The Benefits of Pets for Your Mental Health

We got our dog because it was recommended by my therapist. I absolutely love him but he has severe separation anxiety which is resistant to medication. It restricts me so much and I'm mostly stuck in my house .

I'm on the wait list for a service dog. My pet dog currently barks or hides when I have a meltdown but allows me to go for walks because if I start to have a catatonic episode he will start dragging me so I don't just stop walking and freeze in a position in the middle of the sidewalk for an hour

Yep I have an esa for my college because otherwise my anxiety and depression is through the roof. She gives me something to focus on other than myself so I can get out of my own mind and pay attention to her

I used to have a real pet wolf that was my emotional support wolf and she was very helpful to me and that’s a wolf not a dog in my opinion wolves are generally much better than dogs yes people find them scary but that’s because they believe the lies about them but infact there better and more kinder than dogs I like dogs but I’m just saying that as an experienced wolf owner and dog owner

Yesss I love all my pets especially my bird I love him with all my heart, he helps a lot and I think he can tell when I’m feeling down or when I have a panic attack he always snuggles with me. And caring for my reptiles and fish is kinda therapeutic in a way

Yes! My kitten brings me so much joy and laughter each day.

I have 4 dogs and 2 cats, yes it helps, however it can become a issue if you have too many

Yes

Yes!!!!!

I had a cat which was like a baby to me, he bonded with me and followed me everywhere ( even to the bathroom ) He was killed a couple of months ago and it has torn a huge hole in my heart , I miss him so much He was definitely a great help with my mental health

100% yes

Definitely

Definitely.

Definitely!!

Mine are and aren’t 😂 I picked some crazy pets and they all like to take turns getting sick which is stressful

I've been trying to get our dog into our apartment building, ,( apartment has rules against big dogs...,,)but none will write a letter stating I need him, even with all my diagnosis. Any advice?? Thanks in advance 🐕

100%, I've had my cat for 7 years now, and there's not one day that I could ever imagine not having her by side, she's a daughter to me and I wouldn't change her for the world.

Most definitely, but they can also be a strain if it's not a good match.

yes and i honestly think that would cure my depression. I was so happy when i had a dog

I think they are but I can't have a dog

Yes

Yes 1000%

Yes my pets help me with stress

Definitely was suicide at one time in life but RIP to my dog though it's been 6 to 7 years without him & it's sad, just sad that I'll never be able to get another dog again because I don't drive or am able to work

Yessssss I love all my lil babies I have 7 different pets lol, but they make me so happy cuddling with the ones I can do that with nd just caring for them gives me so much joy

Hi, how are you?

Most definitely 💕. I have my bunny Peanut, he's really incredible. I was having a bad morning and he came and lied down next to me. They really know 🥰

I have 5 dogs and they help so much, including making me spend some time outdoors. But sometimes they bark, and I get irritable, not always, but when I get mad at them, then I start feeling ashamed and upset with myself even though I never yell at them, I just hate that they could ever make me mad. I just found out I have a mood disorder and I just can't deal sometimes.

Definitely! I have two adult cats (one which recently had three kittens). My oldest cat, Onyx, definitely knows when I am struggling with one or more of my diagnoses. She's old and knows me all too well. My younger one, Angel, is an idiot, but super loving and hilarious, and great at making me laugh.

Sometimes. I have an old man cat and he drives me nuts but other days I feel loving of him. So I would miss him if he passed away.

Absolutely, having something to look after provides structure to every day and keeps me healthy and happy. Also makes me good memories that aren’t always physically demanding

Absolutely! Wouldn't be able to cope without them.

100%

Yes. Both my pups

Definitely. Hence why I have 6 cats

Yes and no Sometimes I feel worse as I am not as good to my person as someone who doesn't have a disbailty. Other times she is the reason I am alive and keep going

100%. If I have a bad day dogs are always there and put a smile on my face

Forgot if I replied to this already. I adopt mice and rats (they're kept separate in different kinds of homes), and they've helped me immensely. With the right training, they can become very social and playful pretty quickly. They're happy to see me every single day and they help me feel less alone if I'm feeling down. My "medication station" is in the same room as my mouse's home and he's learned that mama is nearby when he hears my pill bottles rattling so as a reward for taking my meds, I get to pet and snuggle with him since he comes out of hiding every time he hears I'm around. It's so cute.

Absolutely, my Buzzy Bear is an absolute dream ❤️

Yes! I would be lost without them, I reckon.

