Social isolation and loneliness are immense societal challenges that have a real impact on both our physical and mental health. Both are common issues and very serious ones. According to an AARP survey, one in three adults aged 45 and older are lonely[1]. And research shows loneliness is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes per day[2], making it as much a public health concern as obesity.

The loneliness epidemic has long been a major societal issue. COVID-19 has undoubtedly made it worse.[3]

Fortunately, research shows that interaction with pets may have a positive impact on both our mental and physical wellbeing from childhood well into old age.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and Mars Petcare is partnering with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health’s Center for Human-Animal Interaction and its Dogs on Call therapy dog team on a pilot study exploring the effectiveness of therapy dog interventions in improving both loneliness and related health outcomes for older adults in hospital settings.

Veterinarian Angela Hughes, PhD, DVM, and Nancy Gee, PhD, Director of the Center for Human Animal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University, discusses the issue of loneliness among older Americans and reveal the goals of the therapy dog study surrounding this issue. This new study – and the field of research into Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) – is all about exploring the potential of the incredible bond that pets and people can have and the role each can play in making life better for the other.

Interview is courtesy: Mars Petcare

http://marspetcare.com/
https://chai.vcu.edu/
https://www.waltham.com/

#loneliness #solutions #social #isolation #physical #mental #health #aarp #smoking #obesity #covid #worse #pets #mars #petcare #veterinarian #angela #hughes #awareness #therapy #dog #united #states

The post Shining a Spotlight on the Loneliness Epidemic in the U.S. appeared first on Good News!.

As a teenager I only had one pair of jeans and became terribly embarrassed and ashamed when a cute boy at school smiled at me, because I was certain that he was laughing at my old jeans.

It took me many years to summon the strength to share my story: I grew up in poverty in the Ukraine (part of the Soviet Union at the time) and later in Israel, after my parents relocated there due to persecution based on a religion we didn’t follow or even know much about.

My parents were working many hours to make ends meet and we barely had money for food, everything else was considered a luxury we couldn’t afford.

After college graduation and completing my service in the Israeli Navy, I married my high-school sweetheart of 5 years. He soon turned out to be an abusive husband. I suffered years of daily mental abuse and humiliation, feeling too ashamed to tell anyone and having such low self-esteem that I thought that I probably deserved it. Living in New Jersey, we would go, on a regular basis, to see our friends in Brooklyn – a few couples we’d met when we moved to the United States. Consistently – after every visit – I would get hell on earth for a long time with him analyzing and criticizing what seemed to be my every word and action. We put up a great façade: our friends had no idea of the hell I was going through, believing us to be a loving and compatible couple. After a while I participated less and less in the interactions during our visits, in fear of his wrath. The abuse escalated and increased even more after our daughter was born.

One day, after a long sequence of mental abuse and threats of violence, I seized an opportunity when he was in the shower, grabbed in my arms the dearest thing in the world for me: my toddler daughter, and ran away. That same day, I had to seek police protection, as he came after me and threatened to kill me.

The story ends with me being swept off my feet by a prince charming on a white horse, as we rode happily-ever-after into the sunset… well; it was actually a two-seater white convertible (car). I am now in a loving and supportive relationship with my soul-mate and every year of the last twenty has been like a continuous honeymoon.

Since a young age, I have memories of being able to advise people as to the solution to their problems. It seemed easy and natural to sense myself in their situation and feel what the appropriate move for them was. As far back as I can remember when I was still in Ukraine, I had a desire to help people, to better their life. At every opportunity I would volunteer it, much to the disdain of my parents. People often asked for more.

I refined and developed my expertise many years later, when I was the director and cofounder of a marriage-minded introduction service, Right Match. In the position of a matchmaker, I spend countless hours guiding and coaching my clients as to the best way to present themselves and how to develop a happy, long-lasting romantic relationship that would ultimately lead to marriage. During that time I received many letters from clients thanking me for matches that were way beyond their expectations. It was easy for me: after seeing the person I simply felt his/her personality. This – combined with graphology analysis, personality testing and interviews – made the matching effective and successful. It gave me a tremendous satisfaction to hear that as a result of my help, many people’s lives had been changed and improved. With time I expanded to international matchmaking and established contacts in several western countries.

