HAB & Mental Illness

We love our pets. We feed, groom, and take care of them so they live a happy life. Why wouldn’t we do anything in the world for them?

 I have a dog and cat that live with me back in my hometown (pictured). I am constantly thinking about them while I am at school and if they are okay. My dog has health issues and my cat has behavioral problems.

Lauren Braitman’s video, “Depressed dogs, cats with OCD – what animal madness means for us humans”, really opened up my eyes to animal emotions and how they can be similar to humans. She starts out by talking about her own dog and how it has its shares of separation anxiety, hallucinations, and canine compulsive disorder. My first thought of a dog having those problems was astonishing first to me; however, Braitman goes on to explain that mental illness in animals can be similar to humans and if we can identify it in animals then we have more sympathy towards them. I think this From the August 27^th class presentation, it was attributed from the American Veterinary Medical Association that HAB is defined as “a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both. This includes but is not limited to emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, animals, and the environment.” The clause that stood out to me is how the relationship between animals and humans is partial to the health and well being of both. Therefore, when an animal has a mental illness it affects not only the animal but the human as well and vice versa. Braitman used the example of the war veteran and his service dog that helped him with his fear of heights and PTSD. She went on to say that after a couple months of the dog being with the veteran that the dog developed a fear of heights as well. This example goes to show that non-human animals and animals can share similarities when it comes to mental illness. However, there can be differences as well.

idea can attribute to the Human-Animal Bond definition.

Emotions play a big roll in mental illness. It is emotion itself that can lead to mental illness. Braitman explains in the video that every animal is unique and has different susceptibility.  This idea led me to one of the bigger conclusions I made from the video that mental illness cannot be treated as a whole. One of our class readings goes on to explain that non-human animals express their emotion to humans. In chapter one of The Emotional Lives of Animals by Marc Bekoff, the author goes to write that “many animals display their feelings openly, publicly, for anyone to see. And when we pay attention, what we see outside tells us lots about what’s happening inside an individual’s head and heart”. Braitman talks in the video of how humans can assume an animal’s emotion and what problem they have. Bekoff confirms this idea as long as we truly pay attention to the animal. If we pay attention to the animal, then we can get the help it needs whether that be through therapy or pharmaceutical.

 

Throughout “Depressed dogs, cats with OCD – what animal madness means for us humans”, Braitman explains mental illness and its similarities and differences from humans to non-human animals. One topic she hit on was anthropomorphism and how it attributes to non-human animals. From our discussion on September 8^th in class, the lecture defined anthropomorphism when non-human animals are attributed to humanly characteristics. When discussing mental illness and their similarities and differences between non-animal humans and humans, anthropomorphism can be hard to define. Is mental illness more of a human or non-animal characteristic? That’s the question. One of my favorite parts of the video is when Braitman discussed when anthropomorphism is good and when it is bad. In class lecture, we also discussed why it is important to anthropomorphize in the first place and it was explained that it helps humans understand others around us like non-human animals. It is to the degree of anthropomorphism that decides whether it is beneficial to the animal. Braitman uses the example of dressing up Corgi dogs like a groom and bride and how that is falsely attributing human characteristics to dogs. It makes sense because dogs do not dress up themselves for a marriage ceremony. Braitman goes on to explain that good anthropomorphism is when humans help our non-human animals when they have a mental illness and care for their needs with human resources. She uses therapy and pharmaceutical use as examples of ways that anthropomorphism can be a good thing. The biggest resource Braitman shares that can help non-human animals (and maybe the human population can take a lesson from) is that the animal can be social with other animals no matter the species. Braitman explains in the video “oxytocin levels were raised when animals were together” which means the animal is happier. Sometimes I think it is the simplest solutions that can help others.

Before starting this video, I was narrow minded about non-human animals and whether they can have a mental illness similar to humans. I learned that there are similarities and differences; however, it is up to the individual. The human-animal bond plays a big role and how it affects both sides. Emotions also need to be considered which plays into anthropomorphism and properly attributing it. In the end, we want to do what is best for animals and we can learn from each other. What may help a non-human animal with mental illness could help a human in the future.

Braitman truly opened my mind to mental illness and how non-human animals can teach us humans a thing or two.

Works Cited

Albert, S. (Presenter). (2015, September 8). Anthropomorphism and Anthropocentrism. Lecture presented at University of Ilinois, Urbana.

Albert, S. (Presenter). (2015, August 27). The Science and Biochemistry Behind the Human-Animal Bond. Lecture presented at University of Illinois, Urbana.

Bekoff, M. (2012, October 31). Chapter One The Case for Animal Emotions and Why They Matter.Retrieved from Nature website: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/animal-odd-couples-excerpt-the-emotional-lives-of-animals/8005/

Ted Talks. (2014, August 21). Laurel Braitman: Depressed dogs, cats with OCD — what animal madness means for us humans [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vNIrPeRGlM