How pets can improve your mental health

Canine companions can trigger neural pathways similar to the parent-baby relationship and help reduce loneliness and depression. New pet therapy trials have shown dramatic results.

What’s the deal with animals? The bad news continues about the coronavirus. “Send me dogs or cats” is a popular cry on social media. It’s shorthand for “I feel terrible. Please cheer me up”. It is the same response: A flood of photos of animals doing ridiculous things, but somehow it has an amazing, calming effect.

Researchers increasingly recognize the therapeutic value of our relationships with our pets, especially dogs. Researchers increasingly recognize the therapeutic value of cats. However, dogs have been domesticated for longer periods. And even the most dedicated cat lover will admit it, dogs are much easier to train as companions. As we all know, cats are admirable for many different reasons. Marion Janner is a mental health advocate and animal lover. She believes that dogs can teach us many lessons. “Dogs love unconditionally. They are the ultimate equal opportunity – completely indifferent to race and gender, star sign, star sign, CV size, clothes size, or ability to make cool moves on the dancefloor. This love is simple and deep. It’s a constant joy. They teach children to be responsible, generous, and compassionate, and, unfortunately, how to deal with the death of a loved one span>

Robert Doward* experienced this strange effect after his health turned for the worse. “I had been working extremely hard for too long, and it was affecting my health. One day, I began to cry and couldn’t stop crying. I couldn’t connect sentences properly. It was so frustrating that I couldn’t put sentences together properly after so many years of pushing. .”

It took him a while to get back to normal. He also needed therapy, a new job, and some changes in his family life. He jokes that Maria, a small Greek rescue dog, was the main factor. It lifts their spirits to take her for walks, get out in the fresh air, and just put one foot in front. There’s nothing better than a dog snuggling up next to you when you feel down. If she detects something wrong, she will check my face with anxiety. That makes me smile, and it makes me feel better. Dogs have a special magic. She was the one who got me through .”

But why? But what is the secret to these therapeutic effects? Social recognition is a key component. It’s the act of recognizing another person as important or significant. The bond between pet owner and pet owner is similar to that formed by a mother with her child.

Social recognition is becoming more important for its role in helping us build networks. It is now clear that social connections are crucial for mental health. Without them, we can become depressed, lonely, and physically unwell. Pets can, it seems, fulfill that role. June McNicholas, psychologist and academic, points out that pets can provide a support system for those who are socially isolated.

“Pet and self-care go hand in hand. People talk to dogs when they go for walks. This can be the only contact a person with the outside world has all day. You can even have a conversation with your cat while shopping for cat food in the supermarket. Pet owners are more likely to take their pets out to purchase pet food. They’ll also be more likely to feed their pet when they go out. People with disabilities often feel socially awkward around non-disabled people. If they have a dog, it helps to break down the barriers and creates a more natural and comfortable interaction span>

Humans share social recognition with some mammals (though not all), such as sheep and prairie voles. We are conditioned to take care of those we share social connections. We don’t breastfeed any babies, and we don’t take dogs from the park. Meg Daley Olmert, author and researcher, says that when we refer to our dog as “our baby”, it’s because we recognize it on a neural level. This recognition triggers the same maternal bonding brain network that allows a mother to gaze at her newborn red and slimy baby and say, “mine span>.”

An 18-woman study of functional MRI brain scanners showed that the responses to images of children and pets were similar. Dogs had activity in the fusiform gyrus, which is involved in facial recognition. Babies had activity in the tegmentum, responsible for reward and affiliation. While we love our pets, we are primed to save the baby in a fire.

Scientists have a good understanding of how social recognition works in the brain. However, it is still not clear what it does. Oxytocin, also known as the “hug”, love or “cuddle” hormone, could be the missing link. Oxytocin plays a crucial role in childbirth, lactation, and sperm movement. However, it is also becoming more widely recognized for its role in social behavior, as it acts as a chemical messenger in pathways controlling sexual arousal and recognition.

To help us deal with stress and other social situations, oxytocin is used in conjunction with vasopressin. There is a lot of interest in the possible role of oxytocin as a brain hormone in anorexia and depression, severe anxiety, and severe anxiety.

There are many other reasons why therapy animals and pets are becoming more popular as they are good for our mental well-being. Exercise a dog can help with stress, anxiety and depression, as well as provide many other benefits. Walking outside every day can improve your physical and emotional well-being. You can get a workout by picking up sticks and balls or scooping up dog poo.

This knowledge is increasingly being put to good use with wonderful results. The Centre for Mental Health conducted an evaluation of therapy dogs in prisons. One prisoner said, “I don’t know what it might be, but I feel calmer and more peaceful inside when I run around with the dog.” Another prisoner told the interviewer that dogs have a magical effect on you. You can feel their love, and that makes you feel better .”

According to the reviewers, even after the dogs leave, good feelings are still present. One subject said: “I just walk around the rest of my day on cloud nine.”