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Original poster

Has having a pet helped your depression?

30 replies

sugarlost · 12/03/2021 18:04

Hi,
I'm seriously thinking about having a pet as I do love animals but I realise it's a lot of responsibility. I would have to wait until at least a year and see if my circumstances change if it may be a possibility.

OP posts:
Sprockerdilerock · 12/03/2021 18:09

My dog has 100% improved my mental health.

Waking up in the morning to his cheerful little face puts such a smile on mine. Seeing him come on leaps and bounds with his training makes me feel proud, like I've accomplished something which does wonders for my self esteem. Stroking him calms my anxiety too. I think there is just something magical about dogs that makes you less stressed and unhappy.

But yes, like you said you need to have the right set up in the first place for a pet. I do recommend it though!

PandaBabyJuly · 12/03/2021 18:12

Yes! I have a cat ... she's a bit of a twat cat but she always seems to know when I'm down - she'll come and lay on my bed with me

She also gets me up everyday as she needs feeding; instead of me just laying around in bed feeling sorry for myself Smile

Original poster
sugarlost · 12/03/2021 18:24

Thanks for your feedback. That's good to hear!
I think it would help me with some of the reasons you both stated😁

OP posts:
pourmethevino · 12/03/2021 22:17

My lab makes me feel so relaxed. I hug and kiss her all the time and it really does relieve stress and I can feel her love. She knows when I'm down, she walks straight up to me and gives me the black lab stare, honestly I couldn't of got through these past few months without her.

Ahmose · 12/03/2021 22:20

I talk to my cats. They are good listeners and they never answer back.
I love them and they have definitely improved my life.

20DigitCombination · 13/03/2021 10:24

Yes, definitely. There're always there and they're great listeners! If you have a google you'll find loads of scientific evidence that pets help reduce stress. www.verywellmind.com/how-owning-a-dog-or-cat-can-reduce-stress-3144701

MaidofKent78 · 13/03/2021 10:26

Both my horse and my dog give me a reason to get out of bed and get out of the house each day. No matter how bad things have got/are, they cannot, and will not get neglected. I've lost count of the number of walks/rides that have been completed through floods of tears, but I've always felt better for having done so.

noeffingwayyyy · 13/03/2021 10:32

My dog has improved my mental health no end. I don't suffer with depression but I hit my early 40s, knew I wouldn't be having children and felt a bit sort of lost and empty as all my friends were busy with young families, I was really struggling with 'what is the point of all this really'.

Ddog filled a hole in my heart I didn't even know was there, she brings me so much joy and comfort, and she brings structure to my life...you can't stay in bed feeling sorry for yourself when you have a wet snoot in your face demanding you get up! She has a lot of issues (rescue) and I'm so proud when she achieves things that are scary for her, or when she learns something new. I love buying toys for her, looking after her, and inventing games to play with her. DH said I'm like a different woman since we got her, she is the light of my life 💕

KateF · 13/03/2021 10:34

My dog got me through awful depression (hospitalised, ECT, every drug under the sun). He needed me to feed and walk him so I had to get up and dressed. The walks were literally 'one step at a time'. I have got much better but still on bad days he gets me through because he loves and needs me. He's on my lap right know because somehow he knows I'm a bit low today.

bookworm34 · 13/03/2021 10:36

I have three cats, they've definitely helped improved my depression and aniexty.

GeidiPrimes · 13/03/2021 10:36

I pretty much owe my improved MH to my pets (2 cats and a canine). They also teach me about empathy, which is something I've struggled with. They make me laugh on a daily basis too.

Toilenstripes · 13/03/2021 10:39

My cats have improved my mental health immeasurably. I love taking care of them and they return the favour ten-fold.

Tehmina23 · 13/03/2021 11:56

I have Schizoaffective disorder & I have a cat... I have to get up in the morning even on my days off when I'd prefer to lie in because she wants her breakfast.
I have to wash her bowls even when I can't wash my own dishes.
Then she wants me to play with her or wants to sit next to me on the sofa.
She likes to be fed 4x a day.... shes an indoor cat so I have to clean out her wee & poo out of the litter tray very regularly too!!! Or she won't be happy,

She's a rescue cat & very nervous except with me so she's been challenging to look after too.

Cats are highly demanding and therefore good for getting you motivated, but not quite as 'full on' as dogs.
Here's a couple of pics.

Has having a pet helped your depression?
Has having a pet helped your depression?
Original poster
sugarlost · 14/03/2021 17:21

@Tehmina23 you have a lovely cat...thanks for the pics...it put a smile on my face😁

It’s so good to hear the positive feedback from everyone! I hope to experience this happiness in the future too.

OP posts:
Tehmina23 · 14/03/2021 17:37

Thanks x

terriblyangryattimes · 14/03/2021 18:47

For sure. We got a kitten last June and he is the best thing to come out of 2020! I love him, the whole family do of course but he's 'my' cat (as much as a cat can be a person's!)

DarlingWithoutYou · 15/03/2021 14:23

My dog has had a huge impact on my mental health. His happiness makes me happy. We got him in June last year and I love him more than words can say.

LindaEllen · 15/03/2021 15:48

My cat didn't at first, as I was overwhelmed at the thought of looking after something. But she's such a low maintenance little thing. So long as she's fed twice a day and she's free to go out, she's happy, and always comes in at night to snuggle on the sofa or sleep on my bed.

notrub · 15/03/2021 17:01

It depends on how your depression operates.

Some people find they withdraw when they're depressed - if you have a dog, it needs daily attention - could you cope with the responsibility or would the demands be an issue during a dark spell? At the same time, as long as you treat it well, a dog will always give you unconditional love which can help a lot.

Cats on the other hand can look after themselves (to a degree), so you don't have that responsibility - but they may also abandon you for days on end....

unicornpower · 15/03/2021 17:30

Yes definitely! My two doggies have helped me so much with depression and my overall mental health. Like PP said, just waking up and seeing their little faces full of unconditional love every day is just magic.

The only downside is I hate leaving them to go to work Sad

hippychick11 · 15/03/2021 18:11

@Tehmina23 your cat is so beautiful and a double of my cat Kitty ❣

Has having a pet helped your depression?
ByTheStarryNight · 15/03/2021 18:17

Yes, now he's fully grown DDog brings a lot of joy even when I'm at my worst. However, the puppy months (3-10 months) were extremely challenging* and nearly broke me. I wouldn't change him, but given a choice next time, I wouldn't get a puppy.

*Normal puppy stress, plus he was ill a lot and that was horribly worrying. All good now we know his allergies.

DCat, on the other hand, needs nothing from me except food and to be allowed to sit on me when I get into bed. In her own aloof catty way, she's very soothing.

Pancake4life · 15/03/2021 18:18

sort of.. having a puppy made depression far worse, the stress anxiety etc was awful. but once he was past teenage phase then he's been a blessing yes.

Tehmina23 · 15/03/2021 18:18

@hippychick11 aw how cute!

BirthChoice · 15/03/2021 18:47

Just to give the opposite side of the coin, I find my dog very hard work. I’m a good owner, he is well fed, walked, regularly groomed etc but I just find he’s a responsibility. He’s not easy going (or loyal!) and if you give an inch he’ll take a mile so I can’t ‘rely’ on him. It is what it is and it’s fine but if I’d got him to better my mental health I think I’d have found it made it worse if anything!
I don’t want to sound doom and gloom but equally, I don’t want people reading this thread to think that a pet is a definite cure for mental health issues.
I think spending the money I’ve spent on him over the years on counselling instead would have been far more useful!