{"id":10931,"date":"2022-04-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.koktailmagazine.com\/?p=10931"},"modified":"2025-02-04T04:01:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T04:01:31","slug":"are-pets-key-to-better-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.koktailmagazine.com\/th\/2022\/04\/04\/are-pets-key-to-better-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Pets Improve Our Mental Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you don\u2019t already know, pets offer some powerful health benefits to owners<\/h3>\n

If you own a dog or cat, you probably already know the comfort and joy of having a pet. But did you know that science has backed up, with evidence, that pets have a highly positive mental effect on owners, and can even reduce feelings of anxiety and stress?<\/p>\n

Because dogs were one of the first animals domesticated by humans more than 30,000 years ago, they have become aware of human behavior and emotions. Studies<\/a> have found that dogs can actually recognize our emotions. For instance, when humans feel sad or cry, dogs also feel distress. They don’t only feel the emotions along with us, they also try to do something to help to lift our moods. Whether with knowing eyes, a comforting lick, or a long cuddle, our furry friends always do wonders whenever we’re feeling the blues.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

Pets help with depression and anxiety<\/h1>\n

Owning a dog or cat can help treat depression. Even stroking a pet can have soothing effects. Playing with them can contribute to feelings of happiness and calmness, by increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine in the body whenever we interact with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social recognition<\/h1>\n

One other key aspect of why pets hold these therapeutic effects is social recognition—the ability to identify another as being significant to you. The bond that forms between an owner and their pet can be similar to that between a mother and baby. Social bonds play a key role in mental health because without them, we become depressed and lonely. Pets can fulfill that role without even realizing it.<\/span>
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pets provide consistent companionship<\/h1>\n

By having physical contact with animals, feelings of loneliness and isolation can be reduced. Talking to a pet—even if they can’t talk back to us—can combat our concerns around loneliness, and they don’t mind listening to our problems. According to  research from the University of Queensland, turning to our pets for support, assurance, or even just a listening ear is actually a healthy thing to do. In fact, animals were ranked as high as (if not higher than) siblings, family, and friends as a source of social support.<\/span><\/p>\n

Socializing with other people<\/h1>\n

Going for daily walks with your dog might get you involved in animal clubs, or could lead to conversations with other dog owners. These interactions often lead to meaningful relationships. After all, connecting with other people improves your health and mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A bond like no other<\/h1>\n

Pets never judge us, and are always happy to see their owners no matter what. They have an almost magical effect on us, and make us feel good inside. Whenever your fur baby gazes at you, your body releases oxytocin—the feel good hormone—leaving you both feeling valued and appreciated. The greatest gift animals have to give is that they remind us we can be loved unconditionally<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you don\u2019t already know, pets offer some powerful health benefits to owners If you own a dog or cat, you probably already know the comfort and joy of having a pet. But did you know that science has backed up, with evidence, that pets have a highly positive mental effect on owners, and can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":4528,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-matters"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCan Pets Improve Our Mental Health?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you don\u2019t already know, pets offer some powerful health benefits to owners If you own a dog or cat, you probably already know the comfort and joy of\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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