LETTERS: Many of us are turning to pets to help us cope with mental health conditions to get through this difficult time. Indeed, as more people are stuck at home, the demand for adopting pets, particularly cats and dogs, has increased.
Pet attachment appears to be beneficial to human health and even contributes to community building. It's a well-known fact that pets may make you cheerful and feel better. Cats and dogs have been shown in studies to help with stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as loneliness, encourage exercise, and overall health.
These advantages are most noticeable when our pets are around and whenever they're sensed in our everyday lives. Here are several reasons why having a pet is a good idea for our mental health:
1. Pets help cope with work-related stress and anxiety by balancing our oxytocin and cortisol levels, which are the primary stress hormones in our body. Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and poor memory and with humans. In fact, studies have shown that simply petting a dog for 5 minutes causes a rise in dopamine, which commonly referred to as happy hormones.
Two out of three employees say their jobs have stressed them out, and 40 per cent say their jobs affected their health. Pets in the workplace have been shown in a study of their capability to alleviate stress and increase employee satisfaction.
2. Pets provide us companionship. Although dogs are known as man's greatest friend, they aren't the only ones who can provide us affection. Talking to a bird can help too and even if you are unable to pet your fish, they can still provide a soothing presence.
According to Global Workplace Analytics, up to 30 per cent of the workforce could be working from home multiple days per week by the end of 2021. As a result, people are battling mental health now more than ever. So, companionship provided by pets are necessary and helpful at this moment.
3. Pets fill the space of our loneliness. People may feel less lonely and isolated when they have a strong bond with their pets. Owners can interact with their pets by touching, seeing, hearing, or talking to them, which helps to create joy and happiness.
Having a pet is a big commitment that comes with a lot of responsibility, but also comes with a lot of emotional and physical benefits. Acquiring a pet may encourage you to be more active and socially connected, as well as to improve your heart and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Those who live alone and particularly for those who have lost a companion due to death, divorce, or other circumstances, can benefit from getting a pet since it can help them feel less lonely. A study found that women who live alone with pets are less likely to develop depression.
4. Pets assist in improving our lives. It is possible to alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, bipolar disorder, and PTSD by living a healthy lifestyle. Taking care of your pet can help you increase productivity.
According to studies, dog owners are much more likely to meet their daily exercise requirements, and exercising each day is also beneficial to the pet. It will strengthen your bond, reduce most canine behavioral issues, and keep your pet fit and healthy.
Apart from that, having a pet helps people with long-term mental health problems to manage their emotions and divert attention away from their symptoms. Pets provide ontological security, which is known to bring a meaningful life, a sense of stability and continuity.
There's an estimated 50,000 therapy dogs working in the United States right now where as they assist their owners in overcoming a variety of issues, including PTSD, social anxiety, and dementia.
Muhammad Rifqi Syariff Tan
Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times