Imagine how much you could reduce stress if you had an animal nearby all the time! Less Medical Care ⌄ Scroll down to continue reading article ⌄Ī recent study by Washington State University found that students who were able to pet an animal for just ten minutes significantly reduced the production of the stress hormone cortisol. This could be a result of more exercise, higher emotional support in the face of stress, or a combination of both. Pet owners have less cardiovascular problems and lower blood pressure. Reduced Cardiovascular Risk and Lower Blood Pressure This is especially true for kids who grow up on farms with animals like dogs, cats, cows, horses, and chickens. Allergy Immunityīelieve it or not, research suggests that kids who grow up around animals are more likely to develop an immunity to bacteria and pet allergens. However, as soon as you adopt a dog, you have another life who is depending on you to establish and maintain that routine. Routine exercise can be hard for non-dog owners to commit to. They frequently need to go on walks or runs, and if your dog is walking, then so are you. This benefit is seen most in dog owners, since dogs are high-energy. Exercise and FitnessĮxercise and fitness come to mind first when we think about physical health. According to the National Center for Health Research, here are some of the ways dogs improve physical health. In addition to supporting our mental health, pets also provide positive energy by supporting our physical health. Dogs, cats, birds, and even pigs can be ESAs and have helped support people with these conditions in ways that other humans cannot express. ESAs are helpful for people with more serious mental health conditions like panic disorders, major depression, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Whether you have a dog with floppy ears and a big smile, or a gecko with big bright eyes and tiny little toes, having such a cute creature to call your own brings joy and is a source of pride.ĮSAs (Emotional Support Animals) are proof of the mental support that pets can provide. Having an adorable little friend to come home to would put a smile on anyone’s face. Truly, pets rely on us for everything, and that can give your life an added sense of meaning and purpose. Having someone to care for helps your mental state by giving you a sense of responsibility over another life and by making you feel needed and important. Even smaller pets like a gecko need constant care: they need food, water, tank cleanings, tank temperature checks, and great care when handling. For instance, dogs always need to be walked, fed, and played with. Pets are carefree, and petting, walking, or playing with them can take a load off after a long, not-so-carefree day. When these things happen, it’s nice to have a pet to come home to. Homework can pile up at school, projects can create tension at work, or deadlines can loom over your head. ⌄ Scroll down to continue reading article ⌄ Stress Reduction A pet will be there for you and can provide a stable relationship even when other relationships are unstable.Ī study of 148 college women proved this when it found that those who owned pets had lower loneliness scores on the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Maybe you’re social distancing, you just moved to a new city, you’re going through a break-up, or you recently lost a family member. There are many times in your life where you will feel alone. Some specific ways that pets help your mental health include: Companionship Our pets can provide real, critical support in the face of all this turmoil. There is increased fear, anxiety, and depression as we all face the unknown, experience loneliness from social distancing, and watch the confirmed cases and deaths rise.
With the spread of COVID-19, the emotional support of our pets is more important than ever. No matter what you’re going through, a pet will be by your side to help you through it. Specifically, there are four important ways that pets provide positive energy that all pet owners should be thankful for. This is because pets, by nature, provide us with an influx of positive energy that we can’t find anywhere else. However, any pet owner can attest that their pet is worth all of the effort.
Taking care of an animal is a financial investment, a time commitment, and sometimes a source of frustration.
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