“Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet” – Colette
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of having a pet as a companion in your life, however brief, you have experienced the most unconditional, caring, affectionate bond and purest relationship known to mankind. The mere presence of a being that provides is with a special kind of security, affection, loyalty and joy can induce feelings of peace, happiness, contentment and a stability in our life and this is backed by research!
Studies have shown that pet ownership can lead to reduced levels of stress, decreased symptoms of depression, and overall an enhanced well-being.
Relationship between Mental Health and Pets
The benefits of having pets and their positive impact on our mental state and well-being, according to a research by APA (American Psychological Association):
- Helps reduce stress and anxiety
- Provide unconditional love and support
- Offer companionship
- Provide a calming presence
- Are true friends
Having and looking after a pet can boost our mental as well as physical health in many ways, below are some benefits of having pets on our mental health that are backed by research:
- An increased physical activity in daily routine facilitated by the need to take a pet out for a walk, play or run with them and further, while caring for their needs can help one feel wanted, foster a sense of responsibility as well as add structure to daily routines. Increased physical activity or exercise and routine building is beneficial for individuals with depression, stress and anxiety, or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). For individuals with ADHD, it can also be a source of releasing excess energy and help with keeping track of time.
- A sense of companionship and unconditional love is the most cherished aspect of having a pet as they provide you with a sense of emotional security and a companion to share the day, this is especially beneficial for individuals who live alone or are isolated or withdrawn, as well as vulnerable or older populations.
- A reduced anxiety and enhanced self-confidence and social skills with the companionship of a pet, need and responsibility of taking care of them, a space and relationship that is non-critical and filled with unconditional love, can be especially beneficial for individuals with anxiety, feeling isolated or misunderstood, as well as individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For individuals with ASD, it can also provide a sense of calm and reassurance, as well as help in sensory integration.
- Research on interaction with animals (Human-Animal Interaction, a budding topic in research), has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and lower blood pressure as well, reduce loneliness, enhance one’s mood and increase feelings of social support.
How can Animals or Pets help People?
Animals provide a great sense of comfort and support to humans and the human-animal relationship is one of the oldest relationships in this world, with a certain level of give and take and a huge amount of comfort and companionship that many consider to be a purer form than a relationship between two humans.
An individual with a mental health condition, concern or disorder can greatly benefit from having an animal companion as elucidated above, whether there is human-animal interaction on a fleeting, or on a regular and frequent basis, or by adopting or buying a pet.
To address such a need, animal-assisted therapy is also available, which is a service that is given to individuals or groups by practitioners such as Animal-Assisted Therapists (AATs) who can provide their services in hospitals, nursing or rehabilitation centres, therapy sessions, schools or workplaces as well. AATs incorporate a variety of animals (dogs, horses, cats, dolphins, horses) to support healing and mental wellness and achieve therapeutic goals.
Further, there is also an availability of psychiatric companion animals including psychiatric service dogs, psychiatric support animals, or mental health service dogs.
A psychiatric service dog, trained to support individuals with anxiety or depression, performs specific tasks that address specific psychiatric symptoms. For instance, these dogs might be trained to recognize signs of an anxiety attack and respond by offering deep pressure therapy, which can help ground the person. Additionally, psychological support dogs can provide a sense of security, which is beneficial for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or severe anxiety.
How can Pet-Friendly Rehabs help you? Read more here.
Further, another similar psychiatric service animal is termed as a psychiatric support animal, which can include any animal as long as they provide comfort and emotional support to individuals with mental health conditions. Psychiatric support animals, offer emotional comfort and stability to individuals with psychological conditions without specific task-based training, hence, this works better with for instance, individuals with depression or stress who can gain emotion comfort from their animal companion.
Mental Health Service Dogs are trained specifically to assist individuals with mental health needs, are more than just companions; they can detect shifts in their owner’s emotional state and provide necessary interventions that help in mitigating symptoms, such as interrupting self-harming behavior. They are specially trained to aid individuals with depression, PTSD or anxiety.
Lastly, for individuals who are seeking an elevation of mood, reduction in stress or emotional comfort, a sense of calmness and happiness, there is another option besides adopting or having a pet. All around the world, pet cafes, dog cafes, or cat cafes have become increasingly popular. In such a café, you can go and spend time with furry companions, eat and play with them as well as enjoy a happy meal. This concept fosters an extremely positive environment and an instant mood elevation and reduces distress.
The bond between animals and humans is a very powerful and healing bond, the role of which is becoming increasingly recognized in improving well-being and as a therapeutic aid. An animal or a pet may be considered as an essential ally in your mental health and well-being journey. So if you’re not already an animal lover, go pet a dog, feed an animal, play or run with a furry companion and enjoy the benefits and happiness it brings you!
At North American Behavioral Health Services, we are dedicated to supporting you in every possible way and our pet friendly rehabs and therapy will take your recovery journey a step forward with your furry friends!
