Do you ever see someone walking their pet and stop to give them a pat on the head? Do any of your friends have a furry friend, and you can’t help but admire the bond they share? The joy these little creatures give to people around them is well-known, and it is easy to fall in love with them.
All pets offer an emotional connection to their owner. But a pet can become an emotional support animal (ESA) if a licensed therapist prescribes them for a person with a mental illness. In the simplest of terms, an ESA is an animal whose presence improves your mental well-being. Even though dogs and cats are the most common ESAs, any other kind of animal can also play the role. They bring comfort and cut the symptoms of your psychiatric disability. Being around them can increase your happy hormones. They can even become an essential part of your treatment if your specialist feels their presence is critical to your ability to function normally on daily basis.
What Service Do They Provide?
They provide significant mental health benefits. Fostering an emotional connection with a pet animal can boost your mental well-being and help you cope better in times of crisis. People with depression and anxiety disorders can gather comfort and warmth from them. When used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy, they can help control mental illness symptoms.
They also promote healthy physical lifestyles by encouraging their human friend to spend time outdoors. They also provide social support as they easily become a part of your family. When you are experiencing intense negative emotions, they can help you calm down and make you happy. You can see them as walking, smiling stress busters. Some people might even rely on them to find a purpose in life.
Most importantly, they act as a constant companion. A lot of ESAs get the title because they are necessary for helping their owner cope with certain phobias. For example, people with aerophobia have an extreme fear of flying. Being on a plane can shoot their anxiety, and they might even have a panic attack. Some airlines allow people with such medical conditions to travel with their pets after showing due proof of the illness. Having an ESA in a closed plane can help the individual relax and keep their anxiety to a minimum.
How Does it Differ From a Service Animal?
ESAs and service animals might seem similar in terms of their role. But they are different from each other based on the training they have received to perform specific tasks. A service dog’s job is directly related to the person’s disability. For example, they have to guide a visually-impaired person around obstacles or alert a hard-of-hearing person of danger. These animals are specifically trained to perform such tasks. They can go with their owner to public places.
ESAs, on the other hand, provide comfort and social support. They can cuddle on cue to ease the anxiety, but most animals would do this anyway out of instinct. They do not need any special training for such actions.
Some psychiatric service dogs help with post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of mental illness. Even they go through extensive training to work with people with certain conditions. They can sense the initiation of a psychiatric episode and act accordingly to ease the effects. Their job might even involve reminding their human to take medications on time. They might also have to prevent the individual from wandering into dangerous situations.
ESAs might have a similar role but are not trained to perform such tasks. Their companionship is the sole important factor for them to perform their role. Their mere presence helps the individual cope with mental health issues, whereas psychiatric service dogs have an active duty to perform.
Service animals are for people with mental and physical disabilities. ESAs are mainly for people with mental conditions related to anxiety. Your pet can become an ESA if your therapist sees it necessary. But your pet needs a specific training program to become a service animal.
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What Conditions Can They Help With?
ESAs can help with specific conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia, and aerophobia. Other than these, they can help in reducing anxiety and elevate mood. An ESA can help you relax and see off the storm with relative calmness if you are going through a tough situation.
They can also have a positive effect on your physical health. Studies have shown that they can help you control your blood pressure and respiration rate. Overall, they can also improve your ability to cope with pain.
The most important aspect of having an ESA is to experience companionship. Many of us live away from friends and family, either for work or studies. Feeling lonely can lead to depression. A pet shares unconditional love and compassion with you. They make you feel important and loved. This can also give you a sense of purpose. Having an adorable companion around you who has nothing but love for you makes you more empathetic and caring. You feel an emotional connection that you can cherish.
War veterans and soldiers may find it beneficial to have an ESA around them. This may make them feel less threatened and help them with PTSD. Similarly, prison inmates have a tendency to feel alone as they are away from their families. Lack of any meaningful activity may make them lose any purpose in life. Having a furry friend can eliminate loneliness and reduce the chances of developing any mental illness.
Is It Right For Me?
It can be tempting to get a pet, but you need to know it is more than sharing cute moments with them. Looking after an animal requires time and investment. They can help you with certain mental disorders, but you should first consult a therapist about the potential benefits and risks.
You also need to understand your situation: Do you actually need a furry companion, or is it just the idea of having a cute pet that excites you? Because at the end of the day, they also need to be looked after and cared for. Consider all this and consult a mental health care professional if you feel ready for it.
Start Your Mental Health Journey with a Trusted Provider on DocVita Today
Get in touch with our counselors today and let them assess your mental condition. They will be able to guide you on how to go about having an ESA if you actually need it. Our therapists will make you aware of the commitment to having an ESA. They can also suggest what animal you should get based on your financial and mental condition. Visit our website and schedule a consultation to receive help with mental health issues.