How Pets Can Help With Depression

The article is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.

If you are familiar with the term “depression,” but are not familiar with the scope of depressive disorders, a brief understanding of the dimensions of depression can help further your understanding of why and how pets assist with depressive symptoms and improve well-being. The most commonly seen symptoms of depression include the following: 

• Changes in mood. Although people typically associate depression with sadness, depression can actually present as mood changes including increases in anger and anhedonia. 
• Changes in weight and appetite. Depression can cause changes in appetite and subsequent changes in weight. For some, this presents in the form of increased appetite, while for others, appetite significantly diminishes. 
• Changes to self-esteem. People with depression may experience a loss of self-esteem, and may feel worthless or hopeless. These individuals may also experience a sensation of impending doom or a loss of interest typically identified as apathy. 
• Cognitive changes, including decreased ability to focus, memory difficulties, and difficulty making decisions. 
• Unexplained physical symptoms. Depression can cause physical symptoms without a distinct physical cause, including increased tension in the muscles, headaches, stomachaches, gastrointestinal distress, and difficulty sleeping. 

In order to be diagnosed with depression, an individual must be experiencing some or all of these symptoms for at least 2 weeks or longer. 

Pets and Depression: Finding the Links

Much of the initial research regarding pet ownership and depression looked primarily at dog owners, and although a relationship between dog owners and depression was found, many of the studies failed to identify a definitive causal link, instead identifying a link that may have only been correlational. Despite the shortcomings of these studies, researchers have persisted in developing well-tailored studies that sought to answer the question of whether or not pet owners displayed lower depressive and even anxiety symptoms and have come up with an answer: individuals with pets consistently rate themselves as happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. Even with the research focusing on dogs or cats, the effect is thought to be the same across other types of pets, as well, because it is suggested that pet ownership as a whole is a potential boon for mental health and overall wellness. 

Depression is a multifaceted disorder, with effects that extend into physical health and other areas of an individual’s life. Because pets have been shown to have an effect on several different areas of an individual’s life, the links to improved depressive symptoms are multifold, and include improvements to physical health (including weight), mental health, and even social health and connection. 

Making the Most of Having a Pet

To make sure that your pet is actually helping with, rather than hindering your depression, it is important to make sure you find a pet that is best suited to your needs, and go about the adoption process appropriately. If, for instance, you live in an apartment or home that does not allow pets, the anxiety of being discovered could outweigh any positive effects the pet has on your depressive symptoms. If you select an animal with high needs and you do not have enough time to devote to those needs, you may not experience an improvement in symptoms. To make sure that you experience the benefits of having a pet, consider the following: 

• Restrictions and requirements in your residence. Ignoring restrictions and requirements in your residence can lead to increases in depression and anxiety down the road, if the pet is forcibly removed from your home, you are forced to pay fees, or you are saddled with other consequences. 
• The amount of time you have available for your pet. If you are frequently away from home and have only a short amount of time in your home in the morning and evening, a pet like a cat, rabbit, or other small animal may be better suited for you. If you have plenty of time at home, a dog or larger animal may be a better fit. 
• The exercise and dietary habits of your pet. A dog must be let out, walked, and played with regularly, while a cat requires far less attention and direct care. Someone who struggles to get out of the house may benefit from the impetus of having a pet that needs regular walks, while someone who struggles primarily with isolation may prefer the low-key nature of having a cat or even a guinea pig as a pet. 

How Pets Help With Depression

Pets can be enormously helpful for people who have depressive symptoms, or those who have a depression diagnosis. Although not all pets are created equal for this task, it’s important to do your research to figure out which is best for you. Exploring different types of pets, as well as how they can help depression, is important. BetterHelp has some great articles on depression, along with tips, tricks, and insights to help you. Caring for an animal or other living creature is, as a whole, considered a positive experience for individuals who have a depressive disorder or who are exhibiting symptoms of depression.

Featured Photo by Erica Magugliani on Unsplash