Life can be a very stressful thing. We’re often told by experts and friends alike that it would be better for us to slow down, destress, and improve our mental health. This is a great idea in theory, but it can be hard in practice. Of course, it does become easier if you have a dog. Read on to find out how dogs can improve our mental health. You might be quite surprised at some of the reasons
Companionship And Emotional Support
Having a dog in your home, or even just being around other people’s dogs in some cases, can bring an immense sense of comfort and emotional support when times feel tough. Dogs are truly intuitive creatures. They can easily give you the companionship and support you need to feel better. They help you to get a clearer idea of what you need to do next.
Whether you’re feeling lonely, anxious, or depressed, being around dogs and having their companionship in your life will give you a sense of belonging and friendship. That goes on to reduce your stress and negative feelings of isolation.
You might even feel inspired enough to do something you’ve always wanted to do. Such as set up a pet treat business selling private label dog treats, knowing you’ve got support that you can count on.
It’s true that a dog can’t talk back to you. But they can listen, and they can love you, and that is enough in many cases.
Physical Activity And Exercise
Regular exercise is essential for good mental health. Although most of the time we tend to think about physical health when it comes to exercise. It’s certainly true that your mental health will benefit. You’ll be less stressed and be able to live in the moment more. Plus, your body releases chemicals like serotonin and dopamine when you exercise, and these make you feel good.
The problem is that it can be hard to get motivated enough to do exercise. Even if you know it will make you feel great and be good for your health. It’s easier not to do it, especially if you’re tired.
With a dog, you won’t have a choice; they need to be walked at least once (and often twice) every day. This means you have to go out and get some exercise along with them.
Whether you’re walking, playing fetch in the garden, or running in the park, the exercise you get with your dog is always going to be beneficial for your mental health.
Social Interaction
Many people are drawn to dogs they see in their travels, and they want to come up and say hello. This can be wonderful for your mental health, especially if you have been feeling isolated. Being lonely is detrimental to our mental health, potentially causing depression and anxiety and doing nothing for our stress levels. Going out with your dog and greeting the people who want to look at your pet is a great way to get some social interaction.
Some of these interactions will be actual conversations, and some will just be smiles as the other person walks past, but every kind of human interaction is good for you, and without a dog, it can be hard to get them, especially if you live alone.