People who adore animals will be quick to tell you how much joy and unconditional love they receive on a daily basis from their furry friends. This can warm even the toughest person’s heart.
It’s for these reasons that mental health practitioners now are acknowledging those emotions, and the consequential endorphins they release, to help people who suffer from mental health issues and emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression, and PTDS by prescribing ESA.
The emotional support dogs do not require any specific training and if you already have a dog, then it is automatically eligible to be an ESA.
The mental health support dog accompanies the owner wherever he/she goes. It can live with you (even in no pets allowed housing), travel with you in the cabin of commercial airplanes, and visit the restaurants and parks. However, you need to have a valid ESA letter written by a licensed mental health professional.
Benefits of Mental Health Support Dogs
Emotional support dogs have a profound effect on the psychological state of their owners and offer reassurance and compassion if you are in trouble. With a dog by your side, you will never feel alone.
Offers Companionship
Coping up with mental health illness is not easy, you are a target to people’s comments and they look down upon you. In this scenario, most of the individuals prefer not to socialize or go out of their homes. They feel secluded, this is when emotional support dogs come to your rescue. These dogs offer companionship to individuals to help them cope up with their disorders and treatments. Having an official ESA letter ensures that your dog can accompany you anywhere you go. This prevents individuals with mental health disorders from feeling isolated and lonely.
Reduces Levels of Stress
Spending time with an Emotional Support Dog is known to lower stress levels. The companionship of a pet reduces anxiety and feeling of alienation in public places. This is great for individuals who are afraid to make social contact. Stress and anxiety increase serotonin levels and spending time with your furry companion increase dopamine and other neurochemicals. This has a calming effect on people resulting in lowering the level of stress.
People with ESA by their side are known to be less anxious as rhythmic petting can be comforting for both you and your pet. Connecting with your dog also releases a hormone called oxytocin that offers anti-stress benefits. This not only reduces stress but also decreases the risk of high blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Keep you Distracted
Emotional support dog keeps you mind off issues that might be plaguing you. This immensely reduces anxiety and helps individuals remain calm at all times. Enjoying the moments with your pet will keep you from worrying about the past or the future and will encourage you to stay happy and cheerful.
Calm Anxiety on Planes
People with mental health issues find it hard to travel and feel anxious when on the plane. However, sometimes traveling is necessary such as to spend time with family, attend a funeral, or for medical treatment. An ESA can help make this not just better but possible. Someone who experiences a lot of anxiety about flying can stay focused on their ESA instead of becoming overwhelmed by their fear of airplanes.
Help Regulate Everyday Feelings
When you are diagnosed with a mental health condition, managing day to day feelings is difficult. ES dogs are there to help an individual keep their emotions regulated at all times of the day. Presence of emotional support dog and petting it helps individuals to reduce daily anxiety, keep physiological arousal regulated, and serves to improve mood. This is because the animal provides attention on-demand, and unconditional connection helping stabilize human emotions.
Having a mental health support dog can affect the individuals in a profound way by reducing stress and lessening the feelings of isolation. Knowing you have a friend there when needed can be a big relief, and is enough in itself to help cope with the various struggles.
These are just a few of the many benefits of having an Emotional Support Dog to help ease depression, PTDS and anxiety symptoms.
If you are ready for a mental health support dog, one of the fastest and easiest ways to get an ESA letter is through DOGtor.