The 4 traits of people obsessed with pets
There is nothing wrong with loving animals, but sometimes the obsession for pets can reach pathological extremes .
The problems of hygiene, space and coexistence that this phenomenon can generate have a negative impact on animals, the person who "adopts" them and their close social environment. That is why it is worth paying attention to the warning signs that reveal the presence of this mental disorder.
How are people obsessed with pets?
Here we will review the features that characterize those who are too obsessed with animals understood as pets.
1. Accumulate animals in your home
Noah's syndrome is a variant of the Diogenes syndrome, which is characterized because the person who suffers it accumulates a large number of animals in your home . Some of the causes of this disorder are situations of psychosocial stress and loneliness.
However, many of the subjects with Noé syndrome also have a previous mental or medical disorder, very often appearing along with dementia, major depression, psychotic characteristics and even due to drug addiction.
2. They have hygiene problems
People obsessed by pets to a pathological extreme often carry out behaviors of abandonment of self-care (self-care) and the home, also tend to accumulate unusable objects and show an isolation behavior. The disorder usually develops in older people.
3. They do not care enough for animals
These individuals not only collect many animals (usually dogs or cats), but also do not give them the basic attention they need and are unable to recognize what this can mean for their own health and well-being as well as for their animals. It's not that they are cruel, it's just that they are not aware of their own behavior , since they present a phenomenon known as anosognosia.
4. They are not animal lovers
It is important to distinguish between these people and animal lovers, who may come to own several pets in their home. When we talk about Noah's syndrome, we are talking about a disorder, and therefore the person have serious problems associated : dementia, adjustment problems, depression ...
The animals that can accumulate in your home are: dogs, cats, chickens, exotic birds ... It is also possible that they have horses, cows, goats, sheep and other animals more typical of a farm in their own home.
How do they get the animals?
Animals can be achieved in two ways: actively or passively. The first of the methods takes place when the affected with this syndrome rescues them from the street or are delivered by other people in good faith.
During active acquisition, a person with pathological obsession for pets can look for abandoned animals on the street or through advertisements.
The two methods can also occur at the same time, that is, they can take animals home and reproduce there without control.
In the majority of occasions, this strange behavior goes unnoticed, largely due to the image of the altruistic person that is projected. Also, it is difficult for these people to seek help because they are not aware of how they act. This also makes treatment difficult, since the will is an important part of psychological therapy.
Associated mental disorders
These individuals usually present psychological disorders along with this syndrome. Actually, between one third and half of the subjects with Noah's syndrome have dementia or some other type of mental disorder l , among which schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder or depressive disorder stand out. Alcoholism is also frequent.
Likewise, some studies have also found neurophysiological alterations associated with the disorder. For example, there is a decreased activity in the anterior dorsal cingulate gyrus , which affects decision making and lack of attention and concentration. In addition, anomalies in the prefrontal cortex have also been observed.
For this reason, it is very important to perform a complete psychological evaluation to detect comorbidities. The family and neighbors can be valuable sources of medical and social information, and excellent support in therapeutic interventions. However, the isolation of these people makes this option unlikely.
Causes of Noah's syndrome
One of the possible causes that cause this disorder to develop is loneliness. Accumulating pets would be a way to overcome this situation traumatic, in which pain and social abandonment predominate.
These animals, unlike objects (in the Diogenes syndrome), are an ideal companion for the sick. Let's say that these people have an altered pattern in the relationships of affection and attachment and, therefore, have difficulty socializing. The animals are an ideal substitute, because they provide company and support in moments of solitude.
