40 Soul-Healing Rescue Pet Pics To Make You Smile (February Edition)

To find out how to deal with increased anxiety levels and whether our beloved pets could be the best antidote for our troubles, we reached out to Shari Botwin, LCSW. She is a trauma specialist, therapist, speaker, and author of Thriving After Trauma: Stories of Living and Healing.

Needless to say, it’s important to follow the news and show our support to people in need. However, "Staying connected to the media hours a day and seeing images of violence, despair and loss can change the course of somebody’s day, week, or even life," Botwin told Bored Panda.

It seems that human beings are hardwired to feel some amount of empathy and sorrow for others going through adversities. We may not be physically present, but we still feel our hearts race and our emotions going on high alert. "People report that when they are attached to social media, they experience many more feelings of depression, anxiety, and some even develop PTSD just from seeing images of trauma," the therapist explained.

Hearing devastating news can lead to feeling unrest and worry, which is completely justified. Yet, we need to detect these feelings before things get out of hand. Botwin said that if you notice your eating habits changing, or that you’re struggling to sleep or want to sleep all the time — "that’s an indication that your stress levels are going through the roof."

She told us that when we’re feeling anxious, tension levels might also increase in our relationships. "For instance, some people report that when they’re really stressed out, they end up taking it out on the people that they love the most." While emotions might be heightened, it’s important to remember that our loved ones are there to support and help us deal with traumatic events, so snapping at them could damage your connection to them.

"It is so easy to get caught up in the news of the world. Being mindful and aware of how much time you spend on social media is very important," she suggested. "Even when there are horrible things happening around us, ultimately, it is still most important that we take good care of ourselves."

Luckily, our adorable four-legged friends are always there to help us. According to research by the American Psychological Association, pet owners had greater self-esteem and were more physically fit, more extroverted, and less lonely and fearful than non-owners. "Pets benefit the lives of their owners, both psychologically and physically, by serving as an important source of social support," the researchers wrote.

Shari Botwin agrees with this line of thinking. "Through the years, I have met so many clients that have adopted cats and dogs, and then have told me it’s changed the course of their lives moving forward. When people struggle with things like depression, anxiety, and PTSD, they use their pets as a source of comfort and hope," she told Bored Panda.

"In my life earlier, when I was in recovery from extensive childhood abuse, I adopted a dog. On many occasions, I had a choice to act on feelings of self-destruction or look at my dog and say she is the thing that needs me, and this is why I will continue to take good care of myself. Some people will tell their animals: 'You are the reason I am still alive!'".

So if you are "feeling unsafe or that your world is unraveling in front of you, be sure to find ways to create safety." Botwin advised you to stay connected to the people you love the most: "Call someone. FaceTime someone. Find a place in your home that makes you feel comfortable and spend time there when you feel anxious."

"Grab a hold of your pet and think about all the love you feel between you and your animal family member," she suggested. After all, there’s nothing like looking at our four-legged friends to feel those positive emotions coming into our daily lives. And if you don’t have a furry companion by your side, looking at this list might inspire you to become a pet owner yourself.