STRESS RELIEF WITH STUFFED ANIMAL OR TOY THERAPY

Soft toys or teddy bears are not just perfect Valentine gifts but has many more psychological benefits. Stuff Animal Therapy also known as Plush Therapy or Plushie Therapy, is a therapeutic activity that involves huggable soft toys to reduce stress and promote mental health and emotional wellbeing. Whether they’re dealing with anxiety, stress, grief, isolation, or memory loss, countless people find solace in stuffed animals. As pet animals help people recover from and manage their mental illnesses, stuffed animal therapy works in similar ways. 

BENEFITS OF PLUSH THERAPY 

Reduces Stress: Hugging a stuffed animal can release oxytocin, a hormone that promotes relaxation and reduces stress. These comforting objects act as transitional items, connecting adults to positive emotions and memories from their childhood, aiding in stress reduction and emotional well-being. 

Recovery from Trauma: Cuddling with a stuffed animal can often calm children down. The texture of the stuffed animal is comforting, and just the feeling of having a friend close by will help kids who feel isolated after a traumatic event. 

Removes Loneliness: A study published in 2013 in the journal Psychological Science found that simply holding a teddy bear could reduce existential fear in people with low self-esteem. Many mental health issues can stem from a feeling of loneliness. Stuffed animals, however, can be a constant companion to someone in need. Even if you have days where you’re struggling to get out of bed, seeing your stuffed animal beside you may be exactly what you need to step out and get ready or the day.

Develop Social Skills: Children strengthen their social skills by playing with stuffed animals. Interacting with stuffed animals prepares babies and toddlers for interacting with people.

Language Development: Leave a kid with their soft toys, and you will find them interacting with their mute buddies. Stuffed animals are often treated by children as real friends. So, when your kid is developing their communication ability, the toys become their silent listeners. 

Makes you Responsible and Caring: Just as stuffed animals can act as our companions, they’re also something that we can care for day in and day out. They can learn how to be kind and nurturing by taking care of their plush toys. By being responsible for something, you’re given a purpose to get up and do your daily routine each day.

Animals, live or stuffed, can aid therapy for both children and adults by providing a way to experience and express emotions, a feeling of unconditional support, and grounding .

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