Pet Therapy As Part Of A Holistic Approach To Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder

There is much research to support the theory that keeping a pet can help alleviate stress

. Worrying and stress compound the effects of seasonal affective disorder ('SAD'). This article tells you about the various ways in which keeping a pet can help to offset those bad effects. My own pet favourites are springer spaniels, but other pets are good, too, including cats, tropical fish and even parrots.

Company for You

If your family has grown up or you live alone for other reasons, then a dog is great company. Therefore, having 'someone to care for' provides real and tangible health benefits. Of course, a cat is company, as is a caged bird, but they are less demanding than a dog.

Demanding

An attention-seeking pet is a good thing. It gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning and get out in the daylight, getting exercise and sunlight. With a cat you just put down the food and the cat comes and goes through the catflap in the door - there's little benefit there for you. Of course, the cat will come and curl up on your lap in front of the TV in the evening, and that does reduce stress.

Caring Moves Your Focus

If you live alone, whether through choice or circumstances, then the effects of SAD are intensified, because you have only yourself to focus on. Caring for a pet shifts some of your focus away from yourself, at least for some of the time. The less time you spend looking inwards then the better it is for you.

Laughter Releases Endorphins

Springer spaniels (my favourite dogs) are very happy animals and love having fun. This is good for you - my Springers made me laugh each and every day. They are smart dogs and that adds to the fun! Laughter helps release those feel-good endorphins in the brain - more SAD therapy for you.

Exercise For You Both

Springers love a game of hide and seek with an old sock or glove and will retrieve for hours on end. This leads to more fun and exercise for you too, as well as taking your mind off your own problems. As we know, exercise is a therapy for seasonal affective disorder, realeasing those endorphins in the brain.

Individual Personalities

Unlike an aquarium of tropical fish, dogs are much more interesting, in my opinion. They have distinctive personalities, as cats do too. However, if you are unable to 'get about' easily - perhaps lacking a transport, or for health reasons - then tropical fish are great stress reducers too. And, let's not forget parrots - they will talk to you!

In Summary

Well, dogs are my favourite - and Springer Spaniels in particular - but generally any form of pet will add interest and diversion into your day. Dogs, and particularly Springer Spaniels, offer probably the widest range of benefits to a SAD sufferer. So, think about a pet as a possible component in the holisitic approach to beating SAD.

by: Phil Marks

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