The​ ​Psychological​ ​Benefits​ ​of​ ​Owning​ ​an​ ​Aquarium

Did​ ​you​ ​know​ ​that​ ​owning​ ​an​ ​aquarium​ ​can​ ​have​ ​health​ ​and​ ​psychological​ ​benefits​ ​that​ ​go beyond​ ​standard​ ​treatments?​ ​We​ ​explore​ ​the​ ​multitude​ ​of​ ​health​ ​and​ ​psychological​ ​benefits​ ​you receive​ ​by​ ​owning​ ​an​ ​aquarium.
Health​ ​Benefits
Because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​calming​ ​effects​ ​of​ ​watching​ ​fish​ ​float​ ​effortlessly​ ​through​ ​soothing​ ​waters,​ ​a reduction​ ​in​ ​blood​ ​pressure​ ​is​ ​a​ ​frequent​ ​benefit​ ​of​ ​having​ ​an​ ​aquarium​ ​in​ ​your​ ​space.​ ​Many studies​ ​show​ ​any​ ​type​ ​of​ ​aquarium​ ​helps,​ ​but​ ​one​ ​with​ ​pleasing​ ​decor​ ​and​ ​fish​ ​reduce​ ​blood pressure​ ​more​ ​than​ ​fishless​ ​tanks.
Interestingly,​ ​aquariums​ ​have​ ​also​ ​been​ ​shown​ ​to​ ​have​ ​an​ ​effect​ ​on​ ​Alzheimer’s​ ​patients, reducing​ ​anxiety​ ​and​ ​aggressive​ ​behavior.​ ​Studies​ ​also​ ​show​ ​that​ ​those​ ​suffering​ ​from​ ​insomnia sleep​ ​better​ ​with​ ​an​ ​aquarium​ ​in​ ​their​ ​room.
Psychological​ ​Benefits
Perhaps​ ​it’s​ ​the​ ​slow​ ​movement​ ​of​ ​fish​ ​gliding​ ​around​ ​that​ ​slows​ ​us​ ​down​ ​and​ ​reminds​ ​us​ ​to​ ​be in​ ​the​ ​moment,​ ​even​ ​if​ ​it​ ​is​ ​for​ ​just​ ​a​ ​moment.​ ​Aquariums​ ​reduce​ ​stress,​ ​encourage​ ​relaxation, calm​ ​the​ ​mind​ ​and​ ​alleviate​ ​anxiety.​ ​Children​ ​with​ ​ADHD​ ​can​ ​become​ ​more​ ​calm​ ​after​ ​spending some​ ​time​ ​watching​ ​fish.
Additionally,​ ​aquariums​ ​have​ ​been​ ​shown​ ​to​ ​have​ ​similar​ ​effects​ ​to​ ​hypnosis.​ ​Patients​ ​exposed to​ ​an​ ​aquarium​ ​during​ ​treatment​ ​generally​ ​require​ ​less​ ​pain​ ​medication.
Perhaps​ ​it’s​ ​the​ ​link​ ​to​ ​a​ ​natural​ ​environment​ ​in​ ​our​ ​home​ ​or​ ​office,​ ​or​ ​bringing​ ​that​ ​underwater wonder​ ​to​ ​land,​ ​that​ ​reduces​ ​our​ ​overall​ ​stress​ ​level.​ ​Or​ ​maybe​ ​it’s​ ​our​ ​link​ ​to​ ​animals​ ​that provides​ ​the​ ​therapeutic​ ​benefit.
What​ ​do​ ​you​ ​think?​ ​Have​ ​you​ ​experienced​ ​reduced​ ​stress​ ​or​ ​other​ ​health​ ​benefits​ ​from
aquariums?