Where would I be if my Chloe wasn't there 💕

I wouldnt be here anymore, but not just my furry child but my scaly one aswell

If it wasn't for my furbabies giving me purpose though this dark times I would prob just lay in bed and wither away.

Yes. I love spending time with mimi

Heeelll yeah!

Absolutely! My dog Otis is a service dog for medical alerts and mobility, but he also helps my emotional state immensely!

Yes

My mother got me a kitten when quarantine first started and she's my world. She cuddles me and comforts me when I cry. I dont know what I would do without her.

Yes, very much so.

Yes

Yes I think they do help

Jerry the cat like the ice cream Ben's and Jerry he is the sweetest cat I ever met

Absolutely, my dog is the best😌

Yes I do

❤️

Yes!! My kitties help me so much and make me thankful

Y E S

Absolutely!! The connection, sense of belonging and support they can provide is immeasurable and unique. 🙏🏼🐾💖 And they’re truly unconditional: they’re there with us no matter what, and they can be our sole companions during times when building community with other humans is challenging. I’m so grateful for my Floofie family!! 🥰🐾💖

absolutely! having pets that love me and enjoy my presence is a huge boost. my rats get super excited when i come home and they always want to say hi. and having to take care of them gives me a sense of purpose in my daily life. also watching my lizard eat and seeing the feeder insects have been making me see wonder in living things.

Most definitely! They are my salvation when it comes to life and people ❤️

Yes I will never live without a dog

I think that’s been proven already. I love to see dogs, when I’m in the hospital. 🤗

💯

Yes I have a wolf she is an emotional support wolf I also have a cat to she also helps

Yes, even when they are annoying me. I wouldn't know what to do without them around.

A good reason to keep going, and hopefully find more to live for

Mimi is a calming dog

I did find comfort in them

So very very much. I adore my kittys!

YES!!! VERY MUCH SO!!! I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT MY ANIMALS!

YES!!! IDK WHAT ID DO WITHOUT MY EMOTIONAL SUPPORT CAT

My dog is my best friend she keeps me going even when I want to give up. She seems to know when I need extra cuddles, and when I am crying because life is so overwhelming she starts licking my face and bark's in a gentle way. I rescued her but Im starting to think she rescued me when she came into my life. Pets are amazing emotional support animals they're beautiful little souls who always love us no matter what we are going through

I would like to have a service and therapy dog someday. So yeah, they help my mental health.

Absolutely, I have a Cocker Spaniel, she is so clever, she knows when I need her and when I need a cuddle. Also in 2016 I had an operation and the removed one of my brain tumor trough my nose. (Endoscopic endonasal surgery) after my op she is obsessed with my nose, she gives it a lick every chance she gets.

Yes l wish l could have one.

Absolutely. I have fur babies who depend on me. Focusing on them instead of myself helps a lot. I look forward to when I get off work and can plop down and bury my face in the fur of either my cat or dog. Whichever one is closest.

I can’t kill myself because of my chonky Prince. Oh days I don’t want to get out of bed, I have to because his Meowjesty needs his royal breakfast. If I don’t want to clean the house, I have to because Lord Chonkerton Fluffy Butt likes it clean. And if I curl up in pain or I cry, he’s right there to kiss the tears off my cheeks and heal my heart with his purr.

Always feel better when having cuddles with my cat Luna.

Hell yes. Im a HUGE animal lover i feel happy and more like myself when im with animals. They make a HUGE difference in my life :)

Absolutely. For me it's one of our cats, her name is Pebbles. She always lays next to me and comes to see what I'm up to, and I just find giving her cuddles and pats helps me feel less anxious and takes my mind off of things for a while. Sometimes she'll lay on me which helps lower heart rate and calm me down :]

Omg yes yes yes. My bunny Peanut is my fluffy baby. I get on the floor and give him love and in return he takes away my worries. I really don't know what I would do without him. Xx

100%! My horse, dogs, cats, and cattle drives improve my mood so much!

💯

🤗

Absolutely, my cat is the best and always seems to know when I need comfort

2 billion percent ! My best friends 🐾

Yes! Especially my service dog lol super cool when he alerts to me to leave my house when I'm depressed (it was supposed to be to help me exit durring a flashback, but I think he figured out it helps me when I'm very depressed aswell lol dogs are too smart)

Hell yeah! I recently got a new pup called Lillie and she's a doggie with no back legs and helps keep my nervous system and pain at a low while we keep each other company

Yes, my dog keeps my nervous system calm so my pain is less

Yes! My dogs make me happy every day if even for a minute or two!

Absolutely. I try to visit my closest cat cafe regularly to reduce my stress.

