They don’t have to be official to be real.
Thinking of getting a pet, but wondering if the cons outweigh the pros? Well, if you’re AuDHD, you can add a whole load of pros to the list, all connected to them being incredible emotional support buddies. I learnt about this after my dog unexpectedly passed away last year, wherein I experienced, along with my grief, a kind of untethering from the world. I spoke to my therapist about it and she explained that pets keep us grounded and can act as informal emotional support animals through:
Their complete dependency on us, which means we must be cognitively as well as physically present to care for them
Their need for routine, which injects a sense of certainty and predictability into our lives
Their desire to please us (dogs, anyway!), which makes us feel valued and loved
Their clear and consistent behavioural signals, which makes caring for them straightforward and psychologically safe
Their ability to stay calm in what for us might be an anxious situation, which helps minimise our anxiety
Being able to stroke or cuddle them, which releases oxytocin (the ‘love’ hormone) in both parties, strengthening the emotional bond and soothing us when we are anxious, depressed or having a panic attack
Social awkwardness not existing! Their pure acceptance of us, which give us a sense of belonging that might be sorely missing from other humans
There’s a lot of other pros, but this starter for seven should give you a bit of insight into the power of a pet on your wellbeing.
University of Brighton fine Art (Painting) submission 
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