How Animals Can Offer Emotional Support

If you’ve ever wondered what having an emotional support animal can do for your mental health, read on, as our experts at VP MindCare explain how pets can improve your quality of life.

Reduce anxiety following a stressful event

One study found that participants who were dog owners and who spent time with their dogs after a stressful task experienced reduced anxiety and improved mood compared with participants who didn’t have an animal to interact with after finishing the task.

Offer support without the expectation to fix something

Have you ever wished for someone just to listen and comfort you, be there with you, as you are, without trying to fix the situation or come up with a solution? In hospital settings, therapy dogs do precisely that. They sit with patients, as dogs can be deeply present with people, showering them with love and affection even in the absence of words. 

Although therapy dogs are often used to help cancer patients cope with their diagnosis, dogs and other animals are also used outside hospital settings to provide comfort to people simply in need of companionship.

Soothe loneliness

Pets can offer a genuine connection and make it easier to receive attention, love, affection, and even engage in play, without the fear of being judged in a social setting by another human. 

For people who are shy or have difficulty trusting others or being vulnerable, animals can be an excellent way to build connections and even strengthen the “muscle” of being more sociable without the extra pressure of socializing with people.

Improve self-esteem

During the first two years of life, ideally, you would have received unconditional positive regard from your parents. As you grow older, positive regard often comes with terms and conditions. However, there are two ways you can receive unconditional positive regard as an adult: either in a therapeutic relationship or with a pet. Pets love unconditionally. 

Their love and devotion are uncomplicated, and studies show that this type of connection has a positive impact on self-image. People who have pets tend to have higher self-esteem than those who do not.

Learn more about emotional support animals

Whether you wish to include an emotional support animal in your therapeutic journey or simply want to adopt a pet, the benefits of having a loving animal around are undeniable. 

If you want to learn more about how emotional support animals can be used in combination with psychotherapy to improve mental health outcomes, contact us to schedule an appointment at our office in Anchorage, Alaska.