Does having pets make daydreaming better/less?

[KwanKwan]

Does anyone here have pets? If you do, do you think you daydream as much when your pet is around (assuming it's a dog or cat) or less?

If you don't have a pet like a dog or a cat, do you want one? If you do, do you think you'd daydream less if you had a dog or a cat or something to play with and take care of?

 

I ask because ever since I was 6 years old I've asked my parents for a dog and i'm 17 yrs old and I still haven't gotten 1. Not even a cat. My mom doesn't like cats and my dad "claims" he's allergic to all pets with fur. *rolls eyes*. This has really gotten me depressed. I hate my neighborhood, no one here to hang out with, I have health problems, my older sis has moved out so i'm basically an only child now and i'm slowly starting to hate school.

I just wish I had something to talk to(even if it can't talk back), and care for. I used to love writing but now its like my brain is moving to fast for me to write everything down so I don't. Having a dog or cat(but especially a dog) would help me focus on reality and the present instead of daydreaming. I honestly would take care of it and it would give me a good excuse to go outside to walk my dog, (I avoid walking in my neighborhood cuz I don't want to run into people I hate).

 

Do any of you fell like this? Or does anyone feel the opposite way?

[Cordellia Amethyste Rose]

Angie, I'm so sorry for your loss.  All I can say is that he was lucky to have a good mom instead of being stuck in a shelter or with a bad family during his life.  I, too, love my pets more than anything.  Adopting them was the best 2 decisions I ever made.  I'm glad your dog got to have a good life with you.  

I don't think my pets care that I daydream....in fact, they probably enjoy it because they get to snuggle with me in bed when I do.  What irritates them is the fact that whenever I'm not daydreaming, I'm usually on the computer.  Oh well.  I put up with their melodramatic whining, and they put up with me being on the computer.  We love each other, so it's ok.  They've got good lives.  They get to sleep all day, eat good food, play with each other, and they have a loving mom who gives them the best.  

[Annie]

Like many here who have commented. Yes, they do help. Kind of gives you a responsibility to care for and you have to stop DD. Or, sometimes pets can be a sort of stress reliever and if you DD more to cope with life then I guess they would be very useful.

I had a dog. He passed away this year. Although I did daydream with him then, I tend to daydream more know that I really have no responsibilities. Like I feel like I have no one else to care for except myself. Still sometimes I wish I would have DD less and spent more time with best friend. I really truly miss him. ='(

[Soul Dreamer]

I have a cat and think that I would probably daydream a lot more if I didn't have him. He's very high maintenance for a cat since he always wants something and will often start breaking things until he gets it. He stops me daydreaming too long or too often because of that.

I recommend a cat (or dog) as it does force you away from the daydream world for at least a little while. For example I don didn't  brush my cat as often as I should because I was either out of the house or daydreaming, so I had to clean up a lot of fur balls. It was good incentive to make myself get up and brush him after that.

Also, animals do make you feel better. After a particularly sad daydream I'll usually go find my cat and cuddle him until I feel better :)

[greyartist]

I agree that animals do help with MD, but I also think any responsibility does. Something that you  can't put off or neglect, like feeding or caring for an animal forces you to be in the persent at least for a time. Caring for my flock of chickens does it for me. I find when MD is really bad if I go outside watch them or interact with them or my cats,  or take the dogs for a walk etc, it lessens the MD. But you have to be able to force yourself to do it, they have to eat.

[Cordellia Amethyste Rose]

Also, cats puke a LOT, so you have to be able to clean that up without getting grossed out.  It's hard at first, but you get used to it.  

[Robin]

Cordellia's right that pets are a really big responsibility, but if you're really up to all the stuff that she just said, I would really recommend getting one when you can. I love dogs and my dog really does help me with my MD. He really demands a lot of attention, but when I'm at home (I went away to college this year) he's like my best friend and I find he helps me stay present as much as any human company (more sometimes, because I have a connection with my dog that I don't have with most people, and I have social anxiety pretty bad). It's hard to take care of a pet when I'm feeling really depressed though, so it's good that I have siblings who can share the responsibility of walking him, playing with him, feeding him, etc.If you think you're up to it, I think getting a pet is a really good idea. Maybe you should talk to your parents about getting you an older dog. Do they know about your MD? You can always use that if they do. Or just say you have ADD or something. :)

[Cordellia Amethyste Rose]

I have 2 cats, and they've forced me out of my shell a little bit, but not much.  I probably don't play with them enough because of my MD, so if you do get pets, get ones that don't require a lot of attention.  You have to be prepared for the responsibility of feeding them, scooping their litter box or walking them, giving them affection, playing with them, and taking them to the vet.  I recommend getting 2, so they can play together when you're gone, busy, or not in the mood.  I had one at first, but he wanted my attention every minute, and it was too much to handle.  He mellowed instantly when I got him a sister.  They still want to be with me all the time, but fortunately, they're content to snuggle on the bed while I daydream.  Either way, be sure you're really ready and responsible enough, because it would be really unfair to them to get them and then give them up again.  Expect to take care of them for the rest of their lives.