“The sirens, and especially the need to enter a shelter or a protected room quickly, are often accompanied by an increased heart rate, a feeling of helplessness, चिंता and stress. Indeed, staying in a protected space under a security threat is not only a physical event, but also a psychological event, which activates the sympathetic system in the body, responsible among other things for creating anxiety responses, expressed in a rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, and muscle tension,” warns Orit Cohen Shtiler, the district psychologist of Clalit Health Services in the Central District.
“In this reality, animals, and especially dogs, are not only companions, but have a proven physiological and psychological effect. A pet is a natural ‘emotional regulator’,” she notes and explains: “The act of petting releases oxytocin in our body (the bonding and love hormone), activates the psychological attachment system, which is triggered in threatening situations and makes us feel safe, and reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone). Within a closed and noisy space, physical contact with a pet such as a dog or cat provides an initial sense of security”.
According to her, beyond the physiological aspect there is also another importance: “In moments of anxiety, thoughts tend to drift to future horror scenarios. The pet brings us back to the ‘here and now’. Its smell, body warmth, and touch provide sensory stimuli that interrupt anxiety loops and connect us to the immediate and safe reality of the protected room,” she explains – “Another central aspect is shifting the cognitive focus from experiences of helplessness to control and active action”.
According to her, trauma and stress are fueled by a sense of lack of control. “When we are required to care for the dog’s well-being in the protected space, calm it, or make sure it is comfortable, we move from a passive position of a ‘victim’ to an active position of a ‘caregiver’,” she notes, adding that “This change in behavior and the shift from thinking to action creates a change in the internal narrative, which strengthens the sense of capability and resilience, enables managing stress, and serves as a protective factor against the development of post-traumatic disorder, both in adults and in children”.
Cohen Shtiler also notes that the need to care for the pet helps maintain routine within the chaos. The need to take care of water, food, and going out for walks (between sirens) creates “islands of sanity” and an opportunity to get some air.
“The dog, which responds to the siren in its own way, allows us to express our emotions outward. When we calm it, we are actually calming ourselves as well,” she clarifies and emphasizes: “It can be said that man’s best friend is not just an expression. The use of animals as a resilience tool in a protected space is not a ‘luxury’, but a science-based psychological strategy”.