Pandemic made animal-assisted therapy to move online

Pandemic made animal-assisted therapy to move online

The session is most fruitful when you can physically be around the animal and touch it, but experts say that even online sessions of AAT can be helpful in dealing with stress and anxiety.

I have separation anxiety. I’m stuck in locked-down Sydney without my dog

I have separation anxiety. I’m stuck in locked-down Sydney without my dog

He gets scared of the wind and barks at it and reminds us that a world exists beyond lockdown and our house.‘The chemical effect of my companion is an also an increase in serotonin, dopamine and endorphins that my brain, even with pills, can’t properly manage on its own.’ Photograph: SuppliedI have known life with a depressive disorder and PTSD longer than I’ve known the dog and can vouch for the positive difference he has made to my illness.

Let these adorable ticklish pets soothe your lockdown woes

Let these adorable ticklish pets soothe your lockdown woes

So pure, so good (Pictures: Splitpics UK)People have been sharing pictures of their pets being tickled and honestly, it is exactly what our lockdown needed.Oh, to be this relaxed (Picture: Splitpics UK) This is a belly begging for a little rub (Picture: Splitpics UK) That’s a happy face, right?

Dogs mirror stress levels of owners, researchers find

Dogs mirror stress levels of owners, researchers find

“This is the first time we’ve seen a long-term synchronisation in stress levels between members of two different species,” said Lina Roth, an ethologist who led the work at Linköping University in Sweden.