Pets as Stress Relievers

By THE COUNSELING CENTER 

As we move nearer to the end of the semester, we get excited about the semester coming to an end, but we dread all the work that still needs to be done.  The Counseling Center will still be doing a virtual Stress-Free Week at the end of April to help with some of that stress.  Until then, think about other forms of stress relief.  

It is National Pet Month in April in the United Kingdom and May in the United States.  It is a perfect time to talk about the stress relief that pets bring into our lives. The upside to the COVID-19 social distancing has also meant an increase in shelter adoptions across the country.  This means that the positive effect of pet ownership can be felt by both humans and animals.  Don’t have a pet? Don’t worry, there are benefits to just looking at animals too.

Here are the positive effects of having a pet in your home:

• They reduce stress by lowering our stress hormones and increasing our hormones associated with happiness. 
• Pet owners report lower blood pressures – especially when interacting with their pet.
• Having a pet in the home makes people feel less lonely – a vast majority of pet owners view their pets as part of their family.
• Pets also provide social stimulation and positive social interaction – spending time with pets can be less stressful than spending time with humans sometimes. 
• Pets can also make us laugh – this provides a release of positive hormones into our brains.

Don’t have a pet? That’s OK: just looking at pets can provide many of the same positive effects of reduced stress, lower blood pressure, increased laughter, improved moods, and increased productivity.

 So, take a break and interact with your pet, or check out some zoo webcams or aquarium webcams. You can even follow some cute animals on Instagram.  Take a few minutes and feel the stress melt away.

If you would like to discuss reducing your stress, or if you want to talk about anything, reach out to the Counseling Center. Please call 518-454-5200 or email counseling@strose.edu with any questions. Follow us on Instagram @csrcounselingctr to learn about upcoming events.