For many years I’ve been studying and researching the power of the mind and its ability to transform us. As a Master Clinical Hypnotherapist I was fortunate to reach thousands of people around the world and to help them better their life and achieve their highest goals. I’ve developed an in-depth hypnotherapy course that I’ve been teaching for over 12 years and have certified many hypnotherapists. My subliminal, audible and hypnosis self-help series of recordings have been online since the 90s, with over 40 different subjects that use “whole brain” methods to guide the listener to let go of limitations and transform their life.

As a Reiki Master Healer I’ve been teaching and training students to heal themselves and others. I was fortunate to live on three different continents and I feel that it gave me multiple perspectives and an uncanny ability to look in from outside and feel how best to help the person I am working with.

artist: Jonathon Earl Bowser

I receive thank-you letters from around the world for helping people tap their unlimited potential, improve their lives, find their soulmates and lead happy and productive lives; I feel that I am learning more and more every single day and the love in my heart is expanding and multiplying!

In the 1990s I felt a strong desire to study the 2500-year-old Japanese healing method of Reiki (literal translation: Universal Life Force Energy). I had the privilege of completing all of the levels with Diane Stein (and became a Reiki Master in 1995. I don’t think words can begin to express the experience…!!! It seemed as if many doors simultaneously opened around me and my awareness spread in many directions… and I felt as one with all. My consciousness soared up and about and the sensation of Universal Union was stronger than it had ever been before. And the amazing phenomenon is – that it has remained this way ever since…

At that time I created and trademarked Reikinosis, which is a revolutionary healing modality that facilitates deep healing on all levels. Since then many clients were able to benefit from it.

Is it time to come down to earth? When you listen to my recordings you’ll feel the sincerity and love with which I’ve created them. And, of course, I personally make sure that the Reiki healing energy is within each and every recording. After you try some of my general recordings, I’m sure you will find them beyond your expectation. When you are ready to progress further on your evolutionary path, you have a choice of seminars or one-on-one coaching with me.

As we work together to achieve your deepest desires, you will find that you become more in touch with yourself. As you become more in touch with yourself, the sessions will touch your core issues deep inside your subconscious more intimately, and the results will become more powerful and effective.

And as the result of these deeply personalized sessions, you will find that as you grow – you progress towards your own personal happiness!

I’m a Libra-Tiger (Chinese horoscope) and spend my free time (when I have the time…) scuba diving, rock climbing, sky diving, mountain bike riding, dancing, enjoying my wonderful daughter and amazing son and my kind and loving husband and reading, reading, reading.

I have been been published in several magazines such as Third Eye and Inner Realm. Some online articles of mine:

Planet Lightworker (“Mate Quest: Attracting and Finding the Right Mate for You”)

Yoga.com (“Tips on Losing Weight”)

Check out excerpts from my book on finding a mate.

I am …

a Doctor of Divinity in Paranormal Studies, Atlantian Mystery Schools and Raymond Moody School of The Paranormal.

an Interdenominational Ordained Minister, Atlantian Mystery Schools and Raymond Moody School of The Paranormal.

a Certified Reiki Master, Diane Stein.

an Instructor of Hypnotherapy, The American Board of Hypnotherapy.

a Certified Instructor of Ultra Depth (the Sichort State), Ramey Hypnosis Association.

a Certified Instructor of Somnambulistic Hypnosis, Ramey Hypnosis Association.

a Certified Instructor for Smoking Cessation and Weight Loss Hypnotherapy, Hypnodyne Foundation.

a Past Life Regression Therapist, International Board for Regression Therapy.

a Therapeutic Specialist in Regression Therapy and Chakra Therapy, International Association of Therapeutic Specialists.

a Certified Master Clinical Hypnotherapist, International Association of Counselors and Therapists.

a Certified Hypnotherapist, The American Board of Hypnotherapy.

a Certified Hypnologist, Hypnodyne Foundation.

a Certified Hypnotherapist, National Guild of Hypnotists.

a Certified Hypno-Anesthesiologist, International Association of Counselors and Therapists.

an Ambassador to Russia, Hypnosis International Board of Registration.

an Ambassador to Israel, Hypnosis International Board of Registration.

Get help today, schedule a free consultation with Dr. Inessa to discover how she can best support you.

Long distance sessions are available by telephone or Skype and in-person session can be scheduled in several convenient locations around the world.

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