Millions of people in the United States alone suffer from some form of mental illness at any given time. There are countless different diseases that can afflict a person, and while therapeutic approaches offer some commonality, every person who is struggling needs his or her own individualized treatment protocol. While professional intervention is always a good idea for mental illness, there are some “other” steps that people can take. One example is getting a pet. That said, is the connection between pets and mental health always a positive?

There is not hard and fast answer to that question. The bottom line is that, yes, more often than not, the connection between pets and mental health is one that leads to positive results, but that is not always the case. Our team of Orange County mental health professionals at SoCal Empowered generally believes that animals are a benefit to treatment. We even have a dog who helps us out in this regard.

However, we’d like to delve into this topic of pets and mental health below, as there are several different factors to consider if you’re thinking about adding a furry friend to help you with your struggles or with those of a loved one. As is the case with any big decision, we hope you’ll think it through carefully before going one way or the other with it.

The Positive Links Between Pets and Mental Health

We’re going to start with the potential positive aspects of getting a pet if you’re struggling with your mental health or you’re thinking about trying to help a loved one. We’re going to use a dog as an example in order to keep the analysis consistent.

1.    A Boost in Physical Activity

If you own a dog, you already understand that it needs exercise every day. That means that you are also going to be getting some form of exercise every day. Generally speaking, that’s a good thing, and we’ve discussed in the past how a proper program and level of exercise can help someone who struggles with mental illness.

2.    Companionship

We have also discussed recently how loneliness likely does play a part in mental illness. The more we are alone, the more difficult life can seem. When you have a dog, you have a lifelong, loyal companion who will love you unconditionally. This type of companionship can be enormously beneficial for people, as sometimes we just need a friend to understand and not judge or opine on things.

3.    Social Connections

People who struggle with mental illness often benefit from having some type of support group in place. Whether it’s family, friends, neighbors or in this case, other dog owners, just having people around to listen can help in countless ways. If you own a dog, you’ll most likely get to know other dog owners, any of them could become dependable and trusted friends over time.

4.    Required Organization

For people who struggle with illnesses such as adult ADHD, organizing your life can seem all but impossible at times. Everyone who owns a dog understands that doing so requires a person to put together a solid routine. It also requires a person to organize several different things like buying food and treats, feeding dogs, scheduling vet visits and the like.

5.    A More Accurate Sense of Self

Finally, owning a dog means that you’re going to have to take care of another living creature. That means that there will be days when you have to go for that walk when you don’t want to. There will also be days when you have to forget about your troubles and focus on the needs of your dog who may be ill or otherwise struggling. This can be a very healthy thing for people who may otherwise have difficulty with mental health.

The Negative Links Between Pets and Mental Health

As mentioned above, the links between pets and mental health are not always positive. There are potential problems that can arise in this context, and we’ll lay out a handful of examples below.

1.    Added Stress

Caring for another living thing is an all-encompassing commitment. For people who may struggle with something like anxiety, the idea of caring for a dog can be overwhelming at times. This is particularly true if someone adopts a puppy or a rescue dog, as they can be quite needy periodically. Too much stress can lead to serious problems for some people who are struggling.

2.    Training Difficulties

Anyone who has ever trained a dog understands that it is anything but a linear process. There are good days and bad, and that’s all part of maturing, regardless of species. Therefore, people who are struggling may have a very difficult time coping with situations where a dog does not behave properly.

3.    Expense

Pets are expensive. They require food, medication, medical treatment, equipment and a lot of time and other ancillary costs and investments. Finances have long been a trigger for people who are struggling with mental illness, so that needs to be something that you consider before taking this step.

4.    Over-Prioritization

Dogs – and all pets, really – are part of our family. We treat them that way and we love them that way. However, it’s possible to put too much emphasis on our pets such that it begins to detract from the rest of our lives. For people with mental illnesses, this can be a possibility and is something to be mindful of before we take that big step.

5.    Death

Pets don’t live as long as we do. That’s not only obvious, but it’s also an unavoidable fact. Most people don’t really think about that when they bring a pet home, and instead are consumed by the excitement of that experience. For people struggling with mental illness, the death of a pet can be especially devastating.

How SoCal Empowered Can Help

If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health and thinking of adding to your household, we hope that you’ll make sure to take the time to make the best choice possible. Yes, there are links between pets and mental health, and while many are positive, there are potential pitfalls to keep in mind.

If you are struggling to the point where you need more than a pet, and instead need professional help, we encourage you to contact our team of Orange County mental health professionals as soon as possible. We can help you find the right treatment for your needs.