Los Angeles Therapist Yvonne Thomas, Ph.D. With An “Out Of The Box” Idea: Get A Pet (06/28/2022)

Do you find yourself suffering from depression, anxiety, or loss? Do you feel like you’re often sad or upset and that there’s seemingly nothing you can do about it? Unfortunately, it’s all too common for people to feel afraid, anxious, and powerless to improve their mood as well as their quality of life. If you’re like so many, you’re looking for better, more effective ways to cope. Some of those methods are healthy, but, alas, many aren’t. One way to improve your mental health, suggested by Dr. Yvonne Thomas, a Los Angeles Therapist with an “Out of the Box” Idea is to get a pet.

It may seem unlikely, but that’s very much what pets can be in our lives. If you don’t have a pet, think about the times when you’ve patted a dog’s back or rubbed a cat’s belly. People often feel calmness, serenity, and even peacefulness interacting like this with an animal. When you have your own pet, you can feel that at essentially any time.

Now, obviously, not everyone is going to be able to buy a pet. Some people may be unable to do so, whether it’s because of their living situation or other reasons, but if you can, it can be a very healthy way to cope, and to have comfort and support. When you have a pet, you have a way of de-escalating from being upset. The pet won’t “judge you,” it’s not aware of your concerns nor will it hold you accountable to them. Rather, the pet wants to be loved and to love you in return. That can be a powerful way to feel better even in challenging times.

Getting a pet and taking care of it can be a great method for feeling calm and more grounded, and being able to cope with stress day in and day out. That said, it’s far from the only way to improve your coping mechanisms. Working with an experienced therapist can help you specifically learn more ways to better cope. A therapist can provide additional support and assistance. As great as a pet can be, and as much as they can provide, it is not the same as what a psychologist can do for you.