Most households in the United States have at least one pet. Homeowners love their pets for their own reasons, but there are universal benefits to owning a pet. A therapy pet provides mental and physical health advantages for its owners.
If you don’t want to go through your mental struggles alone, you don’t have to. Keep reading to learn how a pet can be your companion in mental wellness.
Benefits of a Therapy Pet
Pet owners will tell you that there is an immediate feeling of joy when they come home to their pets. Despite this, many people are unaware of the various mental and physical health benefits of owning a therapy pet.
Pets have evolved to understand and adapt to human emotions and behaviors. For example, dogs can understand certain words. More importantly, they can interpret tone of voice, gestures, and body language.
Pets, like dogs and cats, can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress, depression, and loneliness.
Caring for animals helps children grow up securely and keeps them active. For older adults, the companionship a pet provides is beneficial.
Can Any Pet Help Your Mental Condition?
A pet doesn’t have to be a dog or cat for an owner to reap mental wellness benefits.
Dogs and cats are common, but a rabbit may be ideal for individuals that are allergic to other animals. If you have limited space, a rabbit is a unique furry friend you can cuddle with.
The main reason that pet owners experience the therapeutic effects of owning a pet is that they fulfill the basic human need for touch. When someone is stressed or anxious, they can hug, stroke, or touch their loving pet to feel calmer.
Birds, although not snuggly, can encourage social interaction and help older adults keep their minds sharp. Reptiles like snakes and lizards are great exotic companions.
Watching a fish in an aquarium can also lead to benefits like reducing muscle tension and lowering your pulse rate.
Animal-Assisted Therapy: What the Studies Say
Various studies connect positive mental health with animal-assisted therapy and pet companionship.
Those with pets are less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. These individuals also have lower blood pressure during stressful situations compared to those without pets.
Playing with a pet can increase levels of dopamine and serotonin in the body, which are essential for happiness, calmness, and relaxation.
There are cases where pets can increase the cardiovascular health of their owners. Pet owners have lower cholesterol levels.
Patients with pets that have survived a heart attack can live longer than those without pets.
Neuropsychological Testing and Mental Wellness
A therapy pet is a great companion for those struggling with mental wellness. Pets provide their owners with many mental and physical benefits that might improve their overall quality of life.
If you want to better understand your individual challenge with a mental health battle, consider neuropsychological testing.
Contact us today to learn more about this form of evaluation and how it can help with your specific needs.