living at this address for 4 years.

When I drink I binge drink and can be noisy. I explained to her a pet could help me stop with the alcohol and take care of the pet. I had a dog at my old house and didn't drink for 2 year.

I honestly think it could help many people.

Anyway waiting for a reply but I felt I should ask. If she says no then thats ok but atleast I tried.

Comments

  • Chris75_
    Chris75_ Online Community Member Posts: 3,271 Championing

    I know all about binge drinking, yard. I hope you can one day see it in the rear view mirror.

    My Staffy certainly keeps me occupied, good luck with getting a dog.

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  • yard
    yard Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    @Chris75_ thank you. I hope it helps you stay off the stuff. I used to have a staff many moons ago. Great dogs.

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 6,595 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Best of luck @yard, definitely worth a try! Hope your landlady is understanding ☺️

  • Hopeless
    Hopeless Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 935 Empowering

    I have guinea pigs to help me. They make me buy vegetables and I find looking after them keeps me going. My landlord put the limit at 3 guinea pigs which I understand as it prevents pet hoarding whilst allowing me to have fluffy friends. Fingers crossed for you

  • WelshBlue
    WelshBlue Online Community Member Posts: 954 Championing

    @yard … good luck with the binge drinking, been there done that … even had 12 months of weekly alcohol and drug therapy - waste of resources really as I wasn't ready to give up either, so would stop with my dealer and the off licence on the way home, much to my shame looking back 15 years dry now … actually could be 16 … don't miss being drunk, but do miss the taste weirdly

    I hope you get a pet, something to rely on you for, to focus on other than the devil's brew

    Have you spoken to your GP ? To start the ball rolling to taking steps ?

  • Chris75_
    Chris75_ Online Community Member Posts: 3,271 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1066374#Comment_1066374

    It's hard when it seems everyone is smoking hash except you. It is everywhere!

  • yard
    yard Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener

    @Hopeless thank you and I wouldn't mind guinea pigs if I was allowed just them. But im really a dog person because im used to them.

    @WelshBlue im on medication for depression and have been for years. Seems the drinks the only thing that makes me actually want go out and about. I've been put on many things to help with my drinking and depression. But when i need to drink to be at the sessions its pointless really lol.

    @Rosie_Scope thank you

  • JessieJ
    JessieJ Online Community Member Posts: 1,020 Trailblazing

    In a very bad down period, I actually asked my GP if instead of more drugs, could she write a prescription for a dog, she took me seriously. Her reply was sadly not, but she did tell me to get one & also which breed, after getting her, she wrote a letter for me to carry if questioned. I am extremely lucky to be under a great surgery & smashing, caring GP.

    So I hope your landlady, @yard, is a very well thinking person that realises the benefits & says yes. They are life changers, as are all pets that we choose to have.

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 1,063 Championing

    Pets take a lot of commitment and cost a lot of money, food, pet insurance, vet bills, flea and wormer. Yes they do help with mental health but they do cost a lot especially when they get older, insurance goes up. You could volunteer at a animal rescue and take dogs for a walk etc. Animals take a lot of commitment and also if you go away ,finding someone to look after them.

  • Passerby
    Passerby Online Community Member Posts: 875 Championing

    For sure, pets can be therapeutic for many people, providing significant mental and physical health benefits such as reduced stress, anxiety, and loneliness, and improved mood, cardiovascular health, and social skills, etc., but make no mistake, they do not stop anyone from drinking, regardless of what you want to believe. With or without a dog, you need a strong willpower, self-control, discipline, and determination to quit drinking and being noisy.

  • WelshBlue
    WelshBlue Online Community Member Posts: 954 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1066457#Comment_1066457

    Too true mate. More and more being used in open spaces, or wafting from cars worryingly

    I think if I hadn't had my first fibromyalgia experience of total alcohol intolerance, 1 pint and I was reeling, like my body was being flushed out with ice water … I don't know if I could have given up. All the help I'd had and that one instance made me never drink again.

    Personally I think binge drinking is harder than alcoholism in some ways ( and I was both) … not having an off switch is so destructive. I remember the days of buying say 48 cans to last over Christmas. No hope. Wouldn't last 3 days at the most

    Plus with @yard needing it as a coping mechanism to go out etc, without getting to the crux of underlying conditions; people saying will power … nah, rationale goes out the window. Unless you've wobbled in those shoes …

    I haven't got a silver bullet, or even great advice but I would like to wish you the best of luck in this difficult fight

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