Psych2Go First E-book To Psychology and Life

A Psych2Go guidebook for psychology and life

4 BENEFITS OF OWNING A CAT

4 things to sustain friendships and make them stronger

5 mental health benefits of laughter

5 things that are keeping you from moving forwards

4 ways to read someone’s body language to tell if they are attracted to you

12 Signs That You’re in a Healthy Relationship

9 Unhealthy Behaviors Adults Have After Going Through Childhood Trauma

6 Ways to Handle Embarrassment

To Hell Negative Thinking: 11 Easy Tips For Better Thinking

4 BENEFITS OF OWNING A CAT

Cats often make an enigmatic appearance in the works of my favorite writer Haruki Murakami. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved cats. Somehow, I think they make this world a more magical place, because in a lot of ways, they have their own mysterious healing powers. Are you thinking about getting a pet? If so, definitely consider getting a cat! Psych2Go shares with you 7 benefits of owning a cat:

1. Your risk of getting cardiovascular disease lowers.

Owning a cat can give you a calming effect, which reduces your blood pressure. As a result, your stress levels also go down, which in turn, lowers your risk of getting cardiovascular diseases. A study done by the University of Minnesota concluded that participants without cats were 30% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those who were cat owners. Researchers from the study stated that dog owners may receive the same benefits, but there weren’t enough dog owners involved to reach the same solid conclusion. Veterinary pathologist Lawrence McGill states that dogs need more hands-on attention than cats do, which may increase the owner’s stress levels. Since cats are more naturally independent and can take better care of themselves, they leaves their owners with less worries and hassle.

2. Your immune system improves.

Owning a cat can improve your immune functions because it can tell when you are feeling sick. When it’s aware of this, it can provide you with comfort and help you get better. As a result, your immune system also gets the boost it needs to help you fight off illnesses in the future. Cats are intelligent and can empathize what you are feeling, so they will come and assist you when your health isn’t at its best.

3. Your chance of developing allergies decreases.

The younger you are, the better the time is in regards to owning a cat. Children who own cats have a lower risk of developing asthma. This is because the early exposure and daily contact of cats reduces their chance of experiencing respiratory problems. As a result, your immune system strengths and allergies can be prevented.

4. Your mood improves and symptoms of anxiety and depression decrease.

Cats act as a great distraction when you’re feeling down in the dumps or have fearful thoughts consuming you. With just the simple act of petting or playing with your cat, it can help improve and balance your mood. Although owning a cat doesn’t necessarily cure you of your anxiety or depression, it can take the edge off from some of your worst days. The best part about going through tough times is that your cat doesn’t judge you for them.

5. Your carbon footprint reduces.

A study done in 2009 concluded that the resources required to feed a dog gives about twice the eco-footprint of an SUV. Don Jordan, director of the Seattle Animal Shelter, states, “If you look at a large-size dog, they can live 10-14 years, and it certainly wouldn’t surprise me. There’s a lot that goes into manufacturing and producing food to care for dogs during the course of a life.” Cats, on the other hand, generally eat less and are more likely to eat fish than corn or beef-flavored products. Not only is owning a cat good for your health, but it’s better for the environment, too!

6. Companionship is provided and you experience less loneliness.

Although cats are known for their independent nature, there’s a special bond formed if nurtured properly between the cat and the owner. When you learn to respect your cat’s boundaries and give it the right amount of love and attention, it’s similar to the bonds you form with people. In fact, a Swiss study in 2003 revealed that owning a cat is similar to having a romantic partner.

Cats are often misunderstood and can be seen as cold, but they are as complex as humans; therefore, learning how to read their subtlety is important. Nonetheless, when you form a special companionship with a cat, it’s lifelong, which in turn, can alleviate the loneliness you experience. It took a while for my boyfriend’s cat to warm up to me, but I learned that patience goes a long way. I always find it endearing when she sleeps or sits next to me! She’s so cute!

7. Your sociability improves.

In 2012, French researchers published a study in PLOS One in which they took a look at whether or not owning a pet can help those with autism. They write, “Playing with a pet is a complex behavior, sometimes involving object manipulation as a means for practice and mastery of action schemas (i.e. sensorimotor play) or a child’s ability for mental representation. Thus, it provides a child with means of practicing and understanding the events of his or her social world.”

Owning a cat specifically can help those with autism because they can relate to cats. Richard, the son of neuroscientist J. Mannerling, has autism and ever since the family adopted Clover, a cat from a local animal shelter, his sociability began to improve when he interacted with the cat more. Mannerling recalls his son telling him, “Cats are like me. They look at everything and think about it when everyone thinks they’re not paying attention and they only talk when they have something to say.” Even though a cat doesn’t talk back to you when you speak, just being able to learn how to interact with it can help you practice your communication skills. You also learn how your actions can impact someone else and understand how to form a bond and connection. Cats make amazing friends because of this!

By Catherine Huang

4 things to sustain friendships and make them stronger

Friendships are wonderful things to be a part of. However as I was struggling with not yet diagnosed social anxiety and depression, I was overwhelmed by the size of my university and was disillusioned about the meaning of friendship by the fluidity of the relationships I experienced during that time. Because of this upsetting experience, I did a lot of research on friendships and learned how to sustain them which I will share with you.

5 mental health benefits of laughter

We all know that laughter is a response to humor. It happens every time people find something that is hysterical to them, which seems to be its only purpose. Nevertheless, laughter has a wide range of purposes and benefits, which aren’t only about it being a source of delight. Laughter also has great medicinal benefits.

Laughter therapies are becoming more common nowadays. This is because of all the physical benefits they provide, such as strengthening our immune system, lowering blood pressure, and even burning body fat! But that’s not it. Laughing also provides us with many psychological benefits that help to improve our mental health.

5 things that are keeping youfrom moving forwards

When you feel trapped and you want nothing more than change, the sound of yet another door being slammed in your face can be deafening. The disillusionment and frustration that follow keep your vision locked on all the factors outside of yourself that are impeding your progress. Yet what may be pushing you further and further away from what you desire could be the tangle of ruminative thoughts and unrealistic expectations that you continually set for yourself.

If you are guilty of indulging in some of these negative and often mistaken thoughts, understanding how they are inhibiting you could help you challenge them.

4 ways to read someone’s body language to tell if they are attracted to you

So, you’ve got your eye on that cutie. Your heart beats fast when you see them, they’re constantly on your mind, and you want to get to know every little detail about them. You think to yourself, Crap! Not again! Another emotional rollercoaster! Why can’t I just be a robot? It’s easy to catch feelings when it’s a sudden jolt. So, you know you’re definitely hooked. But, the next question is, Are they into me?a