Having a dog is a big responsibility. Dogs have to be fed, walked, and taken to the veterinarian on a regular basis. However, dogs give us unconditional love in exchange for all of the things that we do for them. Your mental health can also benefit if you have a dog. Below is a list of some of the ways that having a dog can boost your mental health:
If you have ever spent time around a loving and friendly dog, chances are that you have felt how good it is for the soul. Dogs can make great companions for just about anyone, and that includes those who struggle with mental health disorders. For people who live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, or any other mental illness, being a dog owner may be just what the doctor ordered.
The Incredible Mental Health Benefits of Dogs
A canine companion can be so much more than a guard dog or a hiking buddy. Owning or caring for a dog can help lower stress levels, bring their owners security and constancy, and allow for a more active, social life. Many people consider their dogs to be more than pets but actually like family members. In fact, having a dog possess many different benefits and some are mentally charged. Here are a few mental health benefits of owning dogs.
Get Moving in the Great Outdoors
As a general rule, the needs of a dog cannot be met if he stays indoors all the time. As you meet the needs of your four-legged friend, you may notice that you are meeting some of yours, as well. Being in the sun and fresh air can improve your mood and give you a good dose of good old Vitamin D, which is known to have a positive impact on mental health. Additionally, as you take your dog on walks you may see that your body and physical abilities change, which can increase your self-esteem and give you a boost in confidence.
Decrease Stress Hormones
Living with PTSD or anxiety means that unnatural levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, can be in your bloodstream at any time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), having a dog can decrease stress by not only lowering cortisol levels, but also by increasing levels of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone that can help relieve or decrease those negative symptoms.
Stress can wreak havoc on your mental and physical health. However, coming home to a playful dog is a great stress reliever. When you bond with your pet, a hormone called oxytocin is released. This hormone helps reduce feelings of anxiety and stress. It can also lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced by the adrenal cortex during times of stress.
Lessen Feelings of Isolation & Loneliness
Being a dog owner can not only create a special bond between you and man’s best friend, but also cause you to connect with others in a way you might not endeavor to do on your own. Whether you take your pooch around your neighborhood or to a local dog park, you have a great conversation starter and a way to connect with others. Those connections, along with a dog’s unconditional love, can help alleviate some of the loneliness and other symptoms that are often associated with mental illness.
If you do not like to be alone, then you will definitely benefit from having a dog. Dogs are smart, and they know when you are feeling lonely. Your dog will probably come snuggle up with you if he or she senses that you are lonely. Studies have shown that loneliness and depression are linked.
A Sense of Purpose & Comfort
A dog can offer company and make their owners feel needed, providing them with a sense of meaning and helping with their mental health. Knowing that big, sloppy kisses and tail wags are waiting for you at home from a loving and loyal companion can put a help put positive spin on your day. No matter what an individual may be dealing with, four-legged friends can offer a comforting touch and a listening ear. Dogs are a popular choice for therapy pets with good reason, as they’ve been shown to help lessen feelings of depression, isolation, and stress simply by petting or holding them.
Dogs Keep You Active
Though they are loving and they give a lot of care to their owners, dogs are dependent creatures. As such, they give the owner purpose and require them to be active. Proper care for a dog requires walks and activities to keep them healthy. The activity is also good for the health of the owner, and research shows that sun and fresh air help to elevate individuals’ moods.
Regular exercise helps improve your mental health. Studies have shown that people who have dogs are more likely to get the recommended exercise than those who do not have a pet. Exercise can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.
Dogs Allow You to Get You Outside
Even if you have a house dog, he or she has to be taken outside frequently. Taking your pet outside allows you to get exposed to vitamin D. This is an essential nutrient that can protect against many illnesses, including depression. You also have the opportunity to engage with nature, which can also boost your mental health.
Dogs Help Reduce Stress
Along with being active, dogs help support other activities that reduce stress as well. Studies indicate that petting a dog helps to relieve stress. Also, playing with a dog can be fun and canines’ special personalities often make their owners smile; both these factors also result in less stress and more enjoyment of life.
