Stressed about board exams? Stroke your pet, advise experts

It’s that time of year when most parents of students appearing for Class X and Class XII board exams make a beeline for a counsellor’s or a psychiatrist’s clinic to address their child’s anxiety and stress levels. According to experts, if there is a pet at home, it can be a great stress buster for the student, better than watching TV or playing a video game. They suggest that stroking your pet can help release happy hormones. 

Dr Anjali Chhabria, a psychiatrist, says, “Yes, pets and pet therapy do help one be stress-free. We conduct pet therapy in our clinic. Animals give unconditional love; it doesn’t matter what skin colour you have, or if you have studied or not for your exams. Petting an animal releases positive hormones in our body. Children appearing for their board exams can spend a little time with their pets to reduce stress levels.”

Those who don’t have a pet at home can visit pet parks, where people bring their pets, and spend a little time there. One can also visit a friend who has a pet and play with it. Students with extreme stress levels can receive help via animal-assisted therapy, which some experts provide in their clinics. 

Radhika Nair, a clinical psychologist at Animal Angels Foundation based in Mumbai, who conducts animal-assisted therapy wherein specially-trained therapy dogs work with children and adults with special needs, explains, “Pets are extremely soothing. Research has shown that just the action of petting an animal for 30 minutes brings down your heart rate and blood pressure and makes you more relaxed. When you are stressed or depressed, and if you have a pet at home and play with it, the body releases dopamine, a feel-good hormone that makes us feel less stressed.”