Your New Best Friend

Having an animal in the home might not be for everyone with ADHD but there are health benefits from caring for a pet. Dopamine levels for the ADHD brain are lower, which causes a craving for stimulation. Spending 20-30 minutes with a pet can increase serotonin and dopamine chemical levels in the brain. These happy chemicals can reduce anxiety and put an individual into a relaxed state. Acquiring a pet can help keep a routine, which is beneficial for individuals with ADHD. When a person has a routine there is less mental power that needs to be exerted. Researchers have found that having a connection to a pet has a positive impact on human function (Herzog &Bosley, 1992; Kahn, 1997). In recent studies, researchers have found that support dogs can have significant effects on easing ADHD symptoms (Juríčková et al., 2021). Psychiatric-service dogs can be highly beneficial for ADHD symptoms and anxiety, which often go hand-in-hand.