How do pets affect your mental health and help with stress and anxiety.? Psychology behind having a pet.
How do pets affect your mental health and help with stress and anxiety.? Psychology behind having a pet.
Our pets don’t just raise our spirit,
They even rescue our mental health too.
Millions of people around the world love their pets and they are part of the family. There is evidence that bonding with pets is not only good for human health, but it also helps build better communities.
It’s no secret that pets add to your happiness. Studies show dogs reduce stress, anxiety and depression; alleviate loneliness; encourage exercise, and improve overall health.
Science shows how strong our bonds with animals are and how they affect our emotional and psychological health. In the 1970s and 1980s, researchers started noticing the benefits of pets, such as lowering blood pressure and improving fitness. Social scientists have also begun documenting how pet owners become involved and connected to their communities. They are also more future-oriented. Then, after just 45 minutes of playful interaction, they observed a decrease in the stress hormone cortisol in saliva.
Pets are especially helpful as we get older. In a study on Healthy Aging, adults over 50 reported the following top three benefits:
• Less stress.
• Better purposefulness.
• More social connections.
Alan Beck, the Director of the Center for Human-Animal Bonds at Purdue University, says, “All humans report feeling less alone when they’re around animals or even birds.” It’s a very good thing, especially for people who are anxious and depressed. For one thing, pets keep us in the present and distract us from negative or anxious thoughts.
A study was conducted by Dr. Jennifer P. Wisdom, associate professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University Medical Center and Research Fellow at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. What factors influence recovery from health problems? Researchers surveyed 177 individuals with mental health issues and have found that companion animals not only boost self-esteem, but also communicate empathy, initiate social encounters, and serve as surrogate or additional family members.
Three ongoing studies are investigating how getting a service dog and spending time with wildlife can help veterans suffering from PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) and their spouses.
“Many mental health professionals and doctors informally recommend animals, especially to those who are lonely or depressed patients,” said Steve Feldman, executive director of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI). In a 2014 HABRI survey of physicians, 74% said they would consider prescribing pets for their patients overall well-being, because pets make it easier to engage with our world.
5 mental health benefits of having a pet.
1. Pets can reduce your work-related stress. Two out of three workers said their jobs were stressful and 40% said their jobs were interfering with their health. Research shows that having pets in the workplace can help reduce stress and improve employee satisfaction.
2. Pets can help you be more productive wherever you work. When dogs participate in virtual meetings, group members rank their teammates higher in terms of trust & team spirit.
3. Pets can help manage anxiety & depression. Today, more people than ever before are feeling anxious or struggling with their mental health. Pets provide companionship & support.
4. Pets help you be more active. It’s been shown to improve mood, sleep, and mental health because it gives you a reason to get outside, get some fresh air, and be active.
5. Pets convey a sense of togetherness. Bonding with your pet doesn’t make you feel lonely. When an owner sees, touches, hears, and talks to their pet, it brings a sense of compassion, joy, compassion, and happiness.
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