Personally, I have a lot of experience regarding my pets helping my mental health. When I was in seventh grade I was severely bullied. However, this was occurring around the same time I began to train my dog, Gracie in 4-H. She was one of the worst behaved dogs there, I even had a trainer refer to her as a ‘hot mess’ (in a loving way though of course). While this discouraged me at first, it made me work harder. I trained her every day on my own to try to achieve my goal of qualifying for the state fair 4-H competition. When I finally accomplished this, I was so proud of myself and of Gracie. We had worked from rock bottom to get to where we were and that gave me a major confidence boost. In just a few months, I went from a shy, bullied kid who was incredibly unsure herself to someone who was strong and confident. I knew that if I could get Gracie, one of the sweetest, but most ornery dogs I had ever met to do what I wanted, that I could do anything. This is just one example of the benefits animals can have on mental health through my own experience. There are many other areas where animals have a similar effect as shown through research and science.
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As stated in an article published in the National Institute of Health newsletter, science has shown that interacting with animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood. As stated by Dr. Ann Berger, a researcher with the NIH, “Dogs are very present. If someone is struggling with something, they know how to sit there and be loving. Their attention is focused on the person all the time.”
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Similar points are also made in an article from the mental health foundation in stating that pets are great listeners, they will always be there to offer unconditional love and will never criticize you. This is especially beneficial for people who feel isolated or alone, like it did when I was bullied in middle school. Having this can be especially beneficial for older individuals who may not have someone to share the rest of their lives with. Additionally, pets can be very helpful to neurodiverse individuals. For people with ADHD, owning a pet creates a structure to your day that includes feeding and exercising, helping you to feel more grounded and accomplished. Recent studies have also shown that autistic individuals, especially children, can benefit from having a pet. Their constant presence can help build social skills and confidence, but also provide a sense of calm if the owner feels overwhelmed. For individuals with sensory issues especially, pets can help in sensory integration to help the individual get used to new feelings or sounds.
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These are just a few of the many ways pets can help our mental health. There’s already incredible amounts of research published and specialists are constantly working to find new paths to discover.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/pets-and-mental-health
