Those who suffer from depression will find happiness in having a furry companion because the dog or cat will require that they engage in life. Activities like feeding a beloved pet, and taking them for a run at the dog park can help naturally ease symptoms while promoting a more social and engaging lifestyle.
A pet can provide you with a sense of purpose, which helps improve mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. If you have a pet, you are never alone and you are also responsible for looking after them.
It's no secret that pets can contribute to your happiness. Studies show that dogs reduce stress, anxiety and depression; ease loneliness; encourage exercise and improve your overall health. For example, people with dogs tend to have lower blood pressure and are less likely to develop heart disease.
Dogs help with anxiety and other mental illness, similarly to how they help with depression. They increase oxytocin production, which decreases stress and fear, and provides unconditional companionship to their owners. These things help with mental illnesses of all kinds, including anxiety and depression.
Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lower blood pressure. Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood.
On this note, research shows that dogs can sense depression, and many of them even respond lovingly to their humans in an attempt to cheer them up. In the same way that we pay attention to their behavior, dogs also pay attention to our actions to determine our “energy” that day.
In fact, a study revealed that those who spent more time with their dogs experienced a 300 percent increase in oxytocin levels and experts say loving a pet is an innate part of our nature as humans. Eighty-seven point three percent of Americans were reported as happier than the average person because of owning a pet.
“Having a cat has shown to have a positive impact on mental health, depression, and anxiety, for many reasons and in many ways,” says licensed marriage and family therapist Cassandra Fallon, the regional clinic director at Thriveworks in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
These are some of the best emotional support animals for mental health. The best small pets for anxiety include rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds. These animals help lower blood pressure, regulate heartbeat, better self-esteem, and keep the mind preoccupied.
It appears that cats can sense human moods as well as depression. Cats are observant and intuitive, and this allows them to understand emotional cues from humans. So when you are depressed, they can sense that too. In particular, cats may come in closer proximity when their fur parents are depressed.
Dogs Can Be Affected by Your Emotions
It was found that cortisol levels in the dogs reflected their owners' mental states. For example, if an owner suffered from anxiety, the dog's cortisol levels were higher. In general, the dogs had similar cortisol levels to their owners.
Studies have shown that pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than people without pets. People with limited human social supports often experience feelings of loneliness and isolation, both of which can worsen depression. A pet helps to decrease these feelings by providing companionship to its owner.
There's no denying that dogs can reflect and mimic many human behaviors—like limping in empathy when their pet parent has a broken leg! Evidence increasingly suggests dogs may also pick up on specific emotions, so they may also be able to sense depression, anxiety, and other mental health symptoms.
Service dogs offer practical and emotional support to people with physical or mental health difficulties. The most well-known service dogs are guide dogs, which assist people with visual impairments. However, people can train dogs to help with various conditions, including anxiety, diabetes, and depression.
Interestingly, having a pet can help children and adults with ADHD reduce their symptoms and stress levels. Someone with ADHD who has a dog is receiving more than just a buddy. Pets, for people with ADHD, enables them to improve their time management skills, self esteem, ability to follow routines and more.
For those with depression, Dr. Joseph recommends a dog. "They read humans well, they're empathetic, and force you to go outside," she says in the video.
While dogs and cats get most of the attention and applause, a rabbit is also one of the best pets for depression. They're extremely social and easily adapt to human companionship.
Caring for ferrets, chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and other small pets can also be helpful for people suffering from anxiety. Any of these pets can provide comfort through interaction and are often a joy to live with and watch.
Most studies have found that dogs are loved and valued more than cats. Furthermore, there is data that suggests that dogs seem to be better at curing loneliness than cats. However, in this recent study, the differences appear to be slight, although still favoring dogs.
Some common cues that your cat may be depressed include: Lack of appetite, which can lead to weight loss. Sleeping at times they'd normally be awake. Not seeking out physical contact, for instance, they may stop brushing your legs, head bumping, or jumping in your lap for a cuddle.
According to research, dogs can understand our emotions. So, your dog may be feeling blue because they sense you're sad or depressed. They may be giving you a clue that you need some self-care.
Pets provide companionship: by being affectionate, loyal, and consistent, pets reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. Pets fulfil the human touch need: touch is a basic human need which pets can fulfil. Patting a pet has also been proven to lower your heart rate.
Comparing people who have no pet to those who have any pet, there's no difference in happiness: about 31% of both groups report being very happy, and about 15% report being not too happy.
Seven in ten (71%) dog parents say their pup has made them happier people, with nearly four in five saying it's easier to wake up in the morning because their dog greets them. About half of pup parents say their dog has made them more patient (54%), responsible (52%) or affectionate (47%).