The Effects of Animals on Human Health and Well-Being Essay Sample

📌Category: Animals, Environment, Health, Life, Mental health, Pets
📌Words: 847
📌Pages: 4
📌Published: 17 March 2022

Can animals help people work on their physical and mental health to help increase serotonin levels making them happier? "People who have pets tend to have lower blood pressure, heart rate, and heart-disease risk than those who don't."(Oaklander) Most people who take the time to work on their physical health tend to be happier in life. When someone takes the time to work on their mind, it is a way to help achieve happiness. Owning a pet will make people happier because they help them focus on their physical and mental well-being. 

Taking the time to work on myself is a great way to help myself achieve happiness. Getting to know my mind is one of my favorite ways of practicing self-care; in the video “Happiness is all in your mind…” the Buddhist nun says “we can say that meditation is a mental action. It is the mental action of concentrating on a peaceful positive state of mind.” Specifically, I use meditation to help ease my mind when stressed or anxious or just looking for a way to clear my head. For example, being able to meditate has helped decrease my anxiety levels. Meditation also helps bring the mind to the present time. However, people tend to overthink about the past and future, which leads to heightened levels of anxiety and depression. In the article, “There’s More to Life Than Being Happy” Emily Esfahani Smith states, "people who thought more about the present were happier, but people who spent more time thinking about the future or about past struggles and sufferings felt more meaning in their lives, though they were less happy."  As she stated in the text "meaning is not only transcending in self but also transcending in the present moment"(Smith). I believe concentrating on the present helps people discover happiness in the little things in life. Having an animal helps with that concentration of focusing on the present time. They help me realize there is more to life than worrying about myself. Some animals, such as dogs, have short life spans, but they are a reminder to live in the present moment and not worry about the stresses in life and be happy. 

Even though some people are not big fans of animals, I happen to love them. Animals are a great way to help with mental and physical health. In the article by Mandy Oaklander, “Science Says Your Pet is Good for Your Mental Health” she states, "Scientists are now digging up evidence that animals can also help improve mental health, even for people with challenging disorders." Some of the research from this article has shown that many different types of animals can help relieve fear, stress, and anxiety in people of all ages (Oaklander). Science has shown that animal therapy is an antidote to anxiety and loneliness (Oaklander). Personally, my dogs are one of the animals that help me. Walking into my house and having them wiggling and all excited to see me brings me significant joy. The one thing I can continuously count on to cheer me up is my dogs. Knowing they come to me when they need something, even if someone else is home, makes me feel important. Lately, my dog Milo's favorite thing to do is come to my room to get me and take me to the pantry for a treat. It has never failed to make me laugh, especially since he is tall enough to get the treat bags himself. Another thing he does that makes me laugh till my stomach hurts is him getting the zoomies after being outside in the cold and running wild around the house. 

In the article "There's More to Life Than Being Happy" Emily Esfahani Smith states, "People who are happy tend to think that life is easy, they are in good physical health..." Being physically active is a great way to feel accomplished, and not only that, but it also helps with anxiety and depression. Animals are a great way to become physically active by playing with them or taking them on walks. When owning a pet, people have responsibility for something other than themselves. Taking the time out of my day to take my pet on a walk or hike is not only enjoyable for them but can also be enjoyable for me. Going on a walk is the perfect time to take a break and focus on my mind and be in the present. From the text "A Better Kind of Happiness Aristotle said, "Stop hoping for happiness tomorrow. Happiness is being engaged in the process.” (qtd in Storr)  

When a person owns a pet, their mental and physical health improves, making them happier. Having a pet helps people realize there is more to life than themselves, and loving something else can bring happiness to them. Taking the time to take care of something else gives someone a purpose in life. Personally, my dogs help me realize that life is short and to focus on the present time and work on myself for them to have a happy life. Having something to take care of makes people realize that they should try to be in their best mental and physical state. Science has shown that animals help people who struggle with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that some people taking care of crickets were less depressed than before (Oaklander). Everyone can find an animal that can help make them happier.

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