Pets make great companions and, if you bring an active animal into your home, they can help you to get fit. Most people report a general feeling of well-being when they spend time with their pets. Caring for an animal can have quite a dramatic effect on your mental health, so it’s always worth bringing a furry friend into your life.
Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression
Numerous studies have demonstrated that owning any kind of pet means that you’re less prone to depression. There are several reasons for this. Playing with a pet stimulates the release of feel-good hormones, including dopamine and serotonin, both of which play a major role in depressive episodes. Pets help to alleviate feelings of loneliness, and they can even boost your cardiovascular health by encouraging you to be more active. A well body translates into a well mind, so taking your pet for a walk can have a big effect.
They ease anxiety
Anxiety plagues millions of people across the world, making everyday life extraordinarily difficult. Not only do pets help by releasing those all-important hormones, but they have a tangible effect on how we react to stressful situations. Pet owners exhibit substantially lower levels of blood pressure during stressful times than people without a pet. Moreover, blood pressure amongst pet owners is generally lower, even during everyday life. Pets help to ease stress and soothe anxiety simply by being around. Having a pet at your side during a stressful period of your life can stop that stress from turning into full-blown anxiety.
They help you to establish a routine
This is especially important for people suffering from depression. If you have poor mental health, it can be difficult even to get out of bed, least of all, push through with a daily routine. Pets bring purpose and a sense of order. They need to be fed, groomed, watered, and in some cases, taken for walks. The logistics of owning a pet (visiting the vet, finding insurance, sourcing the right food) can give a person structure. Although the responsibility might seem daunting, tools like exceptionalpets.com streamline the process by amalgamating pet services into one easily searchable directory. That makes finding what you need easier and pet ownership less stressful.
They provide companionship
Last but certainly not least, so-called
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