How Pets Improve Your Mental Health | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

How Pets Improve Your Mental Health

Having a dog may just be the way to pick up your mood.

42
How Pets Improve Your Mental Health
Sussel Ibarra

I'm sure you've heard it once or twice that animals can be very beneficial to your mental and physical health. Pets, such as dogs, require a lot of attention and are definitely enough to keep you busy. If you get dogs when they are young, you are responsible for training them and insuring they learn to eat solid food, and go to the restroom.

Having a pet is a great way to keep you busy and keep your mood levels high. Pets are happy and outgoing, and for those of us who empathize easily, their bright mood can rub off on us. There's nothing better than coming home to your tail-wagging best friend.

Pets have such a great influence on your mood that a lot of mental health professionals recommend getting a pet to help with mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The purpose of these pets is too give you comfort during times that may cause you stress. Emotional Support Animals, also known as ESAs, are animals who provide their owner with therapeutic comfort, companionship, and affection. In order to acquire an ESA, your doctor or healthcare provider, must evaluate your situation and if they think you will benefit from an ESA, they then write a letter giving you permission.

An ESA, is not like a therapy dog. They are not trained to perform any special tasks to help with any disabilities. ESAs are allowed in public housing and allowed to fly in cabins during plane rides. Emotional Support Animals are very important to those who need them. For those with these pets, it is a way to distract themselves from their daily battles, and receive unconditional love.

Dogs, as well as cats, are loyal creatures who enjoy companionship and loyalty. They grow attached to their owners and show them affection in ways that humans cannot. Pets are a great way to deal with the turmoils of mental disorders, and ESAs prove this.

Having a pet can help you stay active, lowering your cholesterol and helping with your weight. Not to mention that pets can be beneficial to your emotional health. With a pet, you will never feel lonely, making it a great alternative for those with busy lives or social anxiety.

Even if you do not suffer from a disability or mental disorder, having a pet can be an easy pick me up at the end of a rough day. When you have a hard day at work, you come home and your pet greets you with excitement and genuine joy for your existence. You'll have to take them on walks, feed them, and give them showers, giving you a full time responsibility that you can actually look forward to. Animals are loyal, and will love you like nobody else. If you don't have one yet, get yourself a pet.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

20 Things You Forgot To Thank Your Mom For

Moms are super heroes dressed in yesterday's clothing and they deserve an award for that.

1050
family
Facebook

Dear Mom,

You took care of me and my brothers our entire lives and you still continue to! I will not be able to truly grasp all of the hard work that you put into this family until I create my own one day. But, I know that there are plenty of times I forgot to give you a simple thank you or an appreciative smile. I thank you for everything that you have done for me and will continue to do for me. Here are some examples of those times where you had my back and I forgot to pat your back for saving me:

Keep Reading...Show less
pumpkin
Holytaco.com

College is hard. As people ages 18-22, we’re just trying to figure out what we’re doing with our lives, our careers, our eating habits, exercise routines, sleep patterns, and other necessities for adult life. We definitely don’t take proper care of ourselves; it’s basically impossible when we have essays, tests and readings due and somehow we’re supposed to eat right, exercise and sleep. We’re doomed to get sick. I have zero experience in science but when I get sick there are certain things I do to make myself better.

Keep Reading...Show less
Bob's Burgers
Hyannishyball

First of all, there is no shortage of fun when you're together.

And you often find yourselves entertaining each others terrible ideas.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

The Unwritten Rules Of "Talking"

What is "talking?" How does one "talk?"

9055
girl holding phone
NYCPRGIRLS

Now that it seems “talking” is the new way to date, and will stay that way until another idiotic term is used to describe the people who can’t settle down and just date someone, I feel as if it’s time to go over the unwritten rules of “talking.”

Rule 1. Having feeling without feeling.

Keep Reading...Show less
The Stages of Having FOMO in College
iamthatgirl.com

Are you one of those people that gets super upset when you miss out on anything? Well, you may have FOMO, or fear of missing out. In college it’s not hard to experience FOMO every once in a while. You just love doing everything and anything, so hen you have to miss out on something it's the worst possible thing in your mind. Whether you’re sick, have to work, or have so much work to do you could cry – FOMO will hit you hard in college.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments