Pet ownership,
for most, offers ongoing fulfillment that cannot be duplicated.
It affords boundless joy, comfort, companionship and, more
importantly, unconditional love and acceptance. These needs
are primal in humans. On the flip side, having a pet can be
time consuming and costly, but if you have the time and money,
they are definitely worth it.
Besides
the obvious benefits, can pets can be therapeutic as well?
Some studies say, yes! Results of research being conducted
across the world support the claim that animals, do indeed,
lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and increase exercising,
all of which help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Others even claim that animals contribute to reducing anxiety,
depression and can improve self-esteem. I, for one, agree
with them.
My personal
experience with bipolar disorder mimics that of many others.
When I was unstable my symptoms included extreme mania and
severe depression, including three suicide attempts. I would
have attempted suicide numerous other times if it had not
been for my pets. At the time I owned two dogs (one has since
passed away) and simply knowing that they needed my care kept
me alive. I rationalized in my head that if they did not have
me they would surely die, and I didn’t want that burden
hanging over me. It may not be a reasonable argument, but
the mentally ill are often not logical.
Also,
my dogs were quite intuitive, recognizing when I was depressed
and needed extra attention. On the days I stayed in bed, they
were always with me, one on each side, within petting reach.
It is comforting and rewarding to pet an animal. They are
always appreciative of the attention and show you by wagging
a tail, nuzzling, purring, etc. That alone can put a smile
on the face of even the most depressed person. In addition,
they forced me to get out of bed when they needed to go outside
or were hungry. Simply getting up lifted my spirits. Had I
been alone, I surely wouldn’t have moved from bed at
all.
I encourage
people who have a mental illness to consider getting a pet.
They add purpose to your life, provide you with a nonjudgmental
ear and are typically affectionate. All of these things can
aid in gaining stability. If you do not have the time or money
for your own pet, you can still benefit from the healing power
of animals. Find a friend with a pet, volunteer at a shelter
or veterinarian’s office or even visit a local pet store
that sells animals. In the end, you’ll be glad you did.
This article
has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.PetLovers.Com/
which is a site for Pet Forums. Terry J. Coyier is a 37-year-old
college student studying for an Associates of Applied Sciences
degree. She is also a freelance writer who writes about bipolar
disorder and other mental illnesses.
Terry
was diagnosed with bipolar ten years ago. She lives with her
son in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. Terry is an author
on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers and
her personal portfolio can be viewed here.
Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Coyier
See “Depression” for
more on depression risk and symptoms.
