The Power of Pets
Companion animals have the ability to decrease human suffering. They offer unconditional love; they model happiness and joy; and, they teach us to be in the present moment.
Unlike people, pets don’t place demands on us. If you are feeling depleted from the physical and mental symptoms you’re experiencing in the menopausal transition, you can just be with your pet. Having a warm body beside you is healing and life-affirming.
Pets also provide us with purpose: we care for them, feed them, walk them, and love them. They get us outdoors and into green spaces, where we can experience solitude in nature or interact with people in our community.
In addition, they improve our moods on a chemical level: they decrease our stress hormone, cortisol, while increasing our feel good hormones, such as oxytocin and serotonin.
I can remember a time, during the worst phase of my perimenopause, when I was walking on the West Van Seawall, with glasses on, so that no one could see me crying. I felt alone and inconsolable, and I didn’t even know why.
Some time later, I happened upon a man and his dog. I decided to pet the dog and converse with the man for several minutes. Not long after that - miraculously - all of my sadness seemed to evaporate into the air and simply disappear. I was immediately filled with peace and calm. It felt like an incredible miracle! At that moment, I understood the power of pets: their capacity to heal.
Here are some great local places to walk with your dog:
Lighthouse Park https://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/lighthouse-park/
Quarry Rock https://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/quarry-rock/
Mount Fromme https://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/mount-fromme/
Centennial Trail https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/centennial-trail
At the end of one of these hikes with your furry companion, you might be surprised just how much your outlook has changed for the better!
