The 4 traits of people obsessed with pets

What is the psychological profile of those who collect animals in an uncontrolled manner?

There is nothing wrong with loving animals, but sometimes pet obsession can reach obsession with pets can reach pathological extremes..

The problems of hygiene, space and coexistence that this phenomenon can generate have a negative impact on the 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 alteration.

What are pet-obsessed people like?

The following is a review of the traits that characterize those who are overly obsessed with animals, understood as pets.

1. They accumulate animals at home

Noah's syndrome is a variant of Diogenes syndrome, which is characterized by the fact that the person who suffers from it accumulates a large number of animals in its home.. Some of the causes of this disorder are psychosocial stress and loneliness.

However, many of the subjects with Noah syndrome also present a previous mental or medical disorder, being very frequent that it appears together with dementia, major depression, psychotic features and even due to drug addiction.

2. They present hygiene problems

People who are obsessed with pets to a pathological extreme often carry out behaviors of neglect of self-care (self-care) and of the home, they also tend to accumulate useless objects and show isolation behavior. The disorder usually develops in older people.

3. They do not take sufficient care of animals.

Not only do these individuals collect a lot of animals (usually dogs or cats), but they also fail to give them the basic care they need and are unable to recognize what this can mean for both their own and the animals' health and well-being. It is not that they are cruel, it is that they are simply unaware of their own behavior. they are simply unaware of their own behaviorThey exhibit a phenomenon known as anosognosia.

4. They are not animal lovers

It is important to distinguish between these people and animal lovers, who may have several pets at home. When we talk about Noah's syndrome, we are talking about a disorder, and therefore the person has serious associated problemsdementia, adjustment problems, depression...

Animals that can accumulate in your home are: dogs, cats, chickens, exotic birds... You may also have horses, cows, goats, sheep and other farm animals in your own home.

How do you get the animals?

Animals can be obtained in two ways: actively or passively. The first method takes place when the affected person rescues them from the street or they are given by other people in good faith.

During active acquisition, a person with a pathological obsession for pets may look for abandoned animals on the street or through advertisements. on the street or through advertisements.

Both methods can also occur at the same time, i.e., animals are taken home and reproduce uncontrollably.

In most cases, this bizarre behavior goes unnoticed, largely because of the image of an 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, as willingness is an important part of psychological therapy.

Associated mental disorders

These individuals often present psychological disorders along with this syndrome. In fact, between one-third and one-half of the subjects with Noah syndrome dementia or some other type of mental disorder.lAmong these, 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 dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus, which affects decision-making.which affects decision making and lack of attention and concentration. In addition, abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex have also been observed.

For this reason, it is very important to perform a complete psychological evaluation to detect comorbidities. Family and neighbors can be valuable sources of medical and social information, and an excellent support in therapeutic interventions. However, the isolation of these individuals makes this option unlikely.

Causes of Noah syndrome

One of the possible causes for this disorder to develop is loneliness. Accumulating pets would be a way of overcoming this traumatic situation, in which traumatic situation, in which Pain and social abandonment predominate.

These animals, unlike objects (in Diogenes syndrome), are an ideal companion for the patient. Let us say that these people have an altered pattern in the relationships of affection and attachment and, therefore, they have difficulties to socialize. Animals are an ideal substitute, as they provide companionship and support in moments of loneliness.