I swear my cat is a service cat but I guess the licenses don’t believe cats can perform service like dogs 🫤. He comes to sit on my chest before I know I’m going to panic. He stops me from pacing by doing figure eights around my legs when I’m going manic. He reaches out to touch my face when I’m down. He wants to make eye contact to check how I’m doing. He even meows at me and knocks down my meds bottle when I haven’t taken them yet. He’s very good at keeping time. Plus he only likes to eat when I’m eating too, and he’ll keep bugging me till I also make food before he eats, so that forces me to eat at least 2 meals a day. Not to mention that he likes to play with me. so I get a dose of mindfulness and joy. I feel like I won the lottery with this boy.

Definitely!!! My dog forces me to get out of bed at least three times a day and wake up before 3 pm to actually take care of her, otherwise on my days off I'd sit around and only watch tv or something. I'm forced to take care of her, so it helps me a lot. I love Esma and wouldn't trade her for anything. Plus I've been getting extra cuddles recently!!!!!!!!!

Somewhat

my guide dog is my rock. Love him

Yes and no. Yes because of course i love caring for a fur baby when he returns to me as a support animal. Makes it feel more than. Like they can understand you just cant speak. But no, because as ay young mother, i have no energy or time for a fur baby. Which could actually help tremendously when kids are too young to understand why you want a hug from them when they’re busy with theyre toys or own world, only in their time. It’s bittersweet

Yes! Unfortunately we can't have certified emotional support animals where I live, though.

Yes, so much so my pit bull is a certified emotional support animal

Sometimes. Sometimes my dogs make me wanna pull my hair out but I still love them! When I'm sad they really show they care. My cats stress me out a lot less though lol. They're chill.

Extremely so....however sometimes it is more than i can handle when depressed or sleep deprived...not brushing them enough etc ..and then i feel huilty..consider " easy pet/ breed"

My esa dog Merida is my whole world and of it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t get up on the morning. She makes me have to think of someone outher than me and take care of her. She knows when I’m sick or when my anxiety is coming on or depressed. She will come lay with me or come lick me and let me know she is there and that it’s okay. She makes me laugh and she is just the love of my life. She is just like one of my own kids now that mine are all grown up

My last dog died just as my mental health and disassociations she was helping me with them just by being near me... It got really really bad after she died...so bad that bad, ended up in hospital lots with many...injuries. Not to go into details but it was bad. She was a Jerman Shepherd, Labrador cross and she was amazing...her birthday is on 14th feb, 4 days away. It still hurts.. Anyway we got another dog last october, a pure bread jerman shepherd. He is amazing and crazy. I taught him some deep pressure therapy things and he helps when I start dissasotiatung. He somehow knows when its happening...sort of even though he is only 1 and 1/2. He has a habbit of when I'm spitaling into a disassociation he starts being more crazy and climbing all over me. He is 40kg aka 7stone and he also starts acting up by grabbing things he isn't supposed to and nipping me. It helps and often once I'm more in control he just sits with me. He helps lots.

Knowing that my sweet boys rely on me being healthy and functional really helps me find the motivation to keep going. Being a fur-parent helps me to improve and become the best, healthiest version of myself. I want to be the best parent I can be- for my kitties !!

Yes 🤗 I have a furbaby called Eva - a shiztzu cross chihuahua

I got my cat after our previous fur baby was hit by a car once people started going back to work during covid. I was struggling with my mental health and fear covid was going to make my health worse, he is a house cat and make me smile every day however he only play fights me in our house otherwise a very gentle cat. I have EDS my hands are so scarred from him biting when playing with him. He got me through a dark time and is such a mummy's boy. I think pets know alot even though they can't speak. X

It depends.. my cats can be little stinkers, and the can stress me out financially! But I love them regardless.

Yes and no. I have an emotional support kitty and doggo. They are super comforting most of the time but I do have days where I just scream at them to get away from me because they are just too needy and I'm struggling to even care for myself. I try to recognize the good and bad days. And my babies are always supportive of their crazy mama.

My old dog (RIP) was my best friend for so long. He always knew when I was having a flare but his vet’s misdiagnosed him and he was only 7. It honestly broke me but because of my autism, I can’t ever show it because it takes me a while to process things. He was the absolute best honestly 😥

Yes, my cat is amazing. She is trained as a emotional support animal

Yes I do unless they are “bad” or do something wrong then it stresses me or makes me angry

Yes, if sad hug cat, get better.

