Pets helping bipolar disorder

Travelinglady · Oct 06, 2019 at 06:50 AM

Here's a great article on this topic from Psych Central:
How Your Pet Can Help Your Bipolar Disorder | Being Beautifully Bipolar

Skeezyks · Oct 06, 2019 at 03:33 PM

Thanks for recommending this article. The only caution I would suggest (based on personal experience) is that pets can & do become ill & / or age. And having to care for an aging & / or ill pet can be both emotionally draining as well as expensive. I know this because we have an older dog who has chronic kidney disease (which is not curable in dogs.) He's doing well at the moment. But we had a difficult (do say nothing of expensive) summer nursing him along including one nighttime visit to the emergency services department of our veterinary medical center when we finally arrived back home at about 2 a.m. the following morning. So while I certainly agree pets (particularly dogs & cats) can be absolutely wonderful companions, I think it's important to consider what kind of responsibility can come along with them.

Nammu · Oct 06, 2019 at 04:23 PM

Expenses is why I only have one cat. He's somewhere between 12-15 so he's getting up there in age. But he's wonderful in his catty way.

bpcyclist · Oct 08, 2019 at 07:36 AM

I really, really want to get a dog, but I worry that it will be too much responsibility for me all by myself. What if I get really depressed again and don't want to move? The dog still has to go run and go to the bathroom. So, I worry a bit about all that.

bpktvikesfan · Oct 15, 2019 at 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

I really, really want to get a dog, but I worry that it will be too much responsibility for me all by myself. What if I get really depressed again and don't want to move? The dog still has to go run and go to the bathroom. So, I worry a bit about all that.

In my experience, my dogs are the only reason I did get out of bed, so if you are worried about having a pet in your depressed times, i think they are actually helpful because your obligated to let them out and feed them.

Skeezyks · Oct 15, 2019 at 02:36 PM

Here are links to 2 articles, from PC's archives, on the subject of the benefits of pet ownership for mental health:

Could A Dog Benefit YOUR Mental Health?

Science Says: Having a Pet Can Help Support Your Mental Health

Blknblu · Nov 06, 2019 at 10:37 PM

I have done my best to care and enjoy all animals, it is a fact illness
Does happen, it is hard to see them suffer. Something to consider.

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Travelinglady Legendary Wise Elder Member Since Sep 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 47,973 (SuperPoster!) 13 22.9k hugs given	Oct 06, 2019 at 06:50 AM #1 Here's a great article on this topic from Psych Central: How Your Pet Can Help Your Bipolar Disorder \| Being Beautifully Bipolar
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Nammu Crone Member Since May 2010 Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system. Posts: 71,276 (SuperPoster!) 13 53.6k hugs given	Oct 06, 2019 at 04:23 PM #3 Expenses is why I only have one cat. He's somewhere between 12-15 so he's getting up there in age. But he's wonderful in his catty way. __________________ *Nammu* …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann
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bpcyclist Legendary Member Since Sep 2019 Location: Portland Posts: 12,681 (SuperPoster!) 4 40.2k hugs given	Oct 08, 2019 at 07:36 AM #4 I really, really want to get a dog, but I worry that it will be too much responsibility for me all by myself. What if I get really depressed again and don't want to move? The dog still has to go run and go to the bathroom. So, I worry a bit about all that. __________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield
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Blknblu Member Member Since Jun 2019 Location: South Posts: 147 4 135 hugs given	Nov 06, 2019 at 10:37 PM #7 I have done my best to care and enjoy all animals, it is a fact illness Does happen, it is hard to see them suffer. Something to consider.
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