How my snake helps with my depression-- anyone else have depression?

[FollowTheSun]

I struggle with depression, and especially on mornings like this when my partner and kids have left the house, and I have a day off after a tough day at work yesterday (I'm a nurse). This little snake gives me something to look forward to each day. She hangs out in my robe pocket while I make coffee, then she sits in my hand while I drink it until she gets tired of that, and then she hangs out in my sleeve. She's so gentle and cute and playful-- and most of the time she's very calm! I never thought I'd bond with a snake, and I never thought a snake would bond with me. :-)

I discovered the snake-therapy thing when my daughter bought a nearly full grown BP. She happens to be very snappy and bitey-- I don't think she was handled much before we got her. But what started as being part of the family effort to hold her and tame her turned into therapy for me! I realized that the gentle pressure of squeezing on my arms was very calming, similar to a weighted blanket effect. And they are so gentle as they slither, and "taste test" with their tongues. And you have to be calm so they stay calm.

So after that snake became tame and my daughter was bonded with her and feeling possessive, I bought Noodle my albino ratsnake in May when she was very tiny. Last month I acquired Spot, a banana BP because I realized that they have different ways that they move and grip. While Noodle is very gentle, Spot and our other BP have a firmer squeeze. They also have a nice heavy weight and are happy to sit in my lap longer than Noodle, and I will sit and knit and watch TV with Spot in my lap. :-)

When my daughter, who is 14 and has a connective tissue disorder, endured her third surgery this summer, the first "person" she would let touch her post-surgical knee was her snake. The snake was so gentle.

Anyway, I am sure I am not alone in my depression, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who has discovered "snake therapy." I would love to talk about this with others. :-)