The Love and Care of Animals

Background:

Mental health struggles can be brought on in individuals differently. A solution to this which many people have turned to in today’s world is getting a pet companion, because of the comfort they provide. Pets can aid mental health in ways including lowering stress along with blood pressure, lowering heart attack risks, decreasing the effects of depression, and providing emotional support. The earliest record of animal therapy was in England in 1792 by Quakers in which they used rabbits and poultry. Throughout the next two centuries, medical professionals, including Florence Nightingale, Sigmund Freud, and Boris Levinson found that animals had the ability to reduce anxiety and increase communication in both adults and children. Since 1989, certification programs have been established to train pets for animal therapy, so that they can provide the best comfort and care for individuals.

Stress and Anxiety on Physical Health:

Two of the main mental health hardships nowadays are stress and anxiety. Stress occurs when people face challenges that are difficult to resolve. Starting college is a time when numerous individuals begin feeling more stressed. While attending college, many students are working and trying to stay on top of their schoolwork. Having a job while going to school can make it hard for people to manage their time to study and complete assignments, get a good amount of sleep, and also be able to find personal time to relax and have fun. Not finding time to take for themselves is especially concerning as students can create wear on their bodies, which, in addition, can negatively affect their mood.

Anxiety is the result of perpetual stress, which is a more severe outcome that takes longer to remedy. Aside from stress, fear is one of the most common reasons for anxiety to commence. The fear of flying is a leading factor in anxiety today.

Not only do stress and anxiety affect people mentally, but they also take a toll on the physical health of individuals. High blood pressure is a leading effect of stress and anxiety, and if not taken under control can lead to heart issues, including heart attack and stroke.

How Pets Help Reduce Blood Pressure:

People experiencing stress and anxiety can reduce their blood pressure drastically by simply petting an animal. Depending on what service they are trained for, animals can be trained to sense when individuals are experiencing high levels of stress and detect indications of an anxiety attack before it occurs. When they receive these sensations, pets go to their owners and provide them with comforts, such as licking their faces, laying with them, and putting their paws on them. No matter what stress or anxiety people have, rather it is a heavy workload, fear of flying, or something different, animals keep them company and provide them with a positive focus, allowing them to relax and clear their minds. Pets do not only provide care and comfort for their owners, but the love they provide forms a bond that cannot be broken.

*DISCLAIMER: Mikaila Medina takes full responsibility for the information posted. The information on this page represents that of Mikaila Medina and not that of California State University, Sacramento.