Every day, people encounter stress in various forms. Studies show that the most common cause of stress is work-related; 4 in 5 adults experience this. While a moderate amount of stress can enhance work and productivity, excessive stress can have a negative effect on health, mood, relationships, and overall well-being.
Stress Awareness Day is an annual event to raise awareness about stress, its causes, and its effects. Stress Awareness Day falls on Wednesday 1st of November this year. On this occasion, the leading pet insurer, petGuard investigated how pet ownership can help combat stress.
“Having a pet brings many mental and physical health benefits for both adults and children,” says James Whitten, the Marketing Manager at petGuard.
It helps lower stress levels
Whenever feeling stressed or anxious, the brain may release adrenaline and cortisol (the stress related hormone), which can be detrimental to one’s heart and mental health if they persist for a long period of time. Pets not only make their owners laugh and giggle but, more importantly, contribute to the release of oxytocin, a “cuddle hormone” that reverses the effects of cortisol and leaves a person feeling stress-free.
Research has shown that individuals experience a sense of calmness while watching their dogs playfully run around or soothing their cat’s fur. Medical practitioners have found that interacting with an animal greatly increases the likelihood of a quick recovery after a surgery, as animals tend to increase positivity and mental wellbeing.
Pets are great therapy
Pet therapy is steadily growing in popularity throughout the UK. Children with learning disabilities such as ADHD and autism are encouraged to interact with therapy animals in controlled environments. These interactions have been shown to help create positive and calm environments for children, which overall increase their levels of concentration, memory retention and academic improvement.
Pet therapy can provide children as well as adults with an emotional connection that some may find hard to establish with other humans. By petting an animal, not only can it soothe an individual, but it can also create an emotional experience that may not have been there before.
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