When I am upset or stressed, my dog Ranger knows. He quickly becomes a weighted blanket by laying right on top of my body. Muzzle to muzzle, belly to belly.
He also doubles as a heating pad when I need to loosen a tight muscle because he creates so much body heat.
When his upper lip gets stuck on a tooth, I laugh.
When he chases a squirrel up a tree, I’m proud.
And, when Ranger glues himself to me in a thunderstorm, I feel reassured by his presence, too.
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When looking back at my burnout recovery experience, I’m not sure how I would have recovered without my dogs. They provided me with the emotional support that I didn’t feel vulnerable enough to receive from the humans around me.
- They got me up in the morning to walk and exercise. (Even though their real motivation might have been the breakfast that followed our walk.)
- My dogs snuggled me during the night, which kept me relaxed enough to sleep. (I knew in the back of my mind that the snuggling gave them the access they wanted to my bed.)
- They required my love and attention to survive, which gave me a sense of purpose. (I looked the other way when they seemed to greet anyone with the same level of enthusiasm they showed me.)
Regardless of my jokes that my dogs will love anyone who shows up with fresh chicken, I know my dogs and I share a special bond with each other.
Our pets offer us an unconditional love and can be there in a way for us that other humans can’t.
The Pet Effect
Burnout is a tricky thing to recover from because chronic stress is difficult to get under control. But, you may have a furry companion or two living with you that unwittingly provide you with stress relief when you need it the most.
The Pet Effect is what researchers have called the positive outcome on mental and physical health that comes from owning a pet. Pet ownership has been proven to:
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower depression and anxiety
- Provide stress relief
- Improve mood
- Relieve feelings of loneliness
All of these things are necessary to the burnout recovery process, as well.
Just sitting on the couch with your dog or cat, petting them, can have enough of an affect on you to lower your stress and anxiety so that you can think clearer and make better decisions.
If you don’t have a pet, walking a neighbor’s dog, hanging out with their cat, or donating time to your local animal shelter or rescue – these short interactions can provide enough exposure to reap some of the health benefits animals provide.
Human + Animal = Burnout Recovery
When you are burned out, your world has been turned upside down. The chronic stress you are experiencing challenges your sense of order, security, and meaning. Without a hold on these things, you begin to take on a negative view or yourself and the world around you. You find it difficult to engage in everyday life and maintain relationships.
Emotionally, without a positive outlook, your stress and anxiety increase, which affect your productivity, your mental and physical health, your energy, and your relationships. You feel judged and stigmatized. Your fears become more real and deeply rooted.
According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, the human-animal bond can help protect against and/or improve a variety of negative feelings and emotions.
How Can Our Pets Help Us Emotionally, Reduce Stress, and With Burnout Recovery?
Animals require love and attention. Guess what? So do humans.
Pets are sensitive to our emotions and make us feel more relaxed, less anxious, and less lonely. They listen when we talk without judgement, don’t offer advice, and they interact without expectation – which is hugely valuable.
The emotional bond between a human and their pet can be as intense as with another person and brings similar psychological benefits.
There are three specific ways our pets can help us beat burnout and manage our stress. They include:
- Emotional work – They have the ability to alleviate worry and comfort us. Many pet owners – myself included – feel our pets intuitively know when we need them. More than once, my dogs have played therapist and allowed me to share my fears, worries, and secrets. (I’m in trouble if my dogs ever learn to talk.)
They also provide a form of acceptance through their nonjudgmental behavior that allows their humans to feel more secure.
- Sense of purpose – Having to provide physical care and affection for our pets provides us with a sense of purpose. Pets can help foster a sense of order and continuity that makes their owner feel more certain.
- Social support – Having social support is critical to good mental health and our long-term happiness. Pets stave off feelings of loneliness, make us more approachable when we take them out walking, and they can also be a comforting and entertaining topic of conversation.
A 2016 study by Brooks, Rushton, Walk, Lovell, and Rogers, showed that pets not only provided emotional and social support, but also helped their people establish routines that benefit their mental health.
When you are burned out you feel as though you lack control over your own life and often feel stuck, unable to move forward. Your pet can help you feel a sense of control through the care they require and provide a sense of security that comes from having a routine. This security and routine make you feel as though you can rely on your pets when you need them the most.
They also can provide a distraction from a distressing situation or feelings, which in turn, lowers your streYouss levels.
Higher Quality of Life
Our pets improve our quality of life on so many levels.
Whether our interaction with them improves our cardiovascular health, mental health, or helps us age, our pets help us recalibrate our emotions and make us feel more assured. Their steady, neutral presence helps us relax and refocus our energy – even when we are overwhelmed or scared.
Is pet ownership for everyone? No. I understand there are reasons people feel anxious around animals or don’t see them as a source of companionship. They may even have physical health issues – like allergies – that prevent them from being around animals at all.
However, if you live with a furry creature, this may give you all the more reason to pet them a little longer and hold them a little tighter. And, maybe, go ahead and plan that birthday party for your dog or cat that they totally deserve.
