How Pets Can Help To Reduce Stress

How Pets Can Help To Reduce Stress

Nearly everyone suffers from stress in some form or another it is an inbuilt self-defence mechanism that we are all born with. According to medicinenet.com stress is a physical, mental or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension.

For cavemen and women stress had a useful and healthy purpose, when we get stressed our body releases hormones such as adrenaline these hormones helped trigger the fight or flight response in our ancestors, this response helped them react to danger in the most appropriate way. The adrenaline and noradrenaline helped prepare their muscles for physical activity when they saw a sabertooth tiger or rival tribe member carrying off their woman, in the modern world we don’t tend to face such dangers and stress can have a very detrimental effect on our physical and mental health.

Side Effects of Stress

In the modern world, our main sources of stress are found in relatively safe environments such as work, school and even the home, in these environments stress is not useful at all and it can be extremely detrimental to our health. When we get stressed we may experience flushing, tunnel vision, palpations, shaking, constriction of blood vessels, fat and glucose maybe released so our body can prepare itself for some physical action that never comes, stress can even cause men to suffer from erectile dysfunction.

Stress can cause many physical problems that affect our health negatively. Stress-related problems may include; loss of libido, fatigue, headaches, chest pains, stomach upsets, insomnia, high blood pressure, weight gain, diabetes and heart disease. Sufferers of stress can also experience psychological problems such as; anxiety, panic attacks, irritability, anger and depression. These psychological problems caused by stress can result in social withdrawal, eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, even suicide.

How Pets Can Help To Reduce Stress 

Numerous studies have proven that animals help to reduce stress, it has been proven that just being around an animal can reduce blood pressure. The animal doesn’t even have to be furry and cute, watching fish has been proven to lower blood pressure too. Dentists have known how relaxing fish tanks are for years.

Dog owners get more exercise than non-dog owners, exercise releases feel-good hormones and endorphins that help to combat depression and stress. All gym users no about the motivation issues that they can experience, when we have a dog we will feel a responsibility to walk it regularly and walking is an excellent form of exercise. Walking outside in nature can be an extremely meditative experience. A dog will help us to get out in the fresh air and sunshine, where we may meet new people.

Animals can  help to change how we perceive the world around us and create opportunities for friendly social interaction if someone sees you in the street with a cute puppy they will see you as being more approachable. Animals can also provide their owners with companionship and emotional support, helping them feel less lonely if they live on their own. Pets also tend to hold their owners in high regard and this can help people suffering from low self-esteem. One study found that pets provide their owners with social support, helping them cope with rejection and stress, providing their owners with numerous positive psychological and physical benefits.

Pets offer so many emotional and psychological benefits that you can now get your pet certified as an emotional support animal, emotional support dog certification offers numerous benefits.

Emotional Support Animals

If your dog is registered as an ESA (Emotional Support Animal) you will be able to take them on aeroplanes without having to pay a fee and they will be able to fly with you in the cabin. If your landlord doesn’t allow pets and puts limits on the size and breed of pet you can have you can get them certified as an ESA and even avoid pet fees.

ESAs don’t need any special training, all you need to get your pet certified as an ESA is an official Emotional Support Animal letter, the letter will need to be written by a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist, a licensed clinical social worker or a psychologist. Unlike guide dogs, ESAs are not allowed to accompany their owners to restaurants, stores, theatres, etc. It’s not just dogs that are eligible for ESA certification, almost any pet could be certified as an ESA as long as the owner of the animal has a condition that they require emotional support with.

This post was written and supplied on behalf of CertaPet, get more information about emotional support animals on their Facebook page.