I was five years old when my family brought home our new puppy — a golden retriever who was exceptionally beautiful and sweet. (Not that I’m biased or anything.) Bonnie lived a long and happy life, but I cried for weeks when she died the summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college. I was heartbroken because couldn’t really remember what life was like before her; but more importantly, she had been there for me during the hardest times of my life and she was living proof that a dog can help with mental health. August 26 is National Dog Day, so I can’t think of a better time to talk about the impact dogs have on our lives — especially those of us who have mental health issues such as depression, anxiety disorder, and PTSD.
Has having a dog ,or other pet, helped with your mental health? Or did you find the responsibility of having a pet too stressful?