{"id":8556,"date":"2023-11-02T20:30:25","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T13:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8556"},"modified":"2023-11-02T20:30:25","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T13:30:25","slug":"a-llama-walk-reduced-my-stress-and-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=8556","title":{"rendered":"A Llama Walk Reduced My Stress and Anxiety"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"drop-cap text-big text-gray\"> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">A<\/span>s someone with diagnosed complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/manage-high-functioning-anxiety\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/manage-high-functioning-anxiety\/\">anxiety<\/a>, I\u2019ll try just about anything in the pursuit of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/improve-mental-health-psychologist\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/improve-mental-health-psychologist\/\">improved mental health<\/a>. I\u2019ve experimented with different <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/mental-health-practitioners-glossary\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/mental-health-practitioners-glossary\/\">types of psychotherapy<\/a>, meditation, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/breathing-exercises-for-anxiety\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/breathing-exercises-for-anxiety\">breathing exercises<\/a>. I\u2019ve written in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/benefits-gratitude-journaling\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/benefits-gratitude-journaling\/\">gratitude journal<\/a> and done <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/happiness-screen-time-digital-detox\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/happiness-screen-time-digital-detox\/\">digital detoxes<\/a>.<\/div>\n<p>I\u2019d thought I\u2019d attempted it all. Then I heard about the llama walk.<\/p>\n<p>When most people think of emotional support or therapy animals, dogs, cats, and horses might come to mind. But llamas actually make ideal therapy animals. I learned this recently when I signed up for a llama walk at the historic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountainviewgrand.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.mountainviewgrand.com\/\">Mountain View Grand Resort &amp; Spa<\/a> in Whitefield, New Hampshire. My guide, Jessica Jones, informed me that llamas are excellent at reading people\u2019s energy, moods, and emotions. And despite false stereotypes, they\u2019re actually known to have gentle, calm temperaments.<\/p>\n<p>Those factors might help to explain why they\u2019re being used for a wide variety of therapeutic purposes all around the world\u2014from reducing stress and aggression to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3408111\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3408111\/\">improving mood, learning, and empathy<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/insight\/article\/the-llama-as-therapist\/jw7pnpysj\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.sbs.com.au\/news\/insight\/article\/the-llama-as-therapist\/jw7pnpysj\">people with dementia<\/a>, among other populations. While there isn\u2019t a ton of research just yet on the benefits of hanging out with llamas, one 2006 study revealed that children with autism who underwent llamas-assisted therapy showed <a href=\"https:\/\/ajot.aota.org\/article.aspx?articleid=1870055\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/ajot.aota.org\/article.aspx?articleid=1870055\">greater use of language and improved social interactions<\/a> compared to those who did standard occupational therapy.<\/p>\n<p>After an extra stressful year, I was curious whether spending some quality time with a llama could really have mental health benefits for me. So, on an unseasonably warm morning in late October, I trekked down to the barn at Mountain View Grand for a stroll with Bourbon, one of the resident llamas who goes on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountainviewgrand.com\/the-resort\/activities-calendar\/mvg-llama-experience\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.mountainviewgrand.com\/the-resort\/activities-calendar\/mvg-llama-experience\">leashed walks<\/a> throughout the mountainside resort grounds from spring to fall. Here\u2019s what I noticed during and after our walk together.<\/p>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_1128937\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1128937\" style=\"width: 533px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1128937 js-inline-lazy-load\" alt=\"a woman on a llama walk\" width=\"533\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/llama3-533x400_falsexfalse_true_70.webp\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1128937\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Rebecca Strong<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<h2>Being with a llama gave me a surge of joy<\/h2>\n<p>Without fail, I always feel happier after spending time with animals\u2014it\u2019s one of the many reasons why I used to volunteer at a local rescue. Researchers believe that <a href=\"https:\/\/newsinhealth.nih.