There are numerous studies that support the hypothesis that animals, especially dogs, are great allies when it comes to contributing to people’s emotional well-being and mental health. Below we will tell you about it.
Depression in the world
Depression has been understood as a mood disorder and, therefore, mental health, which affects a large number of people in the world today. According to WHO figures in 2021, nearly 300 million people have suffered or are suffering from depression. The Depression It can manifest itself in different ways and include varied symptoms such as anhedonia, a sad mood sustained over time, a deficit or excess in sleeping or eating time, chronic lack of concentration, thoughts of guilt, thoughts of death or suicideetc.
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How do we see depression?
As we clarify in our article, Depression is NOT a common mood or emotion, nor is it normal grief or a state of circumstantial anguish. and although these situations must be addressed, we should not be confused in this sense. Just as the same symptoms do not equal the same diagnoses, we must be careful not to be underdiagnosed or overdiagnoseds. In that sense, although it is not something definitive or definitive, it can be useful to know if we should seek some type of professional help for our emotional well-being.
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Having said the above, one of the great allies in providing us with this emotional well-being, whether or not we suffer from a depressive disorder, is the dog, which, in addition, and as has been shown, has helped in the treatment of people who do suffer from said disorder.
As the newspaper reports, The type of emotional bond that a dog provides provides important benefits from a psychological point of view.. According to the director of the Affinity Animals and Health Foundation Chair, of the Department of Psychiatry of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, consulted by the Spanish media, the relationship between the human being and the dog establishes a “bidirectional and mutual” bond. It’s almost like a chemical reaction, like you put two reactants together and you can’t stop them from reacting.” This appearance of an emotional bond with the dog facilitates favorable conditions for treatment for depression or some other type of associated emotional discomfort..
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Some emotional benefits of pets
Among the benefits of having a dog at home, the most frequently analyzed are the following:
- They provide company: This is, perhaps, the most obvious of the advantages of having a dog at home, however, we are not always aware of the immense number of benefits of feeling accompanied, since this implies a greater perception of security, willingness to affectivity, communication and relaxation.
- They provide a sense of responsibility: Being in charge of a living being as complex as a dog can motivate us not only to comply with its diet but also to constantly dedicate ourselves to its comprehensive care, exercise him, have a systematic outing routine, educate him, teach him skills and behaviorspractices in which we feel useful and important to that being we have decided to accompany and he to us.
- Reduces stress: Pampering and caressing pets in general stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone related to emotional bonding. This helps reduce cortisol, the excess of which causes stress.. Also playing with our pets promote the production of serotonin and dopamineimportant neurotransmitters that regulate mood.
- They increase life expectancy: As has been analyzed, having dogs increases the disposition towards having a healthier lifestyle and being happier. This state of well-being increases people’s life expectancy.
- They take care of the heart (literally): Studies affirm that having dogs or cats reduces the risks of suffering from physical diseases such as cardiac pathologies.