My home has a variety of animals. We have 2 cats, a puppy, a rabbit, and 15 chickens. Out of them all, the chickens are, by far, the least cuddly (especially the rooster…he’s kind of a jerk). I think most of the people reading this probably have at least 1 pet considering that close to 70%**** of American households do. If you do, you may intuitively know what research suggests, which is that our pets are good for our mental health. As I’m writing this, my grumpy old cat is smacking at the puppy while he tries to get a toy, and yes, it’s definitely boosting my mood.

Through survey** data, we find that people say their pets:

Reduce stress and anxiety (69%)
Give unconditional love (69%)
Are great companions (69%)
Have a calming effect (66%)
Provide friendship (63%)

Other studies*** suggest that pets can lower depression symptoms, increase confidence, and give their owners comfort and purpose. Some of the ways that they help include*:

Making people feel loved by boosting dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin levels.
They reduce feelings of loneliness through companionship.
They reduce blood pressure to such an extent that the American Heart Association suggests pets (especially dogs) for reducing cardiovascular disease.
They lower stress and anxiety, and their presence can actually lower levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) within the body.
They encourage fresh air and exercise because taking your pet for a walk gives you health benefits too.
They can reduce the symptoms of PTSD, especially service dogs (though any animal*** that you form a connection to can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression)
Some pets can take care of us by helping with tasks
Pet owners tend to self-rate themselves as more happy and satisfied.

Some pets seem to know*** when their owner is stressed or upset. There are many stories of pets offering comfort through a nudge or a paw when people are sad or hurt. Children will sometimes share their feelings with a pet before coming to an adult. Therapy dogs can be found on any given day at Children’s Hospital giving a boost and a smile to kids who are ill.

Pets aren’t for everyone, though. Some people are limited in pets that they could own due to allergies. Others worry** about pet health or death, what to do with pets while traveling, or the cost of ownership through feeding and veterinary care. Others report not wanting to get a new pet while mourning the loss of another. Even if ownership isn’t an option for you, there are animal volunteering opportunities that can give some of the benefits of bonding with animals without the responsibility of ownership.

I’m not necessarily suggesting that everyone go buy a puppy. Though, having said that, there are a lot of pets at shelters or fostering situations right now that would love a permanent home. While pets aren’t for everyone, I’ve had a lot of clients tell me how much their pets mean to them and how sometimes cuddling up with their favorite animal makes things feel a little better. It is a lot of work, no doubt. Taking a dog for a walk, cleaning up accidents, or hearing the cat puke somewhere in the house in the middle of the night can be pretty inconvenient. However, this can also provide a sense of structure for some that they might find beneficial. When I get home from work, my kids may grunt a greeting at me, but my puppy is waiting at the door excited to see me, and that does feel pretty nice.

*https://psychcentral.com/health/pets-and-mental-health

**https://www.psychiatry.org/News-room/News-Releases/Positive-Mental-Health-Impact-of-Pets

***https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mind-body-connection/202010/the-psychological-and-physical-benefits-having-pet

****https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-ownership-statistics/

This topic has been on my mind for a little while. I have no interest in making this blog a sounding board about my political views, so even though I will be talking about political differences being a big part of what divides us, I will avoid a biased lens that only adds to the problem. Besides, we’re all surrounded by non-stop political news and information. If that’s what people are looking for, there’s no shortage of places to find it.

Let’s start off with a little good news. Plenty of people are saying that we’re more divided** as a nation than we’ve ever been. I’ve been guilty of thinking that myself. However, we are also a nation that has gone through a Civil War. In more recent history, the 1960s were also a time of major political unrest, and at times, political violence. Our country has been divided before, and long after this particular period of polarization calms down, we will probably find out way back here again. When we think it’s worse than ever, what we’re really saying is that things are more divided now than we can remember, and that has to be put into the context of how many years we’ve actually been aware of political news. For instance, I was born the year Ronald Reagan took office, but I don’t remember anything about his 8 years as president, and I certainly wasn’t aware of “Reaganomics.” I remember Dana Carvey’s impressions of George H. W. Bush after he was elected, but I was aware of very little that Bush was doing. I do remember more of the Clinton years (especially the scandals), but I can’t say that I was particularly knowledgeable about what was actually going on until his last couple of years in office. The George W. Bush years were probably the first that I was consistently paying attention to politics. If I say something like, “This is the worst that things have ever been,” I’m really just basing that statement on less than 30 years of awareness.

Nonetheless, these are very difficult times. If you think that things are more divided now than you’ve ever seen it, you’re probably right. People** who call themselves Democrat or Republican are much more likely to view members of the other party negatively now than they did 40 years ago. Time Magazine has an article* looking at three different reasons why we’ve become so divided. They start by exploring our country’s troubling history with race, and then mention the evolution of capitalism becoming a system that feeds more and more wealth into the top few. As I was looking at these reasons, it occurs to me that these two areas themselves can be divisive issues. The third reason they cited is the major changes in media that inundate us all with constant, biased, and sometimes incorrect new stories that make us all less informed.

In terms of political issues, sparing over those is expected and not a big deal on its own. I think we could all agree that we’re not going to all agree. However, in the last 30 years** political polarization has increased in the sense that people are more likely to identify with a certain party instead of with individual issues. Sure, it can make sense that we identify with a group that we tend to agree with more, but the problem is when we start seeing the other side as…well…other. Increasing, along with polarization, have been negative views of people who label themselves members of the other party. Add into this a tendency we all have toward confirmation bias (an easier time believing things that fit with our current beliefs) and a constant bombardment from news sources and social media that treat the “other side” with contempt and dehumanizing name-calling, and we all start to feel a lot of disdain for the “others.”

With a little advice about what to do about this, researcher, Adam Grant, suggests*** that just trying to take another’s perspective is minimally helpful. However, when we try to imagine the circumstances that might have caused someone to develop a different point of view can actually humanize people who have opposing views or party affiliation. His example involves the issue of gun control. He suggests that someone who is for strict gun control laws try to imagine how their views might be different if they had grown up in a family that was highly involved in hunting. He suggests that someone who is against strict gun control laws try to imagine how their views might be different if they had grown up in Columbine.

At the end of the day, we all have the views we carry because of our particular backgrounds, family histories, and experiences. So do the people who disagree with whatever we happen to believe. Maybe if we can focus a little more on the issues that are important to us, and less on party affiliation, we can remember what is really important to us. It would also be helpful to remember that even when we disagree, people can have opposing views for their own reasons and still be good people. We’re all in this country together with a shared interest in working toward improvement. How we get there isn’t something we’re always going to agree on, and maybe that’s fine.

*https://time.com/5929978/the-u-s-capitol-riot-was-years-in-the-making-heres-why-america-is-so-divided/

**https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psych-unseen/201809/why-has-america-become-so-divided

***https://behavioralscientist.org/your-ideas-are-not-your-identity-adam-grant-on-how-to-get-better-at-changing-your-mind/