COVID-19 brought along with it a huge tide of mental health issues. As the lockdown started abruptly, people were stuck in different parts of the world, many of them living alone. This loneliness turned out to be the starting point of increasing anxiety and depression among people. A US report states that around 26 per cent of adults reported symptoms of anxiety disorder from April 28 to May 10, 2021.
Psychologists discovered the people living with pets were being able to better cope up with their depression or anxiety symptoms. They then thought of using animals like dogs or cats in psychological therapy sessions to help their clients deal with their emotions more productively.
What is Pet Therapy?
Pet therapy is also called animal-assisted therapy. Therapists use trained animals to help people cope with their illnesses and emotions. Pet dogs and cats are the most employed in pet therapy. However, people react differently to different stimulations. Thus, an array of pet animals can be used, depending upon the situational requirements.
Benefits of Pet Therapy?
- When you interact with pets your body releases endorphins, which gives your mind a calming effect. Endorphine is a hormone released by the pituitary glands which reduces stress.
- Pets make you happy by reducing loneliness even in the absence of people. They provide companionship and care.
- In children, having pets can increase their sense of empathy.
- Pet therapy boosts your self-confidence and improves your communication skills.
According to doctors, pet therapy is a great cure for COVID-19 loneliness. It reduces blood pressure and cardiovascular health. When the whole world has shifted to social distancing mode, the lack of interpersonal communication becomes a conundrum. Pet therapy is one of the most successful psychological therapies to deal with such times.
Manisha Ray
A connoisseur of all things wonderful in life, Manisha is a literature major at Delhi University. She is a keen observer and a quiet thinker.