Ball pythons as antidepressants

[annarac5]

I just wanted to share my experience with snakes (BPs specifically) and much they have helped with my mental & emotional states.

Let me just start off by saying I have a fair amount of experience caring for snakes (I work at a center that does educational reptile programs in local schools) but never in my 20 years have I had a snake of my own. I yearned for one so badly, but held off due to mental health issues. To put it briefly, 2015 was a rough year for me, and with two suicide attempts happening over the past 7 months, I wasn't sure if I would be able to care for a snake, let alone keep myself alive any longer. These days I can barely take care of my self, so I wondered how I could take care of a snake of my own and give it the care it really deserved.

After mulling it over for a few months, I told myself I would push myself and I went and adopted my first snake, a 5 year old ball python. The second I brought her home I started tearing up because I just felt such calm contentedness being around her. All my negative intrusive thoughts vanished for a brief moment and everything was okay. It was beautiful. Of course, moments like these do not last, and the next morning I had transitioned into a pretty deep depressive episode. Normally, during these days, I get through them by either sleeping or drinking. anything to stay sedated. but I knew I had to get up for my snake, to check on her, to make sure her enclosure's temperature and humidity was alright, to see how her shedding was doing, etc. and I did. i felt like i had a purpose, a reason to live, even if it was just to ensure that this scaly creature was comfortable. and sometimes that's all i need. depression is going to be a lifelong struggle for me but i feel so thankful to have this amazing reptile in my life to keep me going. as someone has been to 8 different psychiatrists over the past 10 years, and has tried out every antidepressant on the market, I have to say, snakes bring joy to my life like nothing else has ever been able to. I'm so thankful. anyways...got a bit too personal here but just thought I would share. thanks for reading! if anyone else has had similar experiences i'd love to hear them!