Pets and executive dysfunction

For those that do not know, executive dysfunction is the term used to describe when people with mental or physical disorders/disabilities lack the mental energy to do necessary tasks. Often referred to as not having enough "spoons" to be able to do things.

People who suffer from anxiety disorders, autism, mood disorders, and even physical disorders or disabilities often can feel the struggle of not being able to get things done. This can involve going to work every day, going on errands like grocery shopping or picking up prescriptions. This also largely involves one's self care. People may struggle to be able to force themselves to do necessary task regularly enough to take proper care of themselves and their homes. This can involve brushing your teeth and hair regularly, getting out of bed, practising proper hygiene, taking medications every day on time, cleaning and tidying one's home, or otherwise being able to tend to the obligations in our daily lives that we all have.

When people experience executive dysfunction, they may not have the energy, the energy may be taken up by stress, anxiety, and/or depression, or one may simply just lack the will. What makes executive dysfunction different from laziness is the fact that when people experience executive dysfunction, they cannot force themselves to do tasks no matter how much they want to or know they need to. They freeze up and just cannot make their body do what it needs to for the task to be worked on. 

There have been many findings, both by psychological experts as well as individuals through their own experiences, that having a pet is the best drive to help people who suffer from executive dysfunction. Having a pet forces one to have a routine. If you do not get up to feed, water, and give attention to your pet, the pet's health will suffer. Often times the pet will force you to get up and follow a routine before their health suffers from neglect. 

This is not what is the driving force in most cases, however. Rather than the pet forcing you, people are driven to stick to a routine for the sake of their pet just because the pet is family to them. The pet offers them comfort and they form such a bond that people find they are able to break through their dysfunction for the better of the pet.

Executive dysfunction is a vicious cycle. The neglect of one's life, home, and body leads to guilt that makes existing depression worse. People often feel they are not worth the self care or don't have enough drive to break through because they are the only ones that suffer. The drive to take care of a pet is often found to be incredibly stronger than the drive to take care of one's self. One would think if someone struggles to take care of themselves that having a pet would be a horrible idea because they would neglect the pet as well. This is found to be vastly untrue.

Pets are much more than social companions. The social companionship drives many of those with executive dysfunction to be able to function. If they do not take care of their home and their pet, the pet will suffer. They force people to have a routine and a strict routine is the best solution to minimize the inability to go about daily or otherwise regular tasks. When we have to stick to a routine for the better of a dependant pet, it makes it easier for us to create and stick to a routine to take care of ourselves and thrive in life. Even just having a fish has been shown to have a massive difference in the experiences one has with struggling to complete daily/regular tasks and chores. Having a pet is not just for the better of people who are lonely that live alone, but for those who struggle with executive dysfunction, therefore society and supports for those with disabilities need to be more supportive of people with mental disorders or with disabilities in general having pets. These pets are not being neglected. The concept that pets of people who struggle to take care of themselves are neglected or will be neglected is a stigma.