I was having a moment of high anxiety the other day, I don’t necessarily remember what brought it on, but needless to say I was on my way to a panic attack. I am prone to these sometimes in moments of stress or while dealing with irrational fears (phobias), or thoughts that overwhelm me in the spur of the moment (bills, or Walmart usually). So I tried to lay down for a moment and stop pacing around and slow my momentum towards the coming attack. At that precise moment my cat sat on my chest and nuzzled my face while purring like a little Mac Truck. I immediately got lost in the moment and rubbed my face against his, attempting to purr back in kind (failing miserably as I sounded like a man gargling spit), and petting him till he plopped down on my chest and fell asleep, still purring just a little more softly now. By the time he fell asleep, I had forgotten that I was escalating into a panic attack and looked for my next source of entertainment which happened to be my dog who seemed to be jealous by all the attention the cat was getting. So, I was now even more distracted by the licks on my hand as I tried to pet her.

I had read a while back that pets have a profound effect on an owner’s health especially the level of anxiety. (I say pets specifically and not animals because I’m sure Bears and Mountain Lions don’t do well for ones’ anxiety levels). So I decided to read a few articles and what came back seems to be basically the same information across the board that pets do in fact have a positive impact on a person’s mood. In fact, “Along with treatment, pets can help some people with mild to moderate depression feel better.” -Pets for Depression and Health by Kathleen Doheny

The majority of articles I read have identified the same 7 positive characteristics of having a cat or dog in your family that counteract depression and anxiety.

The best feeling in the world is Uncomplicated/Unconditional Love which you will only experience from a pet. They don’t judge you, they don’t complicate you emotionally, and they are happy to see you when you walk through that door.

Pets give you an added level of Responsibility which might not sound like a great idea because taking care of yourself is hard enough, but it’s been suggested by doctors and therapists that adding a little responsibility is helpful. It may just show you that you are capable of more, plus the rewards are worth it.

They will keep you Active, when you would normally sit or lay for long periods of unproductive time, a pet will motivate you to get up and interact with them. A little extra physical activity never hurt anyone. A dog needs to be walked, a cat’s litter won’t clean itself, fresh water and food will get you moving around.

These are important because it will get you into a Routine. Having a schedule helps with depression. Planning out what you need to do give you something to look forward to during your day, taking care of your pet is no different. Your pets will thank you for being good to them and taking care of their needs by giving you what you need, it’s their nature to be your best friend.

Companionship is key when you are dealing with depression. You tend to push away from friends and family when you are going through something, with a pet you are never alone. Even though I am married now I still find the time to have a good conversation with my dog. (she is such a good listener, and we’ve been through so much together in our 8 years together so far).

Having a pet is great for Social Interaction, pets make great icebreakers, and it’s easier to talk about your pet in a social situation than it is yourself sometimes but it will involve some aspect of personal information about you.

Studies show that physical contact with others makes people feel better, in some cases it may make people feel worse. In MOST cases it doesn’t translate to pets.

The Touch of a pet will make you feel better. (They are called “Pets” right?) So yeah having a cat on your chest, or rubbing your dog’s tummy has been proven to lower your heart rate. Touch is as important to your pet as it is to you. They crave your attention; they want to be close to you. The cat sleeps in between me and my wife keeping us from cuddling but close enough for us to make contact with him for warmth and security. Our dog will start in her bed, and end up across the tops of our heads. I’ve tried to correct this then found we sleep better with them where they are. Go figure.

So for those out there that have Depression and/or Anxiety issues, consider a companion of the 4-legged kind. However, before you do, understand that they are a commitment and deserve a chance to be treated kindly. I promise if you take the time there are lessons your pets will learn from you but more importantly, lessons YOU will learn from your pets. But that’s a post for another time.