Pets Trigger Positive Emotions Sara Ronfeld, LICSW

Pets Trigger Positive Emotions

Sara Ronfeld, LICSW Rutland Regional Medical Center The powerful positive effects on our emotional health of having a pet is a muchdiscussed issue in the recent past. With the increased stress people are having due to the isolation and fear caused by the pandemic and recent world events, alternative methods are being sought to reduce stress and anxiety and increase emotional/mental health.

Feeling or remembering negative emotions unbalances our nervous system. When we feel negative emotions the heart sends signals to the brain, which in turn sends signals to the hormonal system. Some chemicals such as cortisol are released into the blood and can be harmful to our health if produced in excess. Excessive amounts of these chemicals can block cognitive functions such as attention, memory, perception, and problem-solving and we are more likely to suffer stress, anxiety, apathy, depression, etc.

On the other hand, positive emotions generate physiological and psychological benefits. On the physiological level, evoking positive emotions such as love, joy, gratitude, compassion, etc., stimulates the immune system. Our health increases and we feel lighter. On the psychological level, positive emotions allow the brain to be more creative and to find efficient solutions to real problems. When we feel positive emotions the ability to think clearly, to learn, to remember, to reason, and to make the right decisions is significantly increased.

When we interact with our pets our positive emotions are triggered. This allows us to be able to think through stressful situations and find increased resiliency when dealing with difficult things. There is a great deal of research about the positive effects our pets can have on our emotional health. Interacting with animals causes your body to produce serotonin and dopamine which help offset depression and anxiety. This explains why many hospital programs have begun animal-assisted therapy programs as part of their chronically and terminally ill patient care. Many mental health programs are also involving horses to treat PTSD through equine-facilitated psychotherapy. It is said that a horse can hear a human heartbeat from 4 feet away! Thus, the horse becomes a “mirror” for how that person is truly feeling and helps them understand their emotional reactions, which can move them toward healing the emotional pain of their trauma.

Pets also encourage us to be more active! When we move more, we are triggering our “feel good” hormones to be produced. People who are depressed or anxious are often encouraged to exercise but find it hard to get the energy to do so, but having a pet is a good way to find the motivation to do this! Walking our dogs is also often a way to interact with nature and other people, which is also recommended to enhance mood.

Having a pet can give people more purpose in their life as well. When there is another being that is depending on you for food, love, attention, and care then offers you unconditional love in return we cannot help but feel better. People have long had pets in their lives to help with work and share burdens. With the increased isolation and fear that the recent world events have had on our long-term emotional health, many people are finding that bringing a pet into their lives can help them have more positive emotional experiences which then has a positive effect on their physical health as well.