Dogs Provide Loyalty & Friendship
Dogs are considered “man’s best friend” for a reason. These pets have a keen ability to sense the emotional state of their owners. Their loving personalities cause them to react in a way to try to make their humans feel better when they are sad or depressed. Pooches tend to be attentive listeners and provide great cuddles. They also offer unconditional love, even if their owner is upset with them. Their peaceful nature tends to rub off on those around them, which is evident by the fact that they are often chosen as companions to individuals with high stress levels or depression.
Feel Connected & Meet People
Owning a dog can make individuals feel more attached to life around them as well as more connected to the people they may encounter as they take their dog on hikes, walks, or other activities. Greeting other dog owners and their canine companions can encourage pet owners to spark up conversations and help make new friends.
Routine
Having a canine friend to care for can bring structure and routine to a companion’s life, as dogs need consistent feedings and a regular exercise schedule. These routines and schedules work to help increase mental well-being by creating stability and predictability in an unstable and often unpredictable world. Adhering to a set agenda can help lower feelings of tension and anxiety — for both companions and dogs.
You will have to feed and walk your dog around the same times every day. That is why having a dog can give you routine and structure. A structured routine is essential for mental health.
How Dogs Can Enhance Your Mental Health Through Animal-Assisted Therapy
Sometimes, animals are used as a part of therapy. For instance, the new and growing field called Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed intervention therapy that involves the use of an animal. A trained dog, for instance, is incorporated into the treatment plan as an essential part of an individual’s treatment plan.
Mental health professionals or professionals in the wellness field, who are trained to use animals in AAT, do so to improve the physical, social, emotional, and psychological well being of their clients. An example of AAT is a woman who recently had a stroke. A trained dog might be used to motivate her to stand and walk over to the dog, facilitating physical improvements and mobility.
AAT typically has stated goals for each session, utilizes notes to track the progress of patients, is scheduled regularly for ongoing improvements, and the length of visits are predetermined, similar to a session with a psychotherapist.
Another way that animals are used to improve a person’s well being is through Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA). This is a casual meeting experience in which pets and people meet to support one another. It is unlike AAT in that it is often spontaneous, without any sort of treatment goals, and is often a playful experience for both children and adults. An example of AAA is when an individual brings his or her dog to a hospital and visits patients who might want to pet and play with a dog for comfort.
However, you don’t have to participate in AAT or AAA to improve your mental health. If you’re seeking the companion of an animal, here are some ways that loving pet can bring support and a sense of serenity inside.
- Relief from feeling isolated
- An increased sense of well being.
- Brings daily structure.
- An increase sense of purpose.
- Increased mood and optimism.
- Provides a secure and uncomplicated relationship.
- Provides nonjudgmental companionship.
- Brings a motivation to exercise.
- Encourages social interaction.
- Brings access to a greater world.
- Provides support 24 hours a day.
- Assist with home tasks.
- Provide assistance in getting around in stores, shopping malls, public transportation, and more.
- Wake an individual for school or work.
- Bring a sense of emotional relief by bringing an individual back to the present moment.
- Extinguish PTSD flashbacks by bringing an individual back to the present moment.
- Re-orient someone who is experiencing a panic or anxiety attack.
- Search a place that might be unsafe.
- Increase feelings of safety.
- Remind an individual to take their medication.
Trained dogs can be used to enhance health and bring relief from such psychological disorders as substance abuse, Alzheimer’s, autism, cancer, cerebral palsy, heart failure, grief, pain management, post-traumatic stress disorder, and trauma. When trained, dogs can be an immense support for an improved experience of life bringing enjoyment, love, and delight.
A Dog Creates A Very Rewarding Experience
Dogs can be excellent assistants to the mental health of individuals. They bring many mental health benefits as well. The aforementioned benefits are only a few of the many ways that these animals help to enhance the lives of people on a daily basis. To learn more about the special qualities and benefits of owning a dog, contact your local dog handler.
While choosing to take care of a four-legged friend is a long-term commitment, it is a responsibility that can be rewarding both for you and for your pet. The benefits gained from caring for a dog can make an enormous positive impact on your mental health and emotional happiness.