The strongest relation between humans and animals has been experienced for over centuries now. The positive correlation between pets and mental health is undeniable. No matter how old you are, you will always find joy living with your pets. Thus, it signifies that both pets and mental health go hand in hand. They provide companionship and ease loneliness. Furthermore, service animals bring about joy and unconditional love to all. Here are a few ways caring for an animal can help relieve anxiety and depression and lowers stress levels.

Multiple types of research on the relation between pets and mental health have been published. These research have measured what happens to the human body when a person has a pet. Here is what these researchers have found out:

• People having pets are most likely to suffer less from depression than those who don't have a pet.
• Playing with your pet can increase the levels of calming and relaxing hormones, serotonin, and dopamine.  
• Pet owners has lower levels of cholesterol than those without any pet. It is a sign that humans with pets have better heart health.
• Patients who have survived heart attack live longer if they have healthy and happy pets around.
• 30% lower rate of doctor visits is noticed in people over 65 if pets surround them.
• Pets are highly recommended for emotional support. According to studies, emotional support animals help combat mental stress.
• People with borderline hypertension can significantly reduce blood pressure within five months after adopting pets.

All these signs reflect a reduced stress rate. These discoveries have proven physical evidence of the mental health benefits of pets.

It is important to adopt healthy lifestyle changes that play a crucial role in easing the symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other medical problems. Having a pet and caring for it can only help you create a healthy lifestyle for yourself. Let's look at what changes in daily life with pets to have a healthy and happy routine.

Regular Exercise

Taking your dog for a regular walk or run at a scheduled time can be fun but can be rewarding as well. It benefits you to stay fit and healthy without extra efforts. It also helps to deepen the connection between you and your pet. Not just the owner but also the pet stays fit and healthy with regular exercise. Give healthy dog treats after walks to positively reinforce the exercise.

Provides Companionship

Having a companion always helps to prevent illness and even add a few years to your life. On the other hand, loneliness and isolation can trigger the symptoms of mental illness like stress, anxiety, or depression.

Care for and from a furry friend can take away your focus from your problems and helps you work through your troubles. Provide your dog and cat treats whenever they pull you out of a sad state. Nothing can beat the loneliness more than coming home to a wagging tail or purring cat.

Reduces Anxiety and Stress

Adopting pets are helpful in every way possible. Their companionship is comforting and helps you to reduce anxiety, stress, or depression. It also helps to build self-confidence for going out in the world without getting anxious. It improves the way one appreciates the joys in the present.

The sensory act of stroking a pet also helps in lowering blood pressure. Thus, reducing the stress levels of your body. Studies have also shown that happy and playful dogs help calm hyperactive kids.

Help Build Community

Pets always attract the attention of the people around you. It helps you initiate and maintain a conversation with new people, eventually turning into new friendship bonds. You must have noticed that people frequently stop dog owners during their walks, which starts friendly conversations.

Dog lovers and the other pet owners meet new people in clubs, parks, training classes, or pet stores regularly, thus building a good social circle.

Adding A Structure to Your Daily Life

Every pet, especially dogs and cats, requires regular and timely feeding and exercise schedules. Keep a consistent routine not only keeps your little friend calm and balanced; it balances the pet parent’s life also.  

No matter your mood, a simple look from your pet friend will give you the boost of energy to get out of bed to feed dog and cat treats, exercise with them, and care for them.

Apart from providing companionship, having a pet can play a crucial role in aged people's healthy lifestyle. Here are few health benefits of pets on adults.

Boosts Vitality

You can easily overcome most of the physical challenges associated with aging by taking care of both you and your pet. Pets encourage laughter and playfulness. They boost your immune system, and eventually increase your energy level.

Meet and Stay Connected with People

Having a great social network is quite difficult with aging. As you grow old, you tend to grow away from your close friends and family members. Not just that, making new friends is also harder with aging. However, pets are an excellent way for older people to meet people and spark up conversations. Dogs and cats are some of the best emotional support animals one can have to survive the aging process happily.

Children who grow up with pets have a low risk of asthma and allergies. They will also grow up while learning compassion, cheerfulness, empathy, and compassion. Here are a few more health benefits of having pets growing up with kids –

• They can build healthy and happy relationships with other people.  
• Having a pet helps your child feel important, thus allowing them to develop a positive self-image.
• Pets help to calm an aggressive and hyperactive kid. However, for this, you need to train both your pet and child to behave appropriately with each other.  
• Having a bird as a pet helps the child to learn empathy and understanding. While talking to the bird, kids can also build their confidence.
• Playing with a pet helps your child develop a sense of alertness and attentiveness throughout the day.
• Caring for a pet helps children learn a sense of responsibility.
• Having a pet around your kid helps them cope with anxiety when you are not around them.
• Playing with pets helps stimulate their imaginations and curiosity.

Both children and adults benefit from having pets as companion. Pets are always a source of calmness and relaxation. They work well to stimulate the working of both your brain and body. In simple words, caring for your pet offers the best benefit to you and your child, i.e., immense joy and a healthy lifestyle.  

The benefits that you experience through pets are not only limited to cats or dogs. There are several other pets that you can adopt to enjoy similar benefits in life. Here is a list of some uncommon pet options for you to choose from –

Rabbits

People, who are allergic to dogs or cats, can opt for another option like rabbits. It is not a high maintenance pet but has a lot of energy and personality. You are not required to have a lot of space for them. Rabbits only need some free and wider space to roam around each day. If you are living in an apartment, then rabbits could be a perfect option for you. They help you in reducing stress hormones and increase happy hormone levels in your brain. It also allows you to lower your blood pressure without taking much medicinal help.

Birds

Birds have an exceptionally long life. Few species of parrots even outlive humans. Having a bird means enjoyment all day without having to deal with the grief of losing them. They help to encourage social interaction and also keeps you sharp and strong. Research shows that talking to birds can promote healthy brain functions.

Fish

Keeping a fish tank and watching them is scientifically proven for reducing your stress level. It helps to calm your heart rate; thus, you might notice them in most medical settings.

The correlation between mental health and pets are boundless. If you or anyone around you is going through a tough time in life, consider adopting a pet. You can rescue a pet and they will rescue you!

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