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The Hardships of Raising a Dog as a Depressive That Few Talk About
If one is considering adopting a dog to help with their depression, it is imperative to make an informed decision
In 2014, around 10 months after I was diagnosed with clinical depression, my parents inquired whether I would like a dog, since, because of a combination of introversion and social anxiety, I was an isolated and all but friendless child, and dogs made for devoted, therapeutic companions.
I did not need convincing. I had forever wanted — no, craved — a dog. So, we adopted a golden retriever, a calm, sweet angel I considered a little brother.
He accompanied me through the wretched, harrowing half-decade from 2014–20, through the near-constant suicidal urges, the countless panic attacks, the nerve-shredding anxiety, the sleepless nights, the loss of appetite, the headaches. He saw — and loved — me at my worst. He was the rock, the foundation, the north star, the single biggest reason I clung to life.
