Ye I really didn't want to add this because it does seem OT, but I think I will now...in demonstration of how many people here think they are obsessed and are so liberal with the term (really I feel bad for saying this in such a manner to strangers but I hope it can help someone) my grandma also suffered from agoraphobia, anxiety and depression, using her cats as substitutes for human interaction...she even fired the maid after she felt she was upsetting the cats vacuuming up all their fur...for many people animals are an unhealthy obsession and band aid solution, socialization, therapy and needed medication are often missed out on by the masking "I'm just an animal lover"..it became apparent when she couldn't leave one room in a 6 room house cat free for family members with severe allergies to come visit and not have allergy an asthma attacks...
I was demonstrating how in my experience it was severe and perhaps her son had no idea what severe abnormal obsession was.
Hense my notation-are you an animal hoarder? Then my continually confounding questions of how obsessive behaviors have to disturb normal function...in order to be considered an unhealthy abnormal obsession (like answering yes to the all questions I ask). Showing she didn't really fall into the obsessional category...I guess for some people you really have to break it down and over explain things for them to comprehend...
Understanding substitution-not sure the perspectives would be the same for everyone...hmmm it's subjective in determining healthy substitution and dependency or derogate obsession...
Getting a pet for an older person is a great choice though...far beyond lowering blood pressure the benefits are substantial. Wish my Nanny had considered a lil dog (like Yorkie) and would have gone out walking her dog more instead of becoming shut in with her cats... I love that the kennel I got one of my dogs from regularly takes pups for socialization to retirement homes and living assisted facilities to visit people.
Oh and the comment about writing the son out the will and putting the dog in-hilarious! Passively not addressing the concerns of a family member or doing so with passive aggressiveness instead of constructive conflict resolution...not so funny sad really.
Huh I guess all this really is completely on topic after all, just not applicable to the OP-she could tell her son about this scenario though, and then he'd understand abnormal obsession and maybe be more supportive of his mother and perhaps toss the ball for a lil fur-baby a few times...it would be so cool to see the OP post a pic of her grandchildren and her dog all sitting with Santa for Christmas next year (or something like that). I've years of pics of my kids, and my dog with Santa and such... |