As a matter of fact, keeping a pet can significantly affect your mental health. How? It is simple. Bringing a pet home means having another individual alongside, it is equivalent to living with another human being.
It may be suffocating for some as a lot of people are used to living alone, but to tell you the truth, it has several health benefits, both psychological and physiological.
Let me put it this way, have you ever been through depression or chronic anxiety? A persistent feeling of sadness that you’re unable to escape? Sadly, such mental health issues have become really common these days.
As mentioned by the World Health Organization, more than 264 million people from around the world suffer from depression. Yes, we can treat the disorder using antidepressants and benzodiazepines, but do you think that’s healthy? Of course, it isn’t. All these allopathic medicines bring along a massive number of side effects.
In the aforementioned case, what alternatives do we have? Well, keeping a pet can help you overcome your psychological issues effortlessly. Is it too hard to believe? Let’s jump into the details:
Pets Can Keep You Calm
What do you do after a long and hectic day at work? How do you relax yourself and keep your cool? Is there anything specific that you like doing in such scenarios? If you have a pet, it can certainly be helpful.
According to a study conducted by Aaron Katcher who happens to be a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania, owning a pet can keep you calm as it releases muscle tension, regulates breathing rate, balances the heartbeat, and lowers blood pressure.
Pets Can Uplift Your Mood
Having a pet around or cuddling with one can help release endorphins in the bloodstream. Endorphins are chemicals responsible for your happy mood. They’re also known as feel-good hormones by many.
There’s not much that you need to do. Simply hug your pet for a few minutes once after coming home after a rough day at work, and see the magic. You’ll instantly observe a great difference in your mood, I promise.
I have a cat at home, so I know how it feels to have a pet around. It is probably the only thing that can cheer me up when I’m feeling low. If you’re interested in adopting a cat or in case you already have one, obeymycat.com is a website that you need to check out. There’s a lot of good stuff for pets that you’ll find there.
Pets Can Help Boost Your Ego
Ego is a very rigid identity. It often takes you into the abyss of depression by feeding partially incorrect information to the brain. For example, you may think at one point that nobody wants you around, something that can make extremely stressed.
Here comes the part where a pet can make the difference! Your pet can make you feel needed. Think about it, you are everything it has. Isn’t it an incredible feeling to know that someone’s life revolves around you? I’m not sure about others, but you’re definitely the center of your pet’s life.
Pets Can Help You Enjoy the Moment
I believe ‘living in the moment’ is the key to success. Most of the stress comes from things that happened in the past or the ones that are too far-fetched, maybe out of the reach. On the other hand, living in the present can help you accept the actual side of the story.
If you’re not already a pro, it’s time you bring a pet home as it can help you live in the moment and enjoy it as is. Pets are not worried about the future, and they can teach you the same. They can bring you towards mindfulness that entirely revolves around focusing on the present moments.
Adding to it, your pet can also help distract you from something that’s bothering you or bringing in the drama, causing obvious inconvenience.
Pets Can Help with Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is another common issue. A lot of people suffer from a social anxiety disorder, which affects their life significantly. The good thing is that your pet can help combat social anxiety. How? Well, it counteracts social anxiety and self-isolation.
Let me explain it to you. What happens when you take your dog to walk in the nearby park? You get to meet other dog owners. Isn’t that right? Some of them may just pass by while others would stop and chat away, so it won’t be wrong if I say that pets can actually make you social by relieving anxiety and providing you with opportunities to socialize.
Pets Can Love You Unconditionally
Here’s my favorite thing about pets: they love you unconditionally. That’s right, guys! Pets are nothing like humans. They don’t need fancy food or expensive clothes, gifts or anything. They love you no matter how rich or poor you are, or how young or old you might be.
All they need is your love and attention, and they’re all yours. It is as simple as that. Pets are non-judgmental beings. They don’t care about your social standing or status in society, they love you for who you are. As I mentioned above, the only thing they want in return from you is to love them back. Nothing complicated about it!
The Takeaway
Before winding it up, having a pet is a responsibility. Yes, you heard that right. As amazing as it is to have a pet, your pet needs care just like a baby does. Bringing in a pet and hanging it to try will only make the matters worse. Your pet may become wild or die due to isolation. Henceforth, it is a decision that you should only make after paying careful thought to it.
Rest assured, a pet can be your best friend, contributing positively to your mental health. I wish you well, my friends!
