Why a Pet Can Help With Social Anxiety, Loneliness, or Depression

Ask any pet owner, and they will agree that pets are a source of valuable connection in our lives.

While I certainly don’t think a pet can replace human relationships, they can be a very valuable companion for someone who suffers from social anxiety, loneliness, or depression. A relationship with an animal can often feel just as valuable as a relationship with a human, and anyone who has ever lost a family dog will likely agree with that.

This is especially true for pets that tend to be smarter and have their own personalities, like cats or dogs. Certainly, a fish wouldn’t be as much of a good companion as a dog, though that doesn’t mean they would be worthless either. In fact, one classic study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that even taking care of a plant can give people a boosted sense of meaning and purpose.

In general, “therapy pets” have become a growing phenomenon over the year, and there is quite a bit of research to support how effective and helpful they can be for patients.

In one study published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, researchers looked at people with severe mental disorders and discovered that pets can provide a wide-range of benefits to patients beyond mere companionship, including: 1) Providing a source of empathy, 2) Providing connections that can help redevelop social avenues, 3) Serving as “family” in the absence or addition of other family members, and 4) Supporting self efficacy and strengthening a sense of empowerment.

Interestingly, one new study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research even found that dogs can improve the benefits of antidepressants in individuals who are otherwise treatment resistant. That’s powerful stuff. And another fascinating study published in the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research discovered that having a pet with you can often help people overcome the stigma of having an intellectual disability, allowing them to connect with new people without feeling embarrassed or awkward about it.

While the science continues to grow on the many benefits of “therapy pets,” I can certainly confirm from personal experience that my dog Tila has been a tremendous benefit for my mental health, especially as someone who has social anxiety and currently lives by themselves. I don’t know where I would be without her!

Here’s a cute picture with her and a copy of my book Small Habits, Big Changes (which you can pick up a copy of here if you haven’t already):

In fact, I often survey people on Twitter, asking different questions about psychology and self improvement. So recently I decided to ask everyone if owning a pet has helped with their social anxiety or loneliness too.

Here’s what I found…

These results were very positive, with a solid 80% of you all saying that having a pet does indeed help with your social anxiety and loneliness. So it’s nice to see that other people have shared similar experiences as me when it comes to owning a pet and how helpful they can be to our mental health.

It’s not uncommon for people to turn to pets when they lack fulfilling relationships, and this can be incredibly useful if you live by yourself, have social anxiety, or get lonely easily.

Why having a pet can be great for your mental health

Here’s a quick breakdown of the many reasons owning a pet can be great for your mental health and well-being.

• It’s a friend you always have available to you when you need them, usually without the drama that comes with humans.
• It gives you someone to be responsible for and take care of, which is great for boosting self-esteem and purpose.
• It provides a source of affection. Something as simple as petting or cuddling has shown to have a positive effect on the human body, releasing “feel good” chemicals like oxytocin.
• It can become motivation to get out of your home. The need to walk your dog can be a great “excuse” to go outside and go for a walk.
• It gives your life some routine. Needing to wake up, feed your dog, or take them for walks on a daily basis can help give some needed structure in your life.
• Pets are great at unconditional love. Many pets are hard-wired to love those who take care of them, so they will often be by your side no matter what.

All of these are fantastic reasons why a pet can be great for your social anxiety, loneliness, or depression.

Of course, it’s important to make sure you have the responsibility to take care of one. If you worry that you may not be healthy enough to take care of a dog or cat, considering other options that require less responsibility like a fish or lizard.

My recommendation is to weigh out your options and see what would work best for you considering your current situation.

Remember that a pet shouldn’t be used as a way to replace human relationships altogether; and keep in mind that they can be a big responsibility. However, it can be a great way to relieve some of your social anxiety, loneliness, or depression if you’re ready to make the commitment.

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