How Pets Can Help Your Mental Health

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Life is a rollercoaster, and sometimes we need a little help to climb back up when we’ve hit a low. On a good day, your pet may be your best friend and your favorite being on the planet. But what about on the bad days? Scientists, doctors, and veterinarians have all performed studies on the positive effects of furry friends on the human mind. 

In the American Psychiatric Association (APA)’s Healthy Minds Monthly Poll, 87% of dog owners and 86% of cat owners said their pets have a mostly positive impact on their mental health.

Check out all the ways that your pet can help you get back to a healthy mindset.

They reduce stress and anxiety

In the APA Healthy Minds Monthly Poll, 69% said that their pet helped reduce overall stress and anxiety. Stress and anxiety can come out of nowhere. Or it can come out of some of our daily routines like chores, work, family, and relationships.

Work is a major source of stress for people. In a survey about healthy aging, 2 out of 3 employees said work stresses them out and 40% said that their job negatively affects their health. Studies show that pets in the workplace help reduce this stress and make not just the pet owner, but other employees happier. 

Specifically with dogs, there was a study done in Emotion that concluded that spending time with a pet dog can reduce the dog owner’s anxiety and increase their happiness. The study included performing a stress test on dog owners.They were each assigned one of three actions: interacting with their dogs, a chill coloring activity or waiting quietly. Compared with the other two groups, the participants who interacted with their dogs after performing a stressful task experienced increased mood and less anxiety.

They release happy hormones

Interacting with animals is proven to release feel-good hormones into the body. Some of these chemicals include serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and prolactin. Serotonin is a natural antidepressant that improves your mood, reduces anxiety and lowers stress levels. Dopamine increases our feelings of positivity and connectedness. Oxytocin is responsible for feelings of trust and safety. Prolactin helps regulate the immune system and keep the body in homeostasis, or the ideal balance of all of the body’s systems. When we increase these chemicals in our bodies, we feel a spike in energy and an all around feeling of ease. All of these chemicals may be naturally released in different amounts from petting, playing, talking or even simply looking into your pet’s eyes.

They lower blood pressure

One of the first recommendations from doctors when dealing with high blood pressure is increasing physical activity. This isn’t always so easy to do with a set life and work routine. But having a pet encourages some form of exercise and movement. 

Having a pet automatically pushes you to be more active, especially dogs who need multiple walks a day. Dog parents are 34% more likely to get in 150 minutes of walking a week than non-dog owners, for example.

Walks are only one piece of the equation, though. Other hormones in the body help lower blood pressure as well. When your pet stares directly into your eyes, your body releases a surge of oxytocin. Not only does this hormone create sensations of bonding and trust, it also lowers blood pressure.

There have been hundreds of global studies conducted on how owning pets can potentially lower the risks of heart disease. Overall, the studies have concluded that having a pet does lower the risk of high blood pressure, hypertension, and other cardiovascular disease.

They ward off loneliness

Being alone can be recharging or painful, depending on the circumstances. When you’re craving interaction, pets provide companionship- and very attentive companionship at that. Dr. Ann Berger, a physician and researcher at the NIH Clinical Center, says, ​​“Dogs are very present. If someone is struggling with something, they know how to sit there and be loving. Their attention is focused on the person all the time”. When you’re feeling lonely, it’s not just about hanging out with anyone. There is a quality of presence that makes you feel seen and loved. Dogs and certain cuddly cats can give you that unconditional love and support.

They add structure to the day

Even though taking care of a pet may seem overwhelming, it can actually help you reset. Having a clear schedule that you repeat every day can help clear your mind and focus on action. Depending on whether you’re a morning, afternoon or evening person, you can set your walk times for when you need an energy boost. Craft healthy meals and specific times to play. A mindful pet care routine can help you stay on top of all your other life tasks. And it also nourishes your mind. 

They help with specific conditions

Some animals are trained specifically to help differently abled people (for example, seeing eye dogs and anti-seizure dogs). But all kinds of pets can help people with ADHD and autism.

People with ADHD often need more structure when it comes to staying on task or on schedule. Walks and feeding times should happen around the same time each day. So the daily pet care routine allows them to practice their time management skills. People with ADHD, especially children, also tend to be hyperactive. Playing with pets indoors and outdoors is a wonderful way for them to channel their energy.

Autistic people, meanwhile, can also get a lot from pets. Having animals in the house is a daily opportunity to build empathy and social skills. Petting cats and dogs definitely has a calming effect when they need a calm and safe space. Autistic people often feel hypersensitivity to stimuli, or in other words, a sensory overload. Pets can focus their senses and help them get used to the feeling of texture on their skin, their smell and sounds. Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) is a technique that works with horses. This is also very helpful for autistic children. It has proven to help them with their social skills, hyperactivity and irritability.

Pets are very helpful for people who suffer from PTSD as well. Emotional support dogs are welcome in most spaces and do wonders for people with mild to extreme triggers. Often, people who suffer from acute PTSD can’t go about their regular lives. But having an emotional support animal can help them regulate their reactions if they’re out in public and have an episode.

Many adults with long term diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia are also comforted by having pets around. They calm distress in the nervous system when memory is fading and they help ward off loneliness and depression.

Volunteering with animals

Of course, not everyone is always able to have a pet of their own. APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin says, “If pets are not an option for your family, but you are seeking that connection, there are many opportunities to volunteer with animals that may also benefit your life.” Animal shelters and animal hospitals are often looking for volunteers. Check out the organizations close to you to see what kind of help they need. You could still get the mental health benefits of spending quality time with them temporarily without having to commit to full-time care.

Pets can help us feel so much better, so it’s up to us to make sure they’re cared for as well. With Animalia’s dog and cat insurance, you can get coverage that keeps your pup or kitty happy and healthy- and they in turn will keep you in exactly that same condition.

Jannah Berkley

Jannah is a traveling writer and journalist, originally from NYC. She’s always loved animals, even though she has to take allergy pills to cuddle them. When she was young, she used to volunteer at animal shelters and help at a wild animal rescue organization. Since becoming a digital nomad, she’s traversed all across the world as a dog and cat sitter.

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