Can Owning A Pet Help Improve Your Mental Health?
If you talk to any pet owner, they will tell you how much they adore their animal and how they could not imagine their lives without their furry (or scaly) friend as a companion. Likewise, it is widespread for humans to have positive attachments with animals. According to a
2015 study, 95 percent of pet owners consider their animals to be family members.
Their pets are included in family vacations and sleeping arrangements.
Even though most people think of pets as animals to cuddle and play with, animals provide various benefits that can help improve mental health. A cat or a dog, after all, is something that almost everyone enjoys spending time with.
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Having a pet can help lower your risk of developing anxiety and depression.
People of any age can be affected by these mental health issues. Those who do not have pets, on the other hand, are believed to be four times more likely than pet owners to suffer from clinical depression. A possible explanation is that pets can provide you a sense of importance and unconditional love while also having a soothing and relaxing influence on you, which can assist in lessening the symptoms of depression.
They can also give you something to focus on - dogs still need walking, cats still need feeding, you still need to go to the vets, or even take them to a holistic pet shop for supplies. Having this sort of focus can be helpful.
Furthermore, your relationship with your animals is less likely to experience the ups and downs that your relationship with humans has, making it much more consistent and less prone to causing stress and anguish than your relationship with humans.
Having a pet can boost your social skills.
Taking care of an animal has been related to enhanced social skills in children with autism; therefore, some parents may want to consider buying a small pet. While your children may be clamoring for a puppy, if you cannot care for such a huge animal that demands a great deal of time and effort, consider a rabbit or guinea pig as an alternative.
Having a pet can have a calming influence.
Petting an animal triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin, the hormone responsible for happiness and calming. A stressed and anxious person can benefit from this technique by relaxing and enjoying feelings of delight. A rise in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) sessions, such as puppy and kitten therapy sessions, has been attributed to the relaxing effects of animals. During these sessions, clients are permitted to sit with animals and pet them for a brief time.
Researchers discovered that persons who received animal therapy experienced reduced stress levels - even those who indicated they were not especially keen on animals.
Having a pet can encourage mindfulness.
The fact that something happened yesterday or that something might happen tomorrow, next week, or the following month does not matter to them. Animals live in the moment, making the best of whatever is going on around them. Likewise, people who have a pet can learn to be more conscious of their surroundings and be more mindful, making the most of their life.
Have you tried our FREE course Focused Fido? If not and you find you could use your dog’s attention in high stress situations like walks, dog parks, vet visits, then take our free, quick and easy training course on gaining your puppy or dog’s focus today!
Please contact us if you have any questions on these tips, [email protected] or by visiting www.newmansdogtraining.com.
Also, follow us on Instagram and Facebook @newmansdogtraining. You can also follow us and our dog Barry on our training and outdoor adventures on Instagram @adventuredogbarry.
