If you suffer from an anxiety disorder like generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder, you know how lonely and overwhelming it can be. You may have difficulty leaving your home or socializing with others, or you may suffer from panic attacks that leave you feeling fearful and confused. Getting a pet can help tremendously with all forms of anxiety in the following ways.
They Provide Emotional Support
Sometimes, all you need is to have some emotional support and someone to cuddle with. Pets are great for being present at all times, just wanting to love you. Dogs and cats are excellent emotional support animals, though many people find comfort in other pets, such as rabbits and ferrets. Not only will they always be there providing unconditional love, but just petting them and paying attention to them can help to calm you down. This is excellent if you feel a panic attack coming on.
Dogs Help You Meet New People
If you are someone that has bad social anxiety, either on its own or related to another anxiety disorder, it makes it really hard to meet new people. However, when you have a dog, you spend more time outdoors and have the perfect opportunity to make new friends. Not only do dogs provide a good excuse for you to go outside more often, but they provide a good opening topic when talking to someone new. Take your dog for a walk or head to the dog park, and you are bound to strike up a conversation with someone else that also has a dog.
Pets Provide a Good Distraction
You may also need something to distract you from your anxious and fearful emotions, especially when you have panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. Both fof these anxiety disorders tend to cause some severe panic attacks that are really hard to handle on your own. With a pet, you are able to distract those worrisome thoughts in order to take care of them, from walking your dog to cleaning a litter box for your cat or feeding your bird.
They Can Help You Get Through a Crowd
Another thing people with anxiety struggle with is being in a large crowd of people and trying to navigate it without becoming fearful or having a panic attack. With a dog, you can bring them with you to help scope out the person you are looking for by looking for their scent, or just guiding you to the safest route out of the crowd.
Share23 January 2017
When I initially started the therapy process about 10 years ago, I didn't take the time to scout out the right counselor. Instead, I just went to the first counselor that my doctor recommended, and the experience was less than enjoyable. I realized that I might need to do a little research to find the right counselor for me, so I took the time to carefully evaluate my needs and research different clinics in my area. I was able to find an amazing counselor who really seemed to have it under control, and it was incredibly beneficial to see the difference that it made. This blog is all about finding the right counselor.
