Spending Time With Animals Helps Me Feel Calmer

Lessons in how to be present in the moment from our furry friends

Spending time with horses during the early stages of my mental health recovery. Photo by author

Animals are some of nature’s greatest healers. I definitely believe that to be true. Particularly and perhaps especially when you’ve been through a really hard time, for example with your mental health.

After a mental health crisis and my subsequent hospitalisation in the summer of 2022, I dedicated myself to my holistic recovery. Part of this recovery journey involved reconnecting with my love of animals. We’ve all heard about the benefits of medication and talk based therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy when it comes to mental health treatment. But I think that spending time with animals (particularly out in nature) can also be incredibly therapeutic too, in addition to these.

I find being around animals is a lot simpler for the most part than being around people. That type of low pressure interaction, particularly in the initial stages of my recovery meant a lot to me. The idea of hanging out with people and potentially having to confront all the demands they might have of me filled me with dread.

On the other hand, I felt good about the prospect of spending time with animals. Animals are pure and don’t have bad intentions. They don’t judge you. If you treat an…