A dog is a man’s best friend, right? Well, if you are suffering from anxiety, depression, or isolation, maybe get a pet. Pets make your life more fun and have been proven to help people cope with their mental health.
In their article "The Health and Mood-Boosting Benefits of Pets," Lundgren, Robinson, & Segal (2020), state the companionship of an animal offers comfort, helps ease anxiety and builds self-confidence for people anxious about going out into the world. They assert that pets can help you become more mindful, to appreciate the joy of the present, and can help reduce your anxiety to make your life more relaxing.
Also, companionship plays a role in how a pet can help with mental health. According to Therese J. Borchard (2018), companionship can help prevent illness and even add years to your life, while isolation and loneliness can trigger symptoms of depression. Caring for a live animal, such as a dog or cat, can help you focus less on your problems. Pets give you company and your duty just to take care of them can help lessen your sense of loneliness.
Pets may also help reduce depression. Some actions such as stroking a cat or dog, watching fish, and playing with your pet is helpful to mental health. "Stroking your cat or dog can lower your blood pressure…, watching fish can ease tense muscles, and playing with your pet increases the levels of the feel-good chemicals serotonin and dopamine in your brain (Feldman, 2018). Maybe that's why people recover from a stressful situation quicker when they're with their pets. Simply chilling with a pet can calm you and make you feel good.
Sources
Lundgren, K., Robinson, L., & Segal, R. (2020). The Health and Mood-Boosting Benefits of Pets. Retrieved from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/mood-boosting-power-of-dogs.htm
Borchard, T.J. (2018). Six Ways Pets Relieve Depression. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/blog/6-ways-pets-relieve-depression/
Feldman, S. (2018). Alleviating Anxiety, Stress and Depression with the Pet Effect. Retrieved from https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/alleviating-anxiety-stress-and-depression-pet
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