Whether you have a dog, a cat, or a Flemish giant rabbit, a pet can do wonders for your mental-emotional health. Here are six ways they benefit your psychological wellbeing.
1. Boost self-confidence
Pets offer unconditional love and can be great listeners. Simply by having one to talk to and be affectionate with, your self-confidence can be boosted as you will not feel as lonely, isolated, or misunderstood.
2. Reduce stress and anxiety
Pets help you to feel calmer, happier, and more relaxed. Just five minutes of interaction can help reduce stress-related hormones such as cortisol in your body.
Playing with an animal also raises your levels of dopamine and serotonin, which helps calm your nervous system, and increases oxytocin, the natural chemical that helps reduce stress.
Furthermore, stroking your pets can lower your blood pressure. Playing with them can make you feel much happier and less anxious in a short space of time.
3. Motivate you to move
Dogs are always more than happy to go for a walk. A four-legged companion can encourage you to leave the house and get more exercise, which in turn has positive effects on the mind and body.
In addition, going on hikes with your canine chum will allow you to connect more with nature. The fresh air and peaceful environment can only be beneficial to your overall wellbeing.
4. Help you feel needed
To prevent mental health issues from arising or worsening, sometimes all it takes is for you to feel needed and wanted.
By caring for another living creature, you gain a sense of meaning and purpose. Even owning fish, reptiles or insects has been known to help people to feel worthy, valued, and less depressed and lonely.
5. Make you more mindful
Not only can you teach an old dog new tricks – your pets can also teach you a thing or two. One of the greatest lessons they can impart is how to live in the moment.
Animals do not worry about what happened yesterday and what might occur tomorrow. By spending time with non-human creatures in the here and now, you, too, can feel more centred and stop worrying so much.
6. Improve recovery
Being in the company of animals has been known to help those with physical ailments or injuries feel less lonely and more optimistic, and even recover.
But studies show that owning pets can be good for specific mental health conditions, too. For instance, those with ADHD can benefit from the routine and structure they need to provide their pets with.
Autistic people can become less overwhelmed, and build better social skills and confidence when they spend time with loving companions.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the founder of Psychreg. Connect with him on Twitter @dennisr_howell.