I’ve had Dagr with me for about a month and a half. Before I got him, I envisioned myself blogging daily, sharing photos and videos of my new puppy from day one. The reality turned out to be quite different. It took weeks before I could eke out enough time each day to compose my thoughts and even longer before I had anything coherent to share.
Raising a puppy is hard work. Despite all the research I did in advance and how much I wanted him, Dagr’s arrival sent me into a temporary tailspin. I was prepared for it to be challenging, but I hadn’t anticipated how much it would increase my anxiety and affect my mood. The constant hyper-vigilance required with a new puppy was panic-inducing. I couldn’t eat for the first 24 hours, didn’t sleep, and had many moments of self-doubt. I watched endless videos on puppy blues on YouTube to remind myself that this experience was normal and temporary. Everyone said it would get better, you just had to hang in there.
One thing you learn when battling anxiety and depression is endurance. I am adept at gritting my teeth, digging in my heels, and hanging on. I rode out the stress of having a new puppy much like I ride the waves of anxiety. You let the feeling wash over you, observe it, and allow things to be while you wait, patiently, for the moment to pass.
Reaching out to loved ones was my lifeline, helping me to refocus and regulate my nervous system. I remember calling my dad on day three, in tears, from the floor where I was sleeping in front of Dagr’s crate in my bedroom. I had knee surgery a few months ago, and the pain of sleeping on the ground on a thin mat was unbearable. It was the only thing that calmed Dagr down, so I endured this arrangement for a solid week, until the day he let me slip back into my own bed one night.
That night back in my bed was my best sleep ever. I remember it as a poignant marker, reminding me that changes were taking place. Another huge milestone was when we established a period during the day when Dagr would stay in his pen and nap for a few hours, allowing me to resume work at my desk. That’s when I started feeling sane again and tentatively began planning this blog.
If you have a new puppy and are in a panic, feeling overwhelmed, and wondering if you made the wrong choice, know that you are not alone. Many people experience this in the early stages. This is a big life change that pulls you out of yourself. In the long term, this is beneficial for those with anxiety or depression. We spend way too much time focused inward, attending to our anxious thoughts and feelings. Living more in the present and shifting your attention to another being can be a jarring experience. Your anxiety is used to having center stage in your life, and suddenly all that has to take a back seat while your system reconsiders what to prioritize. Give yourself time to adapt to this new normal and find balance again.
I’m still learning to cope with the stress of having a puppy, but I can now say with confidence that it gets better over time and that having Dagr to distract me has been good for me. I will continue to share my experiences, hoping my story will better prepare the next anxious person considering embarking upon this journey.
Thanks for walking this path with us!
An excellent post. It reminds me so much of when my first child was was born.
The similarities are uncanny! 😄
Great to find this post. Your sharing of the reality of a new puppy along with challenges associated with anxiety and depression are greatly appreciated.
🥰 I’m so happy you enjoyed my intro post! Thank you for your comment! 🐕