Data gathered from the last few years, shows that more than half of UK households own at least one pet, with dogs and cats being the most common furry friends to have. Humans and animals have forever held beautiful bonds and Faye and Becki at F&B Digital Therapy love animals of all kinds. In honour of National Pet Day we are celebrating the wonder that is owning a pet, and the positives this can have on our mental health!

What are the benefits of owning a pet?

Owning a pet comes with many benefits, both mental and physical. Studies have recently started to explore these benefits and have found pet owners less likely to suffer with depression, and to have lower blood pressure in stressful situations. This may be due to the following:

–        Walking and playing with pets regularly gives more opportunities for exercise and doing things outdoors. It is also known to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which are chemicals associated with happiness, well-being and motivation.

–        Pets provide an increased opportunity to socialise with others – pets can bring people together and help create or maintain friendships.

–        Pets add routine and structure to your day. This is particularly helpful for those with neurodivergence such as ADHD, Autism or Dyspraxia. For example, managing a pets needs gives may give motivation to keep track of time. (We have lived experience of neurodivergence at F&B Digital Therapy, view our blog posts on misconceptions of ADHD and living with Dyspraxia). 

–        Pets provide a soothing presence that can help people when they feel overwhelmed or are experiencing difficult emotions. Stroking or cuddling a pet can be a grounding, relaxing experience that can help reduce the body’s fight or flight response and distract from negative thinking patterns.

–        Pets have been shown to be beneficial to children in helping them with emotional support, particularly children growing up with disabilities, helping them increase their confidence and skills.

–        Pets often give unconditional love and support. They are non-judgemental and this may improve your self-esteem or reduce anxiety. Their companionship can give somebody a sense of security and may be especially valuable for anybody living alone.

Responsibilities of owning a pet

It’s important to note that, even though pets provide a lot of benefits, they are still a long-term commitment; common pets like cats and dogs usually have a lifespan of at least over 10 years. Some even more – although most have a lifespan of 30-60 years, some pet parrots have been said to reach the age of 100! Their needs for this amount of time will need to be considered, both physically and mentally. They may need to be taken to the vets often, be given regular physical and mental stimulation and dogs particularly require a commitment to training that covers their lifespan, not just their younger years. If you’re put off owning an animal such as a dog due to the commitment to daily walks, dogs can be given mental stimulation from things like learning tricks or playing games like using their nose to find hidden treats. There are a range of different reasons why walking your dog every single day might not be possible, but the focus doesn’t always have to always be on physical exercise!

Pets can also sometimes be a source of frustration, and if you struggle with irritability regularly owning a pet may prove to be stressful or unhelpful. My pets can drive me mad sometimes, for example when I have just woken up on a morning and both my dog and cat constantly want to be in and out of the garden while I’m trying to get ready and just wake up! But for me personally, the benefits of owning my animals outweigh these small negatives.

How can pets be used in therapy?

As mentioned above, some animals are trained to be therapy animals, but they don’t have to be trained to be beneficial to your mental health and used in your plan to overcome any mental health struggles you may have. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which is what we are trained in here at F&B Digital therapy, looks at how unhelpful thoughts and behaviour can contribute to mental health issues. Pets can be incorporated into some elements of CBT e.g. increasing meaningful activities and hobbies into your life, helping again with routine and structure, improving confidence and socialisation, and using them for grounding during difficult emotions. If you believe your pet or animals will help with your therapy, discuss this with your therapist for support on making a plan to incorporate them into your life more.  

Here are some small tasks to try based on CBT techniques:

• Take a few minutes to stroke your pet and just really focus on the sensory aspects of this. How does their fur feel in your hands? Are they warm? Are they soft? How does this make you feel?
• Book in a specific time each day to bond with your pet – whether this be playing with them, taking them for a walk or just relaxing together. Again try to be present and focus on the moment, gently redirecting your thoughts back to your pet if you notice them wandering.
• Show people you are close to pictures of your pets and share stories of funny or cute moments,
• Make a list of all the ways you look after your pet each day, and what positive characteristics this shows of you as a person. This can be a quick boost to your self-confidence!

What if I can’t own a pet?

You don’t necessarily need to own a cat or a dog. Small mammals like rabbits, hamsters or guinea pigs can still provide most of the above benefits. Birds are very intelligent and may provide companionship. Some people may prefer a snake or a lizard to look after and provide some routine and structure. It has been shown that even watching fish swimming in their tanks can reduce muscle tension and lower heart rate.

If its not plausible for you to own any pet, you could also consider the below:

•  Spend time with friends or family who have pets.
• Visit a local farm, zoo or aquarium. Some of these offer animal experiences where you are able to interact with animals such as meerkats.
•  Look into local animal assisted therapy (AAT) animal assisted activity (AAA) services. These provide therapy or activities with animals such as dogs, rabbits, horses and sometimes even birds.
• Visit a local cat or dog café.
• In some areas there’s even puppy yoga – combining stress relief and relaxation yoga with lots of snuggles and cuteness!

Find out more about what services we offer here. 

If you would like to get started with F&B Digital Therapy, book an appointment now!