Pets for Depression: Top 10 Shocking Benefits

 

"Cuddling with your dogs can help kill depression and relieve anxiety"

 

Can Pets like Dog and Cats sense Depression? This question has been around for a long time. Let's find out whether pets really provide the best psychological benefits.

 

In today's world, Pets are our valuable companions compared to human beings. Because they shower us with unconditional love and acceptance which thereby helps ease depression.

 

As we get older, we develop the tendency to become bored and lonely. Thereby feeling useless and insignificant too.  Pets can play an important role to change all of that. 

 

 

 

Why you should Own a Pet?

 

Owning a pet is always the best decision! Having a Pet can make us healthier and happier. Turning to other humans for comfort is becoming less possible nowadays. Pets are the best for cuddling, for affection and comfort when we are lonely and stressed out.

 

Humans and pets both respond to emotional sounds. Hence pets are capable of providing empathy that we always crave in our closest friends and relatives. 

 

Pet Owners around the world share that their pets can read their sad pathetic thoughts and always do something to let them know they are being loved even in that suffering.

 

 

What are the Best Pets for Depression?

 

There are many best small pets for depression-like fish, birds, and rabbits help people develop sense of purpose and lift humans mood.

 

But, Cats and Dogs are considered the best mood-lifting pets for depression because they provide physical affection and direct interaction.

 

 

Do dogs help with Depression?

 

Dogs are happy pets basically, they are the best! They are considered to be the top best pet that helps alleviate depression and the sense of hopelessness. Pets shower their owners with unconditional love and support.

 

Dogs can also be trained by institutes like happy paws and happy tails dog training to be a therapy dog for depression or an emotional support dog for depression.

 

 

Unlike humans, we do not have to let our dogs know what's wrong, rather they themselves read our thoughts and make us feel loved. 

 

Studies have found that Dogs help us reduce depression because they push us harder and give us the responsibility to take care of them, feed them, and go for a walk with them. 

 

Do cats help with Depression?

 

Sometimes, people can be allergic to dogs or just don't feel like having a dog in their home and the best alternative for non-dog lovers is Cats.

 

 

Just like dogs, cats also provide the best emotional benefits and help alleviate depression and relieve stress and anxiety. 

 

While dogs' love can be overwhelming, Cats love us in a more subtle way which makes it easier for us to accept their love.

 

 

Top 10 Best Benefits of Pets for Depression

 

While there are a lot of benefits of Pets to help kill depression, the top 10 best benefits are,

 

 

1. Pets offer Unconditional Love and Support

 

Pets offer us unconditional love and accept their owners as who they are. They show their love by constantly cuddling and licking their owners. 

 

 

2. The mere presence of Pets is Relaxing

 

Studies have found that the mere presence of pets like dogs and cats can help increase the levels of serotonin and dopamine in humans which are significantly lower in people with depression.

 

The increased levels of serotonin and dopamine can calm and relax humans by boosting their mood.

 

 

3. Distraction from the hard reality

 

People with Depression often feel lonely and hopeless which makes it difficult for them to face the reality. Pets like dogs sense depression and they are often a good distraction.

 

Pets force their owners to play with them, cuddle them and pet them thereby making them less lonely.

 

 

4. Pets can alter our Behavior and Mood.

 

Pets especially Dogs and Cats can alter our behavior. When we feel agitated or tensed about our other works, looking at our pets can take away the agitation in seconds.

 

This is the main reason why dentists and chemo centers often have a big fish tank. Looking at them can ease our agitation and reduce our tension.

 

 

 

5. Promotion of Sense of Touch by Pets for Depression

 

Of the five senses, humans have, Touch is the most important one right from our birth. Touch Deprivation can cause a serious impact on the mental health of a person.

 

Our skin contains receptors that can elicit emotional responses when touched upon and it is more than 10 times stronger than verbal contacts.

 

 

Research has found that lack of tactile sensation can aggravate depression. Since Physical contact between humans are stagnating in fear of the coronavirus, pets can be our best touch companion and pets sense and ease the depression.

 

 

6. Pets create opportunities for social Interaction for People with Depression.

 

People with depression don't like social gatherings and like to spend time alone. Having pets can force one to interact socially while going for a walk with their pet or to the doctor's appointment.

 

This can be one of the reasons why we should choose pets for depression.

 

 

7. Pets provide Sense of purpose in our life for People with Depression.

 

Often people with depression feel hopeless because they lack any purpose in their life. But having a pet can give a person a lot of responsibilities and thereby give them a sense of purpose.

 

 

One has to wake up early to feed them, take them for walks, routine checkups, and many more which gives them a purpose to wake up every day.

 

 

8. Pets make People with Depression happier and less lonely.

 

Pets are known to increase dopamine levels in humans. Dopamine is basically a feel-good hormone. Spending time with our pets can enhance our mood and make us happier and less lonely.

 

 

9. They encourage exercise and playfulness

 

Pets like cats and dogs like to move physically and play with their owners. Pet Owners also tend to move with their pets and play with them without their conscious knowledge.

 

 

10. Pets cause better health

 

People with depression fail to take care of their health and hence put their body at risk for diseases.

Studies have shown that people with pets tend to have low blood pressure and reduced risk for cardiovascular disease compared to non-pet owners.

Unconsciously our pets especially dogs are making us exercise thereby making us healthy.

 

Conclusion

 

In case you can't have a pet for any reason, You can always go to Pet Cafe's around you to cuddle and play with your favorite pets.

 

Many people wonder if pets cure depression. In fact, they cannot cure depression rather pets can help reduce or ease the depression levels in their owners. Only Proper treatment from a mental health professional can help treat depression.