I have many humans in my life whom I love dearly, and I know they love me. The problem is, I can’t help feeling that it’s conditional love. It probably isn’t, it’s just how I feel. Do my humans ‘get me?’ Will they eventually cotton-on to my unlovability? Self-doubt makes me feel vulnerable and lonely at times.
My dogs, on the other hand, are an open book. Completely sincere in their unequivocal adoration of me, regardless of absolutely everything. It’s so easy and joyful. No second-guessing, disconnection, or feelings of loneliness. My wellbeing is elevated in so many ways.
I feel complete when I have a dog. My dog makes me know my own ‘rightness’ in the world.
What is Loneliness?
Loneliness is not the same as ‘being alone’. Introverts love their own company and space. This doesn’t mean they’re lonely. It is well established that social isolation and loneliness affect people’s lives detrimentally.
Loneliness is described as being an unpleasant emotional response to perceived isolation. As many of us have experienced, feelings of isolation can occur even when we’re surrounded by people we know.
We can also experience ‘situational’ loneliness. This is a reaction to a specific event in our lives, such as a move to a new neighborhood, job or school. It may be the loss of a job, relationship, or person we care about. It takes time to adjust to new situations, and while we do this, we may have feelings of loneliness.
Is it Normal To Feel Lonely?
Many people go through short periods of feeling lonely, or isolated. These episodes can provide us with the motivation to seek out other people for connection or intimacy. It can also be a catalyst for change in our lives. Perhaps a particular relationship, or job, is not fulfilling us and we need to ‘clear the decks’ for someone or something more suitable!
Chronic loneliness, on the other hand, can be a debilitating condition over a longer period of time. Symptoms can differ from person to person, but commonly include:
- Feelings of alienation
- Negative feelings of self-worth
- Stress
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Fear
- Lack of appetite
- Isolation of self
- Escalation to depression
Can Chronic Loneliness Cause Health Issues?
Chronic loneliness can increase your cortisol levels. Cortisol is an important substance in your body. The levels increase in response to stress. Cortisol helps to maintain a healthy blood pressure, guards against inflammation, controls your sleep cycles, and boosts energy.
If your cortisol levels remain too high, and don’t ‘turn-off’ the stress state, this can lead to health issues, such as heart disease, anxiety, headaches and insomnia.
Many studies have linked stress, depression, poor sleep, diabetes, and high cholesterol to chronic loneliness.
Can a Dog Help With Loneliness?
There are many high quality, peer-reviewed studies which support the benefits of human-dog interaction. Add all this to the wealth of anecdotal evidence supporting the advantages of owning a dog, and there can be no question that dogs help with loneliness.
Harvard Medical School has published a book entitled, ‘Get Healthy, Get a Dog’. There is a growing body of evidence that owning a dog reduces blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease. Dogs make us more resilient, and less likely to suffer loneliness and anxiety. When we have a dog, we live ‘in the moment’ with them. We are more mindful, and appreciate life more. This hugely reduces our stress levels, simply because we aren’t over-thinking things from the past, or worrying about future events.
I have had many instances of spending days wrestling with a problem in my mind, only to have the whole thing solved after a hike up a hill with my dog. The activity brings such peace, calm and clarity for me.
In a meta-analysis of 65, peer-reviewed, scientific studies, ownership or contact with dogs was found to have the following effects:
- Lower heart rate
- Lower blood pressure
- Smaller increases of both, and faster recovery
- Reduction in loneliness
- Reduction of depression and promotion of a positive mood
- Improved social functioning
- Reduction in anxiety
- Reduction of stress
- Reduction of fear
- Increased activity
- Increased socialisation
- Lower cortisol
- Lower stress-related parameters such as epinephrine and norepinephrine
- Higher self efficacy
How Does It Work?
Having a dog keeps you in a routine, and gives you a sense of purpose. You have to do things for your dog. Regular feeding, exercising and toileting has to be taken care of. The companionship of a dog is known to benefit children as well as adults. Stroking and petting a dog fulfills the human need to touch another warm, living being. They help you with social interactions, keeping fit, and they entertain you with their love, and antics.
Lowering of cortisol levels results in less stress, as your body is not placed in a state of high alert and alarm. On top of this, activation of the oxytocin system and a lowering of epinephrine is thought to be largely responsible for many biological and emotional advantages.
Oxytocin is known as the ‘love hormone’, and it plays a role in human behaviors such as recognition, trust, love and bonding. Oxytocin has been found, in animal studies, to have an anti-inflammatory effect. It stimulates social interaction, lowers stress levels, and has a beneficial effect on digestive function.
Reduction in epinephrine and norepinephrine has a profoundly positive effect on cardiovascular health. This means that people with dogs experience less cardiovascular reactivity during times of stress. Their heart rate and blood pressure are slow to rise, and they stabilize more quickly, reducing the effects of stress on the body.
Professional Support Dogs
There are three types.
Therapy Dogs
People in long-term care have visits with therapy dogs. The owner of the dog goes from place to place, letting the patient or client pet and play with the dog. This could take place in a hospital, a care home, special school or a private residence.
Service Dogs
These are highly trained dogs, specializing in being with people who have psychological issues. These could include PTSD, autism, epilepsy and physical issues such as mobility and hearing loss. Service dogs are allowed access to all public spaces.
Guide dogs are an assistance dog, specifically for people with vision loss.
Emotional Support Dogs
These are dogs who provide their owners with companionship and love. They are not highly trained to complete any tasks, other than to just be themselves.
Final Thoughts
There are many good reasons that dogs are known as ‘man’s best friend’. A large body of evidence that continues to grow, through robust research, shows beyond doubt that we can only benefit positively from interacting with a dog. I can’t imagine my life without a dog in it.
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