https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-016-1111-3
I happened upon this post and was amused to see that it’s taken this long to assess the role that pets play in mental health. During my marriage, my spouse and I had a black and tan female shiba inu. We adopted her when she was just past a year old and I’ll admit she won us both over immediately.
Pets pass no judgement and for those of us suffering from mental illness it’s a huge thing to be unburdened by. I can understand how the study found pets at the central support circle for people. Though I do not have a pet now, it’s something I’ve considered. Having to take care of another living thing is a focus and helps to keep you engaged. If you’re having difficulty in finding a stable support circle and have the capacity for a pet, talk to your health care provider, see if you can get an emotional support animal. It might be that extra little bit you need to help with the difficult times.
