Aquarium Therapy: How Fish may help Reduce Stress and Boost your Mental Health

To many normal homeowners, keeping an aquarium may be just another way of adding value to their house. But, did you know that petting a Red sea Aquarium fish can also help improve your mental health? 

Yes, that’s right! Recent studies suggest that watching fish swim can actually help reduce your stress level.

It may be difficult for many people to wrap their heads around how petting a fish could possibly boost their mental well-being. 

In this write-up, we will look at the science behind how Fish can improve your mental health. 

But, first, let us take a sneak peek at some interesting facts about mental illness.

1. One out of every five adults in America suffers from at least one type of mental illness.
2. More than 10 million Americans have an unmet requirement for mental illness treatment.
3. The number of people suffering from mental illness has not declined over the last decade.
4. Americans spent around $200 million on mental illness treatment every year.

All these data points to one thing – there is an urgent need to adopt an effective mechanism that can help reduce stress levels.

Of course, there is a broad array of accepted medical treatments to help keep our stress and anxiety level in check. However, if you’re looking for a simple and effective solution, the key to your mental stability may just be an aquarium away!

Take a look at some of the most compelling findings of Fish’s effect on our mental health.

• Out of a total of 19 studies conducted by the NCBI, the findings suggest that interacting with aquarium fishes has great potential for improving mental well-being in humans.
• A group of researchers from the University of Exeter and Plymouth University found that aquarium-watching helped reduce heart rate and blood pressure in participants.

• A study on Marine Biota and Psychological well-Being also found that fish-watching helps participants relax and also reduce stress and anxiety.

• A study conducted in the mid-80s shows that watching aquarium fishes helped patients feel more relaxed during surgery. The same study also revealed that the anxiety level in patients reduced by up to 12%. 

• One recent study shows that watching an aquarium display for about ten minutes may promote a long-term effect in stabilizing your heart rate and blood pressure.

You might be interested to know:  20 Most Popular Freshwater Fish for Your Aquarium [2020] 

How do Fish promote relaxation and induce stress-relieving effect?

The numerous compilation of studies above shows that having an aquarium in your house can be highly rewarding. However, it is also crucial to understand how the stress-relieving mechanism works. 

Even though it is not an established body yet, Aquarium Therapy comes under the umbrella of Animal-Assisted Therapy, aka AAT. As the name suggests, AAT is the process of using various certified animals for therapeutic purposes. 

The effect of promoting stress relief and overall relaxation by fishes has got more to do with our mental interpretation. 

The vast majority of participants say that the overall soothing ambiance is the rudimentary cause of their mental health benefit. For instance, many people say that the soothing sound of the water, the vibrant color, and the serene ambiance of the aquarium contribute greatly to promoting a sense of peace and calm.

Many experts support such positive mental outcomes/ benefits. Professor Alan Beck, the Centre for Human-Animal Bond director at Purdue University sheds light on the subject.

He says that the importance of viewing nature in their authentic state is embedded deep down in our human psyche. As such, watching Fish gracefully swim in the aquarium can promote a deep sense of peace and comfort. 

Aquariums for sound sleep 

Apart from just helping you relax and steady your anxiety and stress level, aquarium fish may also play a crucial role in promoting good sleep. The soothing sound of water from the aquarium has a peaceful effect that helps people fall asleep quicker.

Chris Brantner, a certified sleep coach, says that the aquarium’s trickling water sound helps release a certain brain cell called serotonin. This further increases endorphins, which is responsible for stimulating a quicker and better sleep quality. 

Bottom line 

It is quite clear that petting a fish comes with a diverse pool of potential mental well-being benefits. The changes may not take place instantly.

Nonetheless, they do offer quite a compelling number of possibilities. 

Besides, buying an aquarium sounds so much better and economical than spending thousands of dollars on a shrink.