Anxiety-Busters That Don't Require an Rx

The Stress-Reducer That Purrs

If you have a cat or a dog, you already know that stroking their fur makes you feel better after a bad day. In separate studies, pets have also helped to lower the blood pressure of high-strung stockbrokers, relax research subjects who were asked to perform a stressful arithmetic task and lower the anxiety levels of hospital patients.

Recommended dosage: Don't have a pet—and don't have room in your life to adopt one? Temporarily fostering a cat or a dog can have similar benefits.