Having a pet is a great source of companionship. They provide comfort and can help their owners when it comes to sustaining a positive state of mental health. Here’s how:
Pets and stress
Pets tend to have a relaxing effect. Spending time with your pet, playing with them, cuddling them or petting them is a chance to relax and not only calm your pet but calm yourself.
A recent study found pet owners reacted less to stress and recovered from it much quicker when their pets were near.
Pets and wellbeing
Caring for a pet will give you a purpose. Dogs, in particular, will get you out of the house as they need regular exercise and walks.
Having a dog makes you more active, but the other health benefits may surprise you. This study shows that older adults who own a dog have a lower body mass index, which is directly linked to their health – they make fewer visits to the doctor because they’re getting more exercise.
In addition to this, pets help you establish a healthy routine. You have to get up in the morning to feed them – they depend on you, and you need to take care of them no matter how you are feeling. Your furry friend gives you a reason to get up and start your day.
Pets and loneliness
Pets make you happy, give you a routine and are great company – all of which adds to your quality of life and boosts your everyday mental health.
In fact, a relationship with your pet can mirror a relationship with humans – which can be extremely helpful for people who find themselves alone or feel lonely.
Having a cute little furry face at home isn’t just nice-to-have – it can help reduce mental health problems caused by loneliness.
Help you manage long-term mental health issues
Speaking of mental health, in addition to helping with loneliness, pets can also help manage long-term mental health problems.
Pets are a valuable source of support for those managing mental health conditions, providing a distraction from symptoms, offering silent support and lots of encouragement. Some examples of mental illness a pet can help with are:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
- Anxiety
A 2016 study involved 54 participants all of whom had been diagnosed with severe mental illnesses, like depression, bipolar disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.
60 percent of participants placed a pet in their most important circle of supportive connections. Approximately half of the participants said their pets helped them manage their illness and everyday life, gave them a sense of identity, self-worth and meaning.
Pets and love
The best benefit of having a pet? The unconditional love you will feel. A pet doesn’t care about things like appearance, your successes or failures, your faults or anything else – they just love you for you and are happy you’re their owner. They enjoy spending time with you and that feeling of being loved and wanted is no doubt good for mental health.