Pets as Therapy for Scam Victims
Having Support Animals is Very Important for Scam Victims During Their Recovery
Primary Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology
Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
Pets provide a unique form of therapy for scam victims by offering emotional and physical support during their recovery process. Scam victims often experience feelings of isolation, shame, and helplessness, but caring for a pet can help shift their focus away from their emotional distress and onto the needs of another living being.
The routine of feeding, walking, and nurturing a pet gives victims a sense of purpose and responsibility, while the act of petting a dog or cat releases stress-reducing hormones like oxytocin and lowers cortisol levels, helping alleviate anxiety and depression. Pets offer unconditional love and companionship, which helps rebuild trust and provide comfort without the fear of judgment.
This combination of emotional connection, physical interaction, and routine makes pets an invaluable resource in helping scam victims heal and regain a sense of control and normalcy in their lives.
How Pets Provide Therapy for Scam Victims: Emotional and Physical Healing Through Animal Companionship
Pets, particularly dogs and cats, have long been recognized as loyal companions, providing emotional support and comfort to their owners in times of distress. For individuals who scams have victimized, the emotional fallout can be overwhelming, often leading to feelings of isolation, anxiety, depression, and a loss of trust in others. In such cases, pets can offer a form of therapy that helps ease emotional and psychological burdens. Their unconditional love, companionship, and calming presence can serve as an important part of the recovery process.
Emotional Support and Avoiding Loneliness
One of the most significant benefits of having a pet, especially for scam victims, is the ability to alleviate loneliness. Scam victims often face a sense of betrayal and isolation after realizing they’ve been deceived. Pets offer a nonjudgmental presence, giving owners someone to talk to and confide in. Even though animals cannot speak, their presence provides comfort, allowing victims to express their emotions and release pent-up feelings without the fear of being judged or misunderstood. Talking to a pet can be therapeutic in itself, as it allows victims to vocalize their thoughts and work through their emotions in a safe environment.
The companionship that pets provide also reduces the sense of isolation that scam victims often experience. Scam victims might withdraw from social interactions out of embarrassment or shame, but having a pet ensures they are not alone. Pets are always present, offering constant companionship that helps fill the emotional void left by broken trust in others.
The Cathartic Effect of Petting
Petting an animal, particularly a dog or cat, has a calming effect on the body and mind. When a person strokes a pet, the physical act of petting triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with feelings of love, bonding, and relaxation. At the same time, levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, are reduced. This combination helps ease anxiety and improve mood, creating a sense of calm that is especially beneficial for scam victims dealing with high levels of emotional distress.
In addition to lowering stress levels, petting animals has been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate, promoting overall physical well-being. Scam victims who might experience physical symptoms of anxiety or depression, such as rapid heartbeat, insomnia, or tension, can benefit from this soothing interaction. The repetitive motion of petting can be meditative, helping individuals focus on the present moment and providing a much-needed distraction from worries about the past.
Caring for Someone Else
For scam victims, the experience of being deceived leads to deep emotional distress, including feelings of isolation, self-blame, and helplessness. Having a pet that requires care and attention can serve as a powerful therapeutic tool to help victims cope with these negative emotions. Pets like dogs or cats demand daily attention and nurturing, which shifts the focus away from the victim’s emotional pain and onto the well-being of another living being. This shift in focus helps to pull the individual out of the cycle of rumination and self-blame, encouraging them to take action and engage in meaningful, positive tasks.
Caring for a pet gives victims a sense of responsibility and purpose, as they must ensure the animal’s basic needs—such as feeding, exercise, and affection—are met. This can be especially helpful in breaking the mental and emotional isolation that many scam victims feel, allowing them to reconnect with a sense of routine and stability. Additionally, pets provide non-judgmental companionship, offering emotional support simply through their presence. The act of petting a dog or cat has been shown to reduce cortisol levels (the body’s stress hormone) and trigger the release of oxytocin, which promotes feelings of comfort and bonding. This physical interaction can have immediate calming effects, helping to reduce anxiety and create a sense of emotional security.
For scam victims, who may feel betrayed by people, the unconditional love and trust offered by a pet can help restore their ability to connect and trust again. This combination of emotional connection, responsibility, and routine makes pets a valuable asset in the healing and recovery process for victims of scams.
Impact on the Brain and Body
Beyond the immediate calming effects of interacting with a pet, the long-term presence of a pet has deeper physiological benefits. The presence of a pet can reduce the severity of depression and anxiety by encouraging the release of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters associated with happiness and well-being. For scam victims who might struggle with feelings of helplessness, these natural mood-boosting chemicals can counteract the emotional lows often experienced during recovery.
Moreover, pets encourage routine and responsibility. Feeding, walking, and caring for a pet create structure in a day, which can be particularly helpful for scam victims who may feel adrift or overwhelmed. This routine helps victims maintain a sense of normalcy and control, which can be empowering during the healing process. Exercise, especially for dog owners, also boosts endorphins and provides physical and mental health benefits. Scam victims who may be less inclined to leave their homes can find motivation through their pets, who need daily walks and interaction, helping them break out of isolation.
Unconditional Love and Trust-Building
Pets offer unconditional love, which can be incredibly healing for scam victims who have had their trust shattered. Unlike human relationships, pets do not judge or question; they offer affection and companionship without conditions. This unconditional love helps restore a victim’s faith in relationships, albeit on a simpler level and can be a stepping stone toward rebuilding trust in others.
Scam victims often deal with feelings of self-blame and guilt, questioning their judgment and worth. Pets help remind their owners that they are worthy of love and care, helping to restore a sense of self-worth. Through daily interactions, scam victims may gradually rebuild their ability to trust again, starting with their pets and later extending that trust to human relationships.
Summary
For scam victims, the emotional and physical impact of their experience can be overwhelming, but pets can provide essential therapeutic benefits. By offering companionship, reducing loneliness, and triggering the release of mood-enhancing chemicals through physical interaction, pets help victims cope with the emotional aftermath of scams. The simple acts of petting, caring for, and talking to a pet offer a path to healing, allowing victims to regain control over their lives and start the process of rebuilding trust in a non-judgmental environment.
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Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
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The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
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If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
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That’s so very true. I confess that I let my dog and my cats sleep near by me in the bed, although it’s a common opinion that a dog has to sleep on the floor. But I don’t know how I would have ever slept for a long-long time, if I wouldn’t have my dog and my cats near by me, if I wouldn’t feel that there is somebody who is warm, who is breathing, who is alive. In an empty flat, I don’t know how I would cope at all. And yes, they are sometimes difficult and strenuous, but they are my friends.