How Your Pet Can Help Fight
Depression
by Charles
Kassotis
zone3
Those who suffer from clinical depression know the empty feeling of
being alone at home. Even when people are around, they can still feel
lonely or unvalued. Even people who aren’t clinically depressed but who
experience occasional down times may sometimes have difficulty sharing
feelings with family members or friends.
Research shows that keeping a family pet, one that you can cuddle and
talk to, can have a positive effect on those struggling with depression.
It doesn’t matter whether the person is married or has children; a cat or
dog, in particular, can help to smooth away negative emotions that keep
him or her in the doldrums. Here are some tips for enjoying your pet
during those difficult times.
1. Set aside some playtime. A pet can meet a variety of needs,
depending on how a person is feeling on a given day. If you’re buoyant,
but have no one to share it with, take the dog outside and toss a ball
around, letting your pup bring it back after each throw. The two of you
can take a neighborhood walk or head off to the park for a hike, too.
Sharing physical activity and fresh air can help to sweep away those
mental cobwebs. Even if you’re feeling disappointed, angry, or hurt,
exercising can help you feel better.
2. Enjoy a cuddle. Sometimes everyone can use a hug. Sit beside your
pooch or kitty on the floor or sofa, and stroke your pet’s fur while
reflecting on the things that make you happy. Research shows that cuddling
a pet can lower blood pressure and stimulate immune function while
releasing endorphins to help your body and mood feel better.
3. Talk away. You can share any secret or describe any emotions you
want to without fear of your pet’s breaching the confidence. Just make
sure no one else is in hearing distance, and spill your heart’s woes. Your
pet will most likely be able to sense your need for affection and
understanding and be willing to provide those things. You’ll feel better
getting unpleasant things out of your system.
4. Never take out negative emotions on your pet. Kicking, pushing,
yelling, or otherwise hurting an animal is never right, even if it would
make you feel better. In fact, if such behavior does improve your mood,
something is drastically wrong. Be sensitive to your cat or dog’s needs
for patience and understanding, too.
5. Have realistic expectations. Don’t assume that your pet will be able
to take the place of a human confidante or a professional counselor.
Cultivate friendships with people you can trust, although this will take
time. If your depression is deep, or lasts more than a week or two, make
an appointment with a therapist to discuss possible underlying causes.
Pet therapy is just one of the many ways that depression patients can
learn to manage their symptoms while under a physician’s or psychologist’s
care. If you are unable to care for a pet properly due to your job
schedule or living conditions, don’t keep one that will suffer because of
these constraints. Instead, look for other ways to manage depression
symptoms with the support of professional experts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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