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/newsinhealth.nih.gov\/\">interacting with animals can boost your mood<\/a> because it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/blog\/talk-to-the-animals-animal-assisted-therapy-offers-emotional-support-2016102810527\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/blog\/talk-to-the-animals-animal-assisted-therapy-offers-emotional-support-2016102810527\">triggers the release of oxytocin and serotonin<\/a>, so-called \u201cfeel-good hormones\u201d that are associated with feelings of happiness, bonding, and pleasure. And my llama walk delivered exactly that: I felt a noticeable lift in mood not only during my walk with Bourbon, but also for the rest of the day.<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/llama-walk\/\" current-title=\"Going on a Llama Walk Was the Stress-Buster I Didn\u2019t Know I Needed\" current-image=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/llama5_418x278_true_70.webp\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2023-05-02\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/llama-walk\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/llama-walk\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img decoding=\"async\" :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/llama-walk\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\" class=\" js-inline-lazy-load\" src=\"\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>I became more mindful of any anxious energy that arose<\/h2>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22194073\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22194073\/\">2011 review<\/a> found that animal-assisted therapy with farm animals, specifically, can help reduce depression and anxiety in people with diagnosed psychiatric disorders.<\/p>\n<p>While educating me on how to guide a llama, Jones noted that the leash is essentially an emotional cord that connects me to Bourbon. \u201cWhatever you\u2019re feeling, he\u2019ll start feeling,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing this made me become super aware of and in tune with my emotions. I definitely didn\u2019t want Bourbon to absorb any of my potential anxiety, so I made it a point to do some deep breathing as I walked alongside him. It wasn\u2019t just about me\u2014I was taking care of him, too, which made me more mindful of my energy.<\/p>\n<h2>I let my guard down<\/h2>\n<p>One of the symptoms of my complex PTSD is hypervigilance. This means I constantly feel like I\u2019m on high alert and on the lookout for signs of any potential danger.<\/p>\n<p>Llamas <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/animalconnection\/2012\/01\/19\/five-cool-things-about-llamas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/animalconnection\/2012\/01\/19\/five-cool-things-about-llamas\/\">tend to serve as protectors<\/a> for herds of smaller animals\u2014and Jones told me that Bourbon, in particular, takes this role very seriously. In fact, he\u2019s known as the unofficial \u201csecret service\u201d for the farm. (I got an inexplicable amount of glee picturing Bourbon with an earpiece, tie, and a pair of dark shades.)<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, as my walk with Bourbon went on and I became more comfortable holding the leash, I felt the tension in my body gradually ease up. My breathing steadied. It was as if I knew I could relax because my llama guardian was on the lookout for me.<\/p>\n<h2>The llama\u2019s peaceful demeanor rubbed off on me<\/h2>\n<p>One of the most common misconceptions about llamas is that they\u2019re disagreeable or even aggressive. In reality, it\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canr.msu.edu\/uploads\/236\/67842\/llama_bookmarks_web_3up-6-21-16-AA.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.canr.msu.edu\/uploads\/236\/67842\/llama_bookmarks_web_3up-6-21-16-AA.pdf\">extremely rare for llamas to spit on people<\/a>\u2014they only resort to this mechanism if they\u2019re provoked, and feel super threatened. Jones warned me that llamas don\u2019t generally like to be touched. In fact, mothers don\u2019t even engage in much physical contact with their young. Knowing this helped me to avoid crossing any boundaries and making Bourbon uncomfortable.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, like all animals, llamas can vary in personality. For example, Jones told me that Bourbon is more serious, while one of the other farm\u2019s llamas\u2014Finnegan\u2014has a more playful personality and loves posing for photos.<\/p>\n<p>And it seemed to me that the emotional connection through the leash ran both ways. By the end of the stroll, it was as if I had absorbed Bourbon\u2019s serene and focused energy. During conversations with my husband later that day, I noticed that I felt less reactive and more patient.