Can Pets Improve Your Mental Health?

Can Pets Improve Your Mental Health?

Written by: Jordan Kadish

Reviewed by: Melissa Cammack, LPC

Have you ever thought about adopting a furry friend into your family? Or, are you already a pet owner? Those who have ever had a pet would know that pets not only bring excitement and playful, positive energy into one’s life—but they also provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Those who have never had a pet of their own may feel skeptical about just how much they can help one’s mental health. If you fall into this category, keep reading. This blog will explore how pets can enhance one’s mental well-being. 

Companionship 

A prevalent mental health issue that many individuals face is loneliness. According to a poll conducted by the American Psychiatric Association, 30% of Americans have experienced feelings of loneliness at least once a week for the past year, with 10% of them experiencing loneliness every day [1]. Loneliness can be debilitating; it can make one feel like they are invisible, even when standing in a crowded room. Not only is loneliness a terrible feeling, but it can lead to serious mental health concerns, like depression or anxiety [2].

For some, making friends and maintaining relationships can be easy. For others, it can be a daunting and difficult task. Humans need connections with other humans to flourish and maintain their mental health, but for some, it is unrealistic to be around other people at all times. You may live alone, be far away from friends and family, or have a busy lifestyle where you don’t have ample time to hang out with loved ones. People who struggle to stay social and make connections with others as much as they would like may benefit from adopting a pet. 

Pets provide unconditional love and companionship. Pets that are especially affectionate, like dogs and cats (depending on their personality), can offer the company one needs to feel less alone in their environment. By having a pet that sits with you, wants to play with toys with you, and cuddles up next to you while you sleep, your feelings of loneliness may slowly subside. 

Stress Reduction

Stress is an issue that affects over half the US population, with the rate rising each day [3]. This may not be surprising to many reading this blog post—the pressures and responsibilities one faces on a day-to-day basis at school, work, and life in general can feel overwhelming. At the end of the day, you may feel anxious and in need of some serious stress reduction. 

This is where pets can come into play. Multiple studies have shown that spending time with animals lowers cortisol levels (the stress hormones) and reduces blood pressure [4]. This can make your mind and body feel calmer and more at ease, as well as boost your mood. In addition, service animals or emotional support animals are specially trained to help people with specific health concerns. Emotional support animals are trained to help individuals who deal with panic attacks or extreme anxiety and can help de-escalate symptoms by staying by your side and grounding you by placing their head on your lap, or even by retrieving medication if needed [5].

Physical Activity

There are numerous studies on how exercise and physical activity help improve one’s mental well-being [6]. However, it is also normal to feel unmotivated to go to the gym or run outside. Having a pet that needs to be walked daily, like dogs, or played with, like cats, can help motivate you to be more physically active. By giving your exercise a sense of purpose besides your health, having the responsibility of walking or playing with your pets can help you incorporate this activity into your daily routine, resulting in you bettering your mental health through the release of endorphins. 

Additionally, getting outside to walk your dog can increase your opportunities for social interactions with other pet owners. Who doesn’t love to chit-chat about their puppy while out on a walk? 

Purpose and Meaning

As previously mentioned, caring for another living being like a pet can help foster a sense of purpose and foster empathy in your life. This may be especially helpful for people who feel a bit lost at this stage in their life, or those who have recently lost someone important to them. Of course, a pet should never be adopted to replace someone or fill a void, but they can greatly help get you back on your feet and find purpose in life again. 

By knowing that your pet depends on you every day to stay alive and healthy, you will likely feel more motivated to get out of bed so you can care for them properly. Pets can make life feel like a lot more than just your journey—it can make life feel like the journey of the two of you, together. 

All in all, having a pet can greatly improve one's mental health in a variety of ways, including increasing companionship, decreasing loneliness, reducing stress, motivating you to exercise, and creating a sense of purpose. Remember, one must be in a stable enough mindset to take care of a pet, as well as a financially stable position. Pets are a huge responsibility, especially depending on which you choose to bring into your family. Take time and speak to a professional before deciding on whether to adopt a pet or not. However, if you are fit to be a pet owner, we hope it is a wonderful experience!