Tails of joy: how pets boost our mental wellbeing

Anyone who’s smiled at a waggy-tailed dog or been soothed by a purring cat can testify to the ability of animals to improve our sense of wellbeing.

Dogs, cats, birds and horses are all known to help people cope better with stress and anxiety.

One of the most significant ways in which pets help improve our mental wellbeing is through their unwavering love and companionship. Pets don’t judge or criticise; instead, they offer pure, unfiltered affection – something that can be a powerful antidote to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Coming home to a wagging tail or a nuzzling nose can instantly lift our spirits and provide us with a sense of belonging and security.

Mindfulness

Pets have a unique ability to anchor us in the present. The act of petting a cat or playing fetch with a dog can be incredibly grounding, distracting us from worrying about what’s going on in our life.

It’s often said that dogs “live in the moment” and, when we’re engaging with our pets, we can also benefit from that sense of mindfulness, or being present in the moment, which is an acknowledged technique for managing anxiety.

In simply enjoying their company, pets can provide a healthy distraction from the stresses of everyday life.

Emotional resilience

The bond between people and their pets can help develop emotional resilience. Knowing that we have a loyal companion who depends on us can give us the strength to cope with life’s challenges, while caring for a pet can nurture a sense of responsibility and self-worth and reinforce our emotional strength.

It’s also well known that pets can serve as social catalysts, encouraging interaction with other people. This is especially true of dog owners, who’ll often find themselves chatting to neighbours or other dog walkers.

For someone who might not talk to other people that often, these conversations can help build a sense of community and support, reducing feelings of social anxiety and building the social connections that are so important for good emotional health.

A pet can be a great source of comfort and motivation.
In many ways, pets can help us to live mentally healthier lives.

Mental Health Foundation (1)

Good listeners

For many of us, our pets make great listeners. Snuggling up on the sofa with our cat or dog is often the opportunity to share our worries or sadnesses with a companion who doesn’t judge or criticise, but just listens.

Chatting away without fear of being criticised can be especially valuable for those of us who feel unable to open up to friends or family members about our struggles.

It is also argued that some mental health benefits might be due simply to the companionship that pets provide, with the presence of another living being helping to reduce loneliness and feelings of isolation. (2)

Hormone release

The mental health benefits that we get from our relationships with our pets aren’t just in our minds, they’re real.

It’s a scientific fact that the simple act of petting animals releases an automatic relaxation response, as the hormones serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin are released – all of which play a part in lifting our moods. (3)

At the same time, tickling our dog’s tummy or quietly stroking our cat’s back helps lower the level of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone.

Pet therapy

The mental health benefits that animals can bring to us are also recognised by professional psychotherapists.

This is not a new idea: in the 18^th century William Tuke, a Quaker philanthropist who ran an asylum for people with severe mental disorders, found that his patients gained health benefits from being around animals. (2)

Pet therapy involves guided interaction between a person and a trained animal. The aim is to help someone cope with, or recover from, a mental health problem.

Also known as animal-assisted therapy (AAT) the technique usually uses dogs and cats to help people, but horses, birds and even dolphins are also used.

AAT relies on the strong natural bond between humans and animals to promote healing and improve wellbeing.

Writing in the Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy Journal, Dr Christine Rhodes states:

“Counselling involves the facilitation of healing, primarily through alliance, or relationship. Individuals suffering from mental health conditions are often mistrustful of human contact, whereas they might associate pets with companionship and nurture. During lapses in human relationships, pets can provide the emotional support that is often vital for survival. Animals can significantly enhance the counselling process by increasing the client’s sense of safety and providing opportunities for insight, growth and healing.” (4)

For young people experiencing mental health and behavioural issues, it has been found that using horses in therapy is particularly useful in treating them. (5)

According to the University of Birmingham (6), studies indicate that AAT can help to:

• Alleviate anxiety;
• Significantly lower emotional, verbal and behavioural stress;
• Reduce blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety levels by releasing oxytocin into the body, which has a calming effect on the nervous system; and
• Alleviate depression.

Conclusion

Domestic pets bring a unique and invaluable form of support into our lives, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety through their unconditional love, companionship and therapeutic presence.

When used by a qualified psychotherapist, pet therapy can offer an effective approach to mental health recovery. The emotional support provided by animals can significantly reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and enhance overall wellbeing.

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Here at MTS Psychological Health, I am passionate about your mental health and emotional wellbeing. Don’t suffer psychological issues in silence: get in touch and discover how I can help you to alleviate a range of anxiety and depression symptoms from mild to severe presentations.

We can discuss the best clinical way to alleviate your suffering, which may be either through a course of psychoanalytic psychotherapy or with EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique / Tapping) and Aromatherapy, so you can enjoy life to the full again.

References

1 – Mental Health Foundation: Pets and mental health

2 – British Psychological Society: The value of pets for human health

3 – UCLA Health: Animal Assisted Therapy & What Science Says

4 – British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy: The healing power of pets

5 – Bournemouth University: Pet therapy – how dogs, cats and horses help improve human wellbeing

6 – University of Birmingham: Can Animal Assisted Therapies Help to Tackle Issues of Wellbeing and Mental Health?