How can having a dog improve mental Health

 
Many people are suffering with their mental health around the world today. If mental health is a Familiar struggle for you as well we have an inspiring story for you today. Randy Young, Our guest from episode two, Starting fresh at 61 Feat. Randy Young opened up about his past struggle with addiction, today we honor his healing journey and how Diva saved his life!

In the past, Randy was a  hard-core drug user. He was an addict for around 35 years of his life. 
Randy would drive across the united states in his truck as a truck driver. Randy worked as a truck driver for 42 years!
During our interview on our podcast episode "Starting over at 61, "Randy told me he used to live a crazy and spontaneous life.
Randy also described to me how he was not very healthy and how he managed to keep his truck rolling being having a diet of Meth and Moutain dew. "If the truck wasn't moving, I wasn't making money." 
At the time, Randy felt as if he couldn't afford to sleep... till he met Diva.
 Randy's health turned around when he adopted a beautiful puppy he named Diva when she was six months, and they were inseparable!
Randy said, "I adopted her because, you know, when she was a
I was in line because it made me take care of Myself and stop the truck and walk. You know she made me stop and eat. She gave me the momentum to take care of myself. I don't know how long I would have been eating, doing drugs, and not stopping and taking care of myself. She encouraged responsibility in my life."
How does having a dog impact mental health?

Having a dog can be hugely beneficial to mental health. 

Having a dog is like having a therapist in your pocket! They're cute, cuddly, and they can keep you company wherever you go. But do dogs have any real impact on our mental health? The short answer is yes: studies have shown that pet owners are less lonely than non-pet owners, and that owning a dog can help people with depression or anxiety. Dogs also help lower blood pressure—and lower blood pressure means less stress! So next time you think about getting some kind of therapy for your mental health woes (and let's face it, we all need at least one), consider starting with a furry friend instead.

Dog owners have lower blood pressure

Have you ever noticed that your dog is an excellent stress reliever? Or perhaps you've seen a person who lives alone with their dog and wonder why they seem so happy. The answer may be simple: dogs can lower blood pressure!

Blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and the second most common cause of death in the U.S., so keeping it low is important for maintaining good health. Dog owners have been shown to have lower blood pressures than non-owners, which suggests that these furry friends could help reduce hypertension in people who suffer from this condition.

Dogs can also assist those who already suffer from hypertension by providing them with companionship as well as physical activity like walking, running or playing fetch—all things that contribute to lowering blood pressure naturally. In fact, studies show that having a dog reduces stress levels by making people feel calmer overall due to increased attention paid on the owner versus other activities (like watching TV).



Dogs can help you cope with anxiety disorders

If you’re suffering from anxiety, depression, or any other mental health disorder that makes everyday life more difficult, a dog can be your best friend. The unconditional love and companionship of a furry friend is often enough to help you cope with the challenges of living with a mental illness.

The benefits of having a pet are well-documented: they provide physical activity and socialization opportunities in people who otherwise might not have them; they can also be used as an outlet for stress relief or simply as an excuse to get outside when the weather permits! And research shows that many dogs are very helpful at helping their owners manage their symptoms.

Dogs can help people with depression or loneliness

If you're feeling lonely or isolated, a dog can really help. It's not just that they're cute and cuddly—dogs offer loving companionship to their people.

They can also help you feel more connected to the world around you, which is especially important for those who are depressed. Dogs are great at helping us focus on the positive aspects of life and make us more confident in our abilities as well as the world around us.


Dogs help your social life

Having a dog can also help your social life. As much as we all love our dogs, they’re not the best at holding up their end of the conversation when it comes to making new friends. When you have a dog, it’s easy to strike up conversations with other pet owners and soon you find yourself chatting away over coffee or beers. And if you don’t feel like talking, just walk your dog around town – people will be stopping you left, right and center asking about her and what breed she is (if she has one).

When you go out with your dog in tow, there are so many opportunities for making new friends! You might meet someone who shares the same interests as yours (like hiking), or perhaps they have an adorable puppy themselves that needs some exercise (perfect!). The best part is: whether they have a pet or not doesn't matter - everyone loves talking about cute puppies!



Having a dog can be hugely beneficial to mental health.

Having a dog can be hugely beneficial to mental health.

Dogs are great for social support, particularly for those who live alone or with few people with whom to interact. Having someone who is there for you in the moment of need and unconditional love is something we all value, but it’s especially important for those struggling with mental illness.

Emotional support dogs can help alleviate the effects of depression and anxiety disorders, as well as other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies have also shown that pet owners tend to be less lonely and isolated than non-pet owners.

Overall,

Having a dog can make you happier, healthier and more active. You'll feel less isolated, more supported and even less lonely when you have a canine companion. If you have any questions about the benefits of having pets in general or specifically having dogs with mental health issues, please reach out to us at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). We would love to help.

Takeaway: Having a dog can improve your mental health!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Understanding Empathic Overwhelm: How to Recognize and Manage It

Image
Understanding Empathic Overwhelm: How to Recognize and Manage It  Empathy is a powerful and beautiful trait, allowing us to connect deeply with others and understand their emotions. However, for empaths, this gift can sometimes become overwhelming, leading to a state known as empathic overwhelm. In this blog post, we'll explore what empathic overwhelm is, how to recognize it, and share some practical strategies from our recent podcast episode with Jennifer Moore, an expert in empathic sensitivity, on how to manage it effectively. What is Empathic Overwhelm?   Empathic overwhelm occurs when an empath absorbs too much emotional energy from those around them, often to the point where it becomes difficult to distinguish between their own feelings and those of others. This can lead to emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and even physical symptoms such as headaches or fatigue. Empaths who are not aware of this phenomenon may find themselves feeling drained and confused, unable to pinpoin...
Read more

7 Reasons you NEED to add Lion's-Mane To your Diet

Image
  7 Reasons you NEED to add Lion's-Mane To your Diet By: Samantha Aiko Introduction If you're looking to boost your immune health, protect brain tissue, reduce inflammation, and more—lion's mane is the mushroom for you. In fact, this mushroom has so many therapeutic properties that it would be impossible to list them all. Below we'll go into some of why lion's mane has become a staple supplement in my routine. REGENERATE AND PROTECT BRAIN TISSUE It can help protect against Alzheimer's disease. In a study conducted by researchers at the University of South Florida, scientists discovered that the lion's mane mushroom may be able to protect brain cells from damage. The study was published in the journal Phytotherapy Research and found that extracts from the Lion's Mane mushroom could prevent amyloid protein formation (which causes plaque buildup in the brain). In addition, it showed that lion's mane extract could reduce inflammation, helping keep your b...
Read more

Eugenics on The East Coast

Image
The influence of eugenics on the east coast By Samantha Aiko Introduction  Eugenics was a movement that began in the early 20th century based on the premise that specific groups of people were of a master race. This idea was first popularized by Francis Galton, an Englishman influenced by his cousin Charles Darwin's theories on natural selection. He believed that genius could be passed down through genes, but he also believed that negative traits could be controlled and eliminated from society. Eugenicists around the world took up this mantle, including America where eugenicists like Andrew Carnegie and John D Rockefeller Jr funded institutions dedicated to eradicating diseases like mental illness from our gene pool altogether. Their efforts resulted in over 60% of institutionalized Americans being sterilized against their will - with many believing it would prevent them from passing down mental illness or chronic disease to their children." Eugenics was a movement that began ...
Read more