Managing Anxiety

Bonding can be traumatic for bunnies and the people working with them. Before you begin bonding, the anticipation of potential fights and injurious can leave you doubting whether or not to try. During bonding, you can be flooded with a variety of mixed emotions from satisfaction to disappointment and frustration to boredom, with intensities of everything in between. I often recommend both bunnies and people prepare mentally and physically for the journey. Chamomile tea leaves can be brewed and given to bunnies just like for people and the effects are calming. Providing buns with less pellets and produce before bonding sessions can help avoid stress-related stasis episodes. Having soft instrumental melodies playing as a backdrop during sessions as well as side-by-side living can offer a soothing effect. Cat pheremone diffusers plugged into wall outlets can also reduce anxiety. Humans need plenty of rest and to make the mental adjustments of not expecting instant success. Tell yourself bunnies measure time differently than people do. They can take a week to process something we would in a hour. Planning on being extra patient during the process of bonding will go a long way in reducing frustration and anxiousness. Allow yourself to drink chamomile tea, rest well, and plan on taking long slow breaths while letting the bunnies pace the schedule will help manage anxiety.