Depression is an illness that affects millions of people each year and can hinder your ability to function as a human being. It is not easy dealing with depression, but there are some ways that you can help combat it. Although it is important to have medical help from professionals, pets can be a vital part of helping you recover from depression.
Ensure that you have the proper medical help in place before participating in pet therapy. Believe it or not, animal-assisted therapy is a medically approved and proven method of helping cope with depression. However, it is important that you use pet therapy in combination with professional medical assistance. One cannot really function without the other.
You need a pet who can be a companion to you. Make a mental decision that you will include your pet in your recovery process. It doesn't really matter the type of animal you choose, but it is important to be able to interact with him or her. If you don't have a pet, consider adopting a friend from a local shelter. However, be responsible and only adopt if you know for a fact that you can provide the love and care a pet requires.
Spend time with your pet each day. It is important that you dedicate anywhere from 15 to even 30 minutes to spend with your pet. You can choose to spend even more time, but 15 to 30 minutes should be the bare minimum. It was scientifically proven that in order for your serotonin levels to kick in, at least 15 minutes should be spent with your pet.
Your pet is a great listener. You can tell your pet all your secrets and everything that's bothering you without ever having dire consequences relating to your honesty. Your pet will provide you with all the response you need by sitting and listening to what you have to say. Pour out your heart to your pet because it is important that you talk about everything that's really bothering you.
Petting your pet can calm you. Stroke your pet's fur and you will ultimately start feeling more relaxed. This is an experience that can help you push your negative thoughts into the background. When you relax and stroke your pet, you may find negative thoughts surfacing. Push those negative thoughts and focus on spending time with your pet.
Pets can help you cure your loneliness. When you start feeling lonely, spend time with your pet. Your pet requires care and your attention which can make you feel wanted. Your pet needing you gives you a sense of being wanted.
You can keep calm with your pet. If you have just experienced something that made you feel flustered or angry, your pet can help you keep calm. Sit down with your pet and talk to him or her. It will help you redirect your attention elsewhere and you will find that your pet has a truly calming effect on your nerves.
Depression is not easy to cope with or to control. However, medical help is not the only kind of help that can help you deal with depression. Your pets can become just as therapeutic as your medication. Use the information from this article to get your pet involved in your treatment.