Helpful but thanks to people abusing the ESA aspect of apartment living, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to get an ESA for my anxiety, ADHD, and hearing impairment. My pcp is all for supporting me in that but because I see a separate provider for mental health, her hands are tied and my mental health facility no longer does ESA acceptance letters due to liability issues they've had when people abuse the system trying to have aggressive pitbulls, great danes, huskies, or other loud, large, destructive, multiple animals in apartments. Or simply want dogs but won't clean up after them.

Absolutely! My dogs love me unconditionally and I need that in my life. They kiss my tears and make great warmers for a lap.

Yes, unfortunately none of my pets are actually mine so I can't move out with them.

yes! my cat always knows when I need support

Absolutely. I don't think I'd be alive today without my pets. They are a constant source of comfort and companionship. ❤️

Not "helpful" as much as "necessary" in my case

Depends on the pet, my dog is the right amount of energy to make me laugh and calm when I need cuddles. He's also really good at telling me what he needs when I may not be fully with it like different movements mean different things such as dinner or walks etc.

I'd be lost without my two German shepherds, they are my buddies

Yes I think they do. They give you someone to talk to and get things of your chest. I wouldn't be here if I didn't have my cats. They have snuggled on my lap and sat by me as I have cried into their fur. They give you unconditional love ❤️

❤️yes and no….most of the time yes but when accidents happen which they do and I understand that they just tend to happen when my day is off and struggle cuz of mental stuff the clean up can become upsetting only cuz as I clean I blame myself for this happening

My three cats, two girls & one boy are my companions, especially when my mental health isn't good.

Sometimes, it depends what mood my bears in 😂

Absolutely. I’d be lost without mine

YES 💕

Yes, I don't think I'd be here without my dog. Knowing it's just me and her. She's very cuddly trys to lick away tears, sleeps next to me.keeps my going

One of the only reasons I’m here

Yes, my dog is the one presence in my life who can look at me and make me feel actually loved. Taking care of him helps me take care of myself.

Very much so, my bird's very cute and her chatter melts my heart. Even her chewing things can distract me well enough.

In all honesty, if it were not for my furkids, I would not still be here. They're all rescues but I am unsure of just who rescued who. ☺

Absolutely. I got my dog almost exactly a year ago when I was really struggling with my mental health while in school. Having a dog while you’re still a college student can be difficult, but she’s been so helpful for me and it’s been so rewarding to watch her learn, gain confidence and trust, and start showing more of her personality.

Yesssssss

My brother has a few of them, and I think they help him and I.

Absofuckinglutely they do

To be honest I wouldnt be here if my cats werent here

Absolutely, this last year was rough I went from 3 animals to none. One dog died of cancer, one died of old age and my cat she disappeared all around the time I got my tubes tied and got out of an abusive relationship. It was absolutely heartbreaking and my health was impacted. 😥

Yes and no. If they're trained yes if not then nooo. I've had both while depressed and a trained pet can really help to get you in a better mood and offer some emotional support. My dog made me go outside every day and I could get fresh air. It also gave me routine to feed her. With the untrained pup, she was adorable but oh my goodness I was spiraling. I cried every day and it really reminded me why I don't want kids.

Yes, to the point where my mom wants me to get a service dog. I'm not sure I need it enough to justify though

My pets run away from me so I guess not. 💀

Yes, but sometimes I get so fatigued or I burnout that I have to push myself to take proper care of them. This usually means a longer pain period or crash in the end :(

Yes! Two birds here and they help me out of bed every morning. They need food and water and it's my job. Helps make life a little easier when they need you in it.

I really really really want a cat. Becuase I feel like having a pet would make me soooooo happy. Is there anyone from the UK who has a kitten I could adopt?

Absolutely! My foster cat forces me to have a routine, as even if I don’t want to get out of bed, I have to get up in order to feed her breakfast. I can’t be out too late because she needs dinner. I’m never alone at home because she’s right there with me. Playing with her is a nice distraction, and petting her while she purrs happily is so therapeutic. Or dare I say, thera-paw-tic? Needless to say, fostering a cat has been awesome, I definitely recommend having a pet if you can handle the responsibility and financial costs! Plus, you’d be giving a nice home to a cute little furry baby too!

I used to have an ESA he was tremendously helpful. I think even if you just have a pet it’s helpful!!

Nope, I'd rather have only me to worry about 😂

Sometimes

I have 5 dogs plus 2 cats they help my depression but yes I love them my little babies ❤️❤️❤️

It depends on the day! My guinea pigs and dog are very comforting for me, but some days my motivation is so low and and I procrastinate so much that I'm anxious the entire day (disclaimer in case it sounds this way: I don't neglect my pets even on bad days)