My name is Courage. Susan gave me this name because she knew I needed courage for everything I do, but it hasn't helped enough for me to find a home of my own. I was adopted once, but I was so afraid of everything, that after three months, I found myself back with Susan at Piggy Camp. Now I am almost one year old. I came from a litter of five piglets, including myself. My brothers and sisters were also afraid of people when we first arrived at Camp, but they all found good homes. With a little time and patience from their humans, all of them are doing fine now with their fears. I just can't seem to change. I don't like to be touched by people and I won't even let them touch me for a belly rub. I have learned to wear a harness, but only if Susan puts it on while I am eating. If I am eating, she can touch me all over, but once I am finished, I squeal and want into my room to be left alone. I get along with the all the other pigs that are looking for homes, but sometimes the bigger ones scare me. I live in the house with some other pigs that are looking for homes and I like to cuddle up to them. I see some of them cuddling up to humans, but that's just not for me. I want to be friendly to people and I want to find a home of my very own. Can you help me overcome my fears?
Sometimes in life we come across frightening situations that send us hauling our hams back to safety as fast as our trotters can go. This is good. But, when a pig finds himself in a constant state of fear, this is not good and I'm glad you have the courage to write to me for help.
Because you have suffered from constant fear of humans since you were a piglet, and your litter mates suffered the same fears too, it is my belief that you guys and your mom must have experienced one of the following: 1. A frightful trauma brought about by humans, 2. your mom was a "natural pig," (people might call feral or wild) who passed her instinctual beliefs on to you piglets, hoping to help keep you safe from humans, or 3. your mom was not with you long enough, after you were born, to teach you all the important things a mom likes to teach her piglets about life. Any one of these experiences could leave a pig with lifelong fears. But, all hope is not lost with you getting over yours, Courage, so fear not!
For your special case, I conferred with an expert ~ my mom ~ about using Homeopathic remedies to help you in your quest to be fearless. We agreed this path might be the best way to approach your situation. Two remedies quickly came to mind, along with one famous Bach Flower Remedy.
Rescue Remedy is made from five different flowers. Do you know how good flowers are to eat? Well, if you get a few drops of these flowers in your drinking water every day, they will help you relax and enjoy life more thoroughly. It's okay, too, if everyone else drinks your water also, because Rescue Remedy will never be harmful. Along with this, I highly recommend the following course of action:
Aconite 30C is a remedy made from Monkshood. It is primarily used in homeopathy for fear. If this remedy were added to your breakfast and supper, daily, for a week, you just might find the world less frightening. If you have tried Aconite already but haven't found any relief, then you should try:
Strammonium 200C or 1M, commonly known as Thorn Apple. It's a remedy often used with feral cats, to help alleviate their fears induced by human contact. Even though you aren't a cat, your description of the fear you experience with humans is the same... Well, except for the fact that you aren't shredding them to pieces if they get too close. The method of taking this remedy is one of two ways: If you use the 200C, then you could have it in one meal a day for three days. If you use the 1M, then you would have it in one meal only. (You see, the higher the potency, the less often you take the remedy.) Then, wait a week or so to see how you feel. I bet you'll find humans less scary, and more like an opportunity for good things. Those belly rubs you mentioned are divine. I highly suggest every pig get two or three daily. It's good sense for good mental health!
Oh look, your time is up! I leave you with something one silly human once said, "There is nothing to fear, except fear itself." I don't know who he was, but he makes sense, for a two-legger. I wonder if he was feral?
Please check back to let us know how things are going for you, and remember, you'll ALWAYS be bigger than your problems, so have a snortin' good day,
Clover la Oink lives riverside, in Central NY, with his herd and their pet humans. He is quite famous. If you would like to submit any therapy questions for his advice, please contact him through the numbers below. Please note that private matters will be kept confidential, but all others submitted will be published in the NAPPA News.
Email Pig Therapy or Animal Wellness Consultants
315-652-4964. You may also visit Animal Wellness on the World Wide Web, just
point your browser to: www.holisticanimal.com
©1999 Colleen Nicholson. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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