Have you experienced the healing effects of animals?
Animals have always been a huge part of my life. When I was born, my parents got a dog they named Gretchen, and she became my companion for many years. (My father would say that he came home carrying diapers under one arm and dog food under the other.) Then came the cats, fish, birds, goats and horses.
Over the years I studied holistic healing and mind/body wellness. At one point I had a non-profit with horses and other animals that was designed to help others heal from trauma. And then my marriage blew up.
At the time, the expenses of it all and the caretaking of the animals was overwhelming, and I had to re-home some of the animals, including all of the horses as the property needed to be sold (which added to my own trauma from a narcissistic relationship).
Then Covid happened, and the added stress took me deep into horse healing as I felt the need to immerse myself in being around animals. I studied Equine Sports Massage, Animal Communication and Pranic Energy Healing.
During my time of working with horses, I adopted a Paint horse from a rescue that was in need of tender loving care. So we helped each other heal, and I named him “Happy Feet” because of his struggle with a hoof disease called laminitis.
I was profoundly impacted by how animals (particularly horses) helped me heal, reconnect with myself and love myself again.
But the physical demands of being in the summer heat of Arizona was too much, and I needed to take refuge out of the blistering heat. So I took my work online, and offered my services in animal communication (which is intuitively understanding animals).
People reached out for help around animal behavior as well as animal loss and grief. And although my clients were worried about their animals and how they were doing, the messages were more about the animal’s concern for the humans.
Messages would come up around self-care of the human, as the animal-lover had been more focused on the animal care than themselves. And as us animal-lovers know, our animals have an ability to show unconditional love for us.
So while the humans were worried about whether they had taken the best care of their animal friend, or if having their animal euthanized was the best thing to do; there was never any judgment from the animal. I always felt only love from them.
This is why animal therapy is so incredible. And after I was able to work through my own emotional healing, I came full circle; back to working with others and helping them heal with the animals — specifically with narcissistic relationship recovery.
And since there is a unique experience when it comes to working with horses in particular, I’m also working with humans and horses in retreats. (And partnering with a non-profit that has rescue horses, is an added bonus.) I also help people remotely.
It’s been quite the transformation, and I want to share that with others. Here’s further information on the power of animal healing:
According to the NIH (National Institutes of Health, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services), animals decrease stress, improve heart health and help children with emotional and social skills. They’re a source of comfort and support.
They decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone), and lower blood pressure. Animals can also reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support and boost our mood. Even watching fish swim can help us feel calm.
“The foundations of mindfulness include attention, intention, compassion, and awareness,” Dr. Ann Berger, a physician and researcher says. “All of those things are things that animals bring to the table. People kind of have to learn it. Animals do this innately.”
According to a study, animals can help regulate the nervous system. Contact with animals help promote feel-good hormones and calm an overactive nervous system that is overwhelmed by: Trauma, anxiety and depressive symptoms.
When it comes to equine-assisted therapy (using horses as healers), it’s been shown that results include improved:
- Wellbeing
- PTSD Symptoms
- Quality of Life
- Trust
- Self‐esteem
- A Sense of Accomplishment
Horses recognize and mirror the emotions of humans, which helps us to talk about our emotions without feeling judged. We feel open to tell them things, not to mention that humans can see eye-to-eye with horses.
We can confide in a horse in a way that we might not confide in people. Trauma can disrupt how we attach and bond to others. Horses help us to learn and relearn healthy attachment patterns. Horses have similar “flight” instincts as humans, so we can relate to them easily.
So if you’re someone who has struggled with unhealed trauma, ongoing stress, confidence or trust issues, consider the unconditional love and therapy of animals. And these same issues are similar to healing from a narcissistic relationship.
Connect with an animal, volunteer at a shelter or rescue, and/or take a program with equine-assisted therapy. It will help you heal, and transform your life for the better.
PS: To learn more about becoming empowered after a narcissistic relationship, sign up for my next live event here. You’re also welcome to schedule a call with me and we’ll look at your challenges, your goals and what’s right for you.
