How Being a Puppy Owner Boosts Your Mental Health

Lately, you’ve been feeling stressed out to the max. You log in to your email and are greeted with several fires you have to put out, but there’s not enough time in the day. You have forgotten to eat due to how busy and overworked you are. You aren’t getting enough sleep because your brain is flooded with anxious thoughts, tripping up those sheep you’ve been trying to count.

You need a trip to the day spa, but that thought gets pushed aside as you ride the wave of anxiety and depression, struggling to keep your head above water. 

As you get home well past quitting time, your puppy runs toward you and showers you in little puppy kisses, her tail wagging a mile a minute. She is overjoyed to see you, her smile lighting up the room. As you feel her wiggly warmth against your tired body, you feel the stress melting away. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and organizations nationwide are raising awareness about mental health and wellness. Mental health involves social, psychological, and emotional well-being from childhood into old age. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 5 Americans live with mental illness challenges. Mental health does not just affect the mind; it also affects a person’s physical health with increased risks of diseases and comorbid conditions like heart disease and obesity. 

People living with mental health issues can take a variety of actions to maintain their wellness. One way to boost mental health is to be a pet owner. The mental health benefits of having a dog are scientifically proven with research studies demonstrating how pets lift a person’s mood. Learn how pet ownership positively affects your mental health in various ways and qualities to look for in an emotional support dog. 

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