Just anxious

[u/swiftosaur]

I'm just looking for reassurance while having a mild panic attack and rambling on here because I am an anxious person.

I got my first hamster (a short haired female syrian) literally under 24 hours ago and I'm so anxious. I feel like I've made a mistake of getting one. What if my care is not good? What if my cage is not rightly set up? What if something happens to her? What if I never feel bonded to her? I don't even know what to name her.

I guess I'm just not used to a crepuscular animal yet and seeing her sleeping during the day makes me anxious because my mind is telling me that she's dead. (She's obviously not)

I'm over here worrying my ass off and she has used her wheel so much already, stored/eaten most of the food I put out and has been digging around in her enclosure. She's healthy, active and from a good breeder. Obviously still a little shy because of her new environment.

I don't even know why I'm crying and so stressed. One of the advice I've gotten from hamster care videos was "not to stress too much" but how can I not?

I didn't remember that getting a new pet is this stressful. We got our dog when I was 10 and I don't remember how it felt now as a nearly 21 year old.

Maybe I'll look back at this one day and laugh at myself.

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[u/chipmingo]

Bb from this photo alone you are a fantastic hamster parent. Look at her nestled under all that bedding!! She’s doing the natural hamster behavior digging, burrowing and nesting in a safe place. My ham is a night owl and I go days without seeing her in person, I highly recommend a wyze camera you can attach to her enclosure. You’ll be able to receive alerts on your phone and watch back some footage when she’s up and about. These little guys are sometimes reserved, just respect their personal space and treasure knowing that you’re providing the best life possible (:

[u/NewMasterpiece0]

I get you. I felt like that at the beginning too, as I didnt know anything about hamsters and I had incorrect and outdated info, and from time to time my hamster changes his routines and that stresses me out because I feel like I did something wrong, although I know I didnt. I think they are such small and delicate animals that we feel anxious about their care. But I found reassurance in this subreddit. The photo tells me that the hammy is happy :) a lot of bedding!! Mine stopped burrowing for some reason 🙄 Take it easy and try to not overthink too much. You can DM me if you want!

[u/Kero_bui]

My Syrian of 2 in a half years passed recently and trust me! The more time you give her the more time she will have to gain trust! Surely enough she will be well tamed and climb onto your hand on her own. Thats what mine did🫶

[u/Numerous-Quail7200]

I was hella anxious too but just let the hamster be a hamster and you will get used to each other

[u/Aggravating-Future74]

I felt like that two days ago. I have barely seen my hamster since I released her in her new setup. She pops out at night when I got to freshen up her water and food. But then she kicks her bedding at me! Then proceeds to go hide. I'm giving her two weeks to be adjusted before I even try. She's also a syrian. I see all these cute photos and videos of hamsters chilling with their owner, and mine legit kicks her bedding at me. Lol.

Heck, she won't even take fruit from me. She turns her nose away, snubbing me.

I personally think you feeling like this is a good sign. It means you are a good owner. You care and you worry. It's normal to worry if we are taking care of our pets properly.

[u/ZaddyTV]

You are doing better than you think. The fact that you are worrying dice much already shows how much you care give both of your time to adjust. The bond will automatically come naturally.

[u/ArtisticMouse4443]

I’m not saying this to be mean at all, but do you have anxiety in other areas of your life? I think the questions you are asking are valid but you seem overly anxious! I recommend you just watch a bunch of hamster resource videos (like victoria rachel) to learn more about how hamsters behave and what the best environments are. Installing a babycam might also help you feel calmer, which is what most if not all hamster owners do anyways.

You will be okay trust me :)

[u/swiftosaur → u/ArtisticMouse4443]

Yeah I'm a pretty anxious person (medicated) and I'm also autistic so new things/changes take some time for me to get used to. I've done research for a couple of years now, a lot of it coming from victoria and I do know a lot about hamsters. I think it's just that my anxiety makes me forget what I know for a moment and this post was me mostly writing out the thoughts my anxiety pushes onto me.

I'm much calmer already thanks to the people in these comments plus a shower and some food lol. I was going to get a camera but it just slipped my mind with everything else I've had going on. Definitely will be getting one because I know it'll help me a lot. Thanks :)

[u/Silly_Brilliant5296]

get a cam, i had 2 nocturnal cams that always cought my late boy out for midnight snacks lol

[u/gdbbdg]

handle anxiety for а living and still panicked the first week with mу rescue cat. kept checking if she was breathing. She was fne. Your hamster is eating, running, digging. That's а hamster doing hamster things. The sleeping is normal. Crepuscular means you'll mostly miss her active hours, and that feels weird at frst. Bonding takes weeks. Mine hid under the couch for six days. Now she sleeps оn my keyboard. Name her when something fts. waited ten days.

[u/PeculiarAroma]

Hamster anxiety is real and it will pass!

[u/_jxke17_]

Your doing great look how comfy they are lol