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>By the end of the stroll, it was as if I had absorbed Bourbon&#8217;s serene and focused energy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>It\u2019s worth noting that I probably benefited not only from interacting with Bourbon, but also from spending time in nature. A 2019 review found that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.aax0903\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.aax0903\">exposure to nature can increase happiness<\/a> while decreasing mental distress. According to another 2019 study, even spending just 20 to 30 minutes in a natural environment can actually <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2019.00722\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2019.00722\/full\">reduce levels of cortisol<\/a>, the stress hormone.<\/p>\n<h2>I experienced a boost in confidence<\/h2>\n<p>Research has found that spending time with farm animals in nature can also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/7\/4\/31\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/7\/4\/31\">increase self-esteem<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.agatea.org\/LMA\/ECMAP001.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.agatea.org\/LMA\/ECMAP001.pdf\">self-efficacy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For me, I think this benefit stemmed from the fact that I had to learn how to lead an animal I\u2019d never interacted with before. Admittedly, I was nervous at first. I didn\u2019t want to choke up too far on the leash and end up causing Bourbon any discomfort, but Jones also made it clear that giving too much slack would make it impossible to guide him in the right direction. I worried about keeping the perfect amount of distance\u2014not so little that I impeded on his personal space, but not so much that I lost control. I tend to panic when dealing with unfamiliar situations, and self-doubt often creeps in when I have to play the role of leader.<\/p>\n<p>But about 10 minutes into the walk, my confidence began to grow. Observing how Bourbon followed me around corners, down steps, and up hills reinforced that I\u2019m fully capable of handling the situation. It also gave me a sense of accomplishment that I tried something new and nothing bad happened.<\/p>\n<p>When Jones told my husband and me that Bourbon seemed more at ease around us than he usually did on these walks with guests, I felt an immense sense of pride. Maybe\u2014just maybe\u2014I wasn\u2019t the only one who reaped some benefits from that Saturday morning stroll.<\/p>\n<div class=\"block-thin post-citations mt-[40px] mb-[30px]\" data-module-init=\"main-2020\/post-citations\" data-module-immediate=\"true\">\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mb-[24px]\"\/>\n<div class=\"post-citations-content flex flex-col gap-[24px]\">\n<p>Well+Good articles reference scientific, reliable, recent, robust studies to back up the information we share. You can trust us along your wellness journey.<\/p>\n<div>\n<ol class=\"!ml-[18px] !mt-0\">\n<li>\n              Beetz, Andrea et al. \u201cPsychosocial and psychophysiological effects of human-animal interactions: the possible role of oxytocin.\u201d\u00a0<i>Frontiers in psychology<\/i>\u00a0vol. 3 234. 9 Jul. 2012, doi:10.3389\/fpsyg.2012.00234            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Berget, Bente, and Bjarne O Braastad. \u201cAnimal-assisted therapy with farm animals for persons with psychiatric disorders.\u201d\u00a0<i>Annali dell\u2019Istituto superiore di sanita<\/i>\u00a0vol. 47,4 (2011): 384-90. doi:10.4415\/ANN_11_04_10            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Bratman, Gregory N et al. \u201cNature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective.\u201d\u00a0<i>Science advances<\/i>\u00a0vol. 5,7 eaax0903. 24 Jul. 2019, doi:10.1126\/sciadv.aax0903            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Hunter, MaryCarol R et al. \u201cUrban Nature Experiences Reduce Stress in the Context of Daily Life Based on Salivary Biomarkers.\u201d\u00a0<i>Frontiers in psychology<\/i>\u00a0vol. 10 722. 4 Apr. 2019, doi:10.3389\/fpsyg.2019.00722            <\/li>\n<li>\n              Artz, Brianna, and Doris Bitler Davis. \u201cGreen Care: A Review of the Benefits and Potential of Animal-Assisted Care Farming Globally and in Rural America.\u201d\u00a0<i>Animals : an open access journal from MDPI<\/i>\u00a0vol. 7,4 31. 13 Apr. 2017, doi:10.3390\/ani7040031            <\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"!border-seafoam-dark mt-[24px]\"\/>\n  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As someone with diagnosed complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, I\u2019ll try just about anything in the pursuit of improved mental health. I\u2019ve experimented with different types of psychotherapy, meditation, and breathing exercises. I\u2019ve written in a gratitude journal and done digital detoxes. I\u2019d thought I\u2019d attempted it all. Then I heard about the &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8556"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8556\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}