stress relievers

[mattd]

i am new to really getting involved with snakes. have been around them all my life but never got really into them. i have had a troubled past but now just a dad and family guy. my ball pythons are like riddlin to me. does anyone else feel this way?

[uhhlise_nacole]

my fiance and I are the same way! we can't get enough! all of our babies give us something to constantly focus on besides the stresses of daily life. snakes are healthier than Prozac as I always say.. lol

[trailblazer295]

To a degree yes absolutely, buying my first snake was the first thing I ever truly did for me and me only because I want this and (word I can't type) everyone else and what they think. Now that might be something most people do long before but for me it took me a long long time. I always over thought things, what will people think etc. So as a result when I hold my little buddy I can't help but smile a little no matter what I'm feeling at the time.

Side note: I lived alone at the time so if you live with your parents I don't recommend following me.

[Minkness]

I agree. I have a very VERY stressful job and the 1st thing I donwhen I get home is head to my reptile room. I call it 'making my rounds'. I hold them sometimes, but mostly I just go in, look in on wveryone, spot clean, fill water, etc. Takes about 15-20 mins and is good down time for me.

That being said, I will still be taljing to a dr in a few months about medication for anxiety...unfortunately I can't take my snakes to work and that's where I am most vulnerable. =(

[mattd]

well me i forget everything when that lil guy crawls trough my hands, even if its just for ten mins. my step daughter is 12 with bad anxiety. she feels greate for those 10 mins

[uhhlise_nacole]

I agree. I have a very VERY stressful job and the 1st thing I donwhen I get home is head to my reptile room. I call it 'making my rounds'. I hold them sometimes, but mostly I just go in, look in on wveryone, spot clean, fill water, etc. Takes about 15-20 mins and is good down time for me.

That being said, I will still be taljing to a dr in a few months about medication for anxiety...unfortunately I can't take my snakes to work and that's where I am most vulnerable. =(

It's crazy what it seems that animals can do for anxiety specifically. I've been a long time sufferer myself but have yet to take the leap towards any type of medication. When we brought my first snake in (Argentine Rainbow Boa), I was TERRIFIED that I would do something wrong and my mind ran back and forth as to if I had made the right decision. But the second I had spent quality time with it and learned it's personality, all of that fear vanished.

[MartinD]

I have posted this elsewhere and I think quite a few of you on here already know this, but my wife died in Nov 2015 and my friend talked me to getting into reptiles and I'm glad she did. I now have 7 snakes with another 2 on the way.

If I hadn't got my reptiles/snakes I would certainly not be here now. It gave me something to focus on and, I know this sounds silly, but something to live for so in a way my snakes saved my life.

[mattd]

wow sorry to hear that Martin. my step daughter through my marriage but raised her like my own she visits me every weekend just as my real daughter. she found out i was not dad cause my ex wife is a mess. she is going through alot issues with being a teen and the dad thing. when i see her with sammy or other not named snake she seems medicated its amazing. her mom wont let here have one thats how i got trapped haha

[MartinD]

wow sorry to hear that Martin. my step daughter through my marriage but raised her like my own she visits me every weekend just as my real daughter. she found out i was not dad cause my ex wife is a mess. she is going through alot issues with being a teen and the dad thing. when i see her with sammy or other not named snake she seems medicated its amazing. her mom wont let here have one thats how i got trapped haha

Thanks Matt, you'll get it sorted in time. My snakes make me so laid back I'm more horizontal than they are lol