How Pets can Benefit Your Physical and Mental Health

29 Mar 2022

Everyone can agree that household pets are a bundle of joy! Many know of the many benefits of owning a pet, but there is another benefit of owning a pet that many people need nowadays, that not many people are aware of. Can you guess what it is?


Owning a pet can benefit peoples’ emotional and physical health. Interactions with pets help to decrease stress, improve heart health, and even help developing children learn emotional and social skills. 


Studies have shown that animals help decrease cortisol (stress hormone) levels, and lower blood pressure. 

These aspects relate to your physical health, as lower cortisol levels help to boost brain productivity and comfortable sleep, and lower blood pressure encourages cardiovascular health.

Also, the requirements and daily needs of an animal allows individuals to get more exercise and sunlight in their daily routine.


However, physical health is not the only aspect of a person’s overall health. Relations with animals have subdued but incredible benefits to their mental health as well! Studies support the theory that following a routine that one needs to care for a pet aids in the development of children with ADHD. Military veterans or sufferers of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also benefit from pets as they help alleviate symptoms. In a broader sense, interactions with animals can help decrease anxiety and depression, as well as increase social support.


The facts above help to show that animals and humans have co-dependent relationships with each other. As much as you think you benefit your pet, you are actually benefiting from them as well! If you didn’t think you would need a pet before, you definitely do now.


Use TIMO to find out more ways to balance your mental health and reduce stress!