Aquariums And People With Mental Disabilities

[FishBlast]

They might demand food for paying attention to them.

Lol

At least that's what mine do at night sometimes.
I'm there, relaxed on my bed, watching the fish tank... and then there's that awkward moment when all 3 main fish stop and stare like me like this: d(OvO)b

 

[fluttermoth]

I am going to give my best guess here Platy lover. Fish are not demanding. I think it is really that simple. If I am a person who has trouble with interactions, as I am, I can simply look at my fish and enjoy them for what they are. Nobody demands anything from me at all for paying attention to them. I am also borderline autistic by today's standards BTW. In my own experience the fish give me far more than they ask of me. I take what are seemingly easy actions and the fish reward me with their beauty and with good health. I can even go a bit further by helping people in places like this without needing to confront anyone face to face. That gives me a bit of satisfaction in doing something worthwhile that is within my abilities to accomplish. I find that terribly difficult to do in other pursuits.

I agree so much with that post, OldMan!

I suffer from loads of mental health issues, and keeping the fish (and my other animals) really, really helps. I have to get up when I'm depressed, as they need looking after and are relying on me; that's great motivation. And I can lose myself in their world when things get too much for me.

All animals are great confidence boosters, as they're always pleased to see you and are never judgemental.

I also, as a severe agoraphobia sufferer, find fishkeeping a marvellous hobby; especially now with the internet; you can get pretty much everything you could need or want online; even wonderful, unusual fish and shrimps! I do make the effort to try and support my local shop too; I'm very lucky as my LFS is ten minutes walk away, down a very quiet country lane, so I can get myself there (mostly...)

Forums are brilliant too; I feel I can help people and make a difference to their (and their fishies!) lives by being here, without all the trauma and anxiety that comes with going out

 

[Hoveringpie]

I don't have any disabilities and I can sit there for hours watching my fish it's just so calming to watch them its not just the fish though it's the whole tank just sat looking and thinking that you have a small part of the amazon in your house just shows you don't have to go on expensive holidays to see the most beautiful parts of the world