Experts report that 23% of Americans experience a mental illness, with 56% of these people going untreated. Emotional support animals (ESA) can offer vital companionship and comfort to individuals facing mental health issues, providing support to people from all walks of life.
Unlike service animals, which are highly-trained to perform specific tasks for psychiatric patients, emotional support animals are any pet that gives its owner psychological relief from the symptoms of their mental illness—no special training is needed! This means that any animal that brings you relief from your symptoms and supports managing your mental health is considered an emotional support animal.
Do you think your mental health may benefit from having an ESA? Here are 9 surprising benefits of emotional support animals and how to get your emotional support animal registration letter.
1. Enhanced Emotional Resilience
Emotional support animals (ESAs) can make a night and day difference in the life of someone struggling with emotional setbacks or mental illness. Studies show that pets can help ease depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, the stress of living with chronic illness, or any other emotional setback just by being around. By having an emotional support animal to help ground you and assist with managing your mental health symptoms, you’re building emotional resilience day by day.
The benefits of having an ESA can be gained through physical touch or from the companionship they offer their owners. A study conducted on war veterans still struggling with PTSD symptoms revealed that emotional support animals, in this case, dogs, offer immense mental health benefits. Here, researchers found dogs to be naturally skilled at reading and responding to people’s emotions, making them excellent emotional support animals.
A dog leaning against your leg or resting its head in your lap can lower cortisol levels, decrease your heart rate, and reduce the body’s flight or fight response. These physical changes that happen in the body are strong signs that your physical health and mental well-being are impacted positively by the presence of an emotional support animal.
2. Stress Reduction in High-Pressure Situations
Certain mental health conditions are triggered in certain high-pressure situations, like public speaking or traveling, to name some. To help cope with these negative emotions and physical symptoms, emotional support animals can be useful in helping you ground and center yourself in the moment.
Studies have found that animals can reduce their owner’s cortisol levels and provide emotional support through physical touch. Petting or holding an animal for emotional support will cause your cortisol levels to fall and oxytocin to be released in the brain. This finding was further supported by 84% of PTSD patients reporting a decrease in their symptoms, especially in high-pressure situations.
Whether public speaking, travel, parties, or another anxiety-provoking scenario, an ESA can help you better navigate high-stress situations. Remember, simply petting or holding an emotional support animal can reduce the body’s physical and psychological stress responses, making your mental health condition easier to manage.
3. Improving Social Connections
Social settings can be intimidating for many people, even if they don’t have a mental illness. For those struggling with social anxiety or feelings of loneliness and isolation, an emotional support pet can help manage these feelings.
A pet is a physical companion who offers you unconditional love and support. This can be especially useful for elderly people, who are often found to report higher feelings of loneliness. The mere presence of an animal can lower stress levels and make you feel more connected to the world.
Emotional support animals do more than just offer you companionship. Dogs, especially, require getting you out of the house and interacting with others, which makes them excellent social facilitators, especially for people with social anxiety. The social aspect of having an ESA is one of the surprising benefits of having an emotional support animal by your side.
Just taking your dog out to the park puts you in a place where you can meet other dog owners and connect over a shared interest—your pets! Plus, an emotional support animal is always free of judgment, making you feel more confident and willing to connect with others, knowing that your emotional support animal will still be there to support you at the end of the day!
4. Promoting a Healthy Routine
Finding the motivation to establish a healthy routine is especially difficult for people struggling with depression or other mental health conditions. But a surprising emotional support animal benefit is that you’re more likely to develop healthy routines.
A study conducted on a group of teenagers with type 1 diabetes revealed that they were more likely to care for themselves once they were given a pet fish to care for. Throughout the study, the teens not only stayed on top of caring for their emotional support animals, but they also started developing habits to care for themselves.
The bottom line? By having another living thing rely on you, you’re more likely to find the motivation and desire to care for your pet and your overall well-being, developing a greater sense of responsibility and structure.
5. Reducing Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
Anyone with anxiety is likely familiar with the physical symptoms that accompany this common mental illness—the elevated heart rate, trembling, sweating, or rapid breathing, among others. However, studies suggest that having an ESA around can help alleviate the severity of anxiety’s physical symptoms.
This is one of the biggest emotional support animal therapy benefits, which was shown in a study testing surprising benefit was shown in a study conducted a “stress test” on people with and without their animals present. The results of the study showed that people’s heart rates were lower and their bodies showed fewer signs of stress when their animal was present. Like with any stressful situation, the presence of an ESA can be immensely helpful in lowering the physical symptoms of mental illness.
6. Better Sleep Quality
Sleep disorders or poor sleep quality can be a common symptom of many different serious mental health problems and conditions. However, emotional support animals can make a difference in helping improve your sleep quality. A study found that people that slept with their pets on the bed were less likely to use sleeping medication compared to people who didn’t sleep next to their pets.
There’s nothing quite like the calming effect of your four-legged friend snuggling up to you. Another report found that an emotional support animal releases the flow of oxytocin in the brain, making it easier to get deeper and more restful sleep. This calming effect that emotional support animals have on their owners is one of the biggest benefits of seeking an ESA letter. What’s more? Having an ESA sleep next to or near you can have a calming effect that’s similar to a weighted blanket.
7. Encouraging Physical Activity
If you’ve ever lived with animals before, odds are you know that they help you get some physical activity throughout the day. Even though exercise and physical activities have been linked to numerous mental health benefits, sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation to get moving, especially if you’re struggling with depression or another mental illness. If you have a dog, you’re more likely to be active throughout the day by taking care of your ESA!
Studies have also linked exercise and physical activity to a decrease in anxiety and depression. Movement boosts endorphins in the brain, increasing your overall sense of well-being. With animals that need walks or playtime, these small bursts of physical activity can help promote feelings of calm, stability, and ease throughout your day. This surprising mental health benefit works to boost your overall mental wellness while also caring for your physical health.
8. Boosting Confidence and Self-Esteem
Animals are wonderful companions that will love you unconditionally and without judgment. Surprisingly, one of the mental health benefits of having an emotional support animal is that you may feel more confident in yourself and your ability. If you struggle with confidence or self-esteem, having an ESA can help overcome these mental health obstacles, since they offer non-judgemental support.
Studies have shown that emotional support animals can help their owners reduce negative feelings while developing a positive outlook instead. An especially notable example of ESAs serving as emotional anchors is when emotional support animals and service dogs offer support to survivors of sex trafficking and domestic abuse.
Often, these survivors experience PTSD and intense hypervigilance, one of its major symptoms. Through the presence of an ESA, the individual can feel more emotionally grounded and less vulnerable when navigating the world.
9. Alleviating Loneliness
Loneliness has reached an all-time high in the U.S. Though this finding is staggering, especially when considering the negative mental health implications this carries, it’s also been found that emotional support animals play an important role in addressing these feelings. 69% of people who own a pet report feeling less lonely and anxious.
Similarly, 69% of owners also say that their pet provides them with unconditional love and support. It’s believed that the non-judgemental, consistent companionship provided by ESAs provide a deep level of comfort and mental well-being for their owners.
Between walks, feedings, playtime, and even relaxing in your apartment, your emotional support animal requires your time and attention. But what it gives back is constant companionship and love, no matter what you say or do. For people who struggle with feeling out of place, misunderstood, or isolated, emotional support animals can offer the reliable companionship needed to feel secure and supported.
Conclusion
Emotional support animals are a lifeline for people struggling with various mental health issues. From helping boost an individual’s confidence to reducing feelings of anxiety, loneliness, or depression, an ESA provides its owner with a range of surprising mental health benefits. And the benefits of an ESA don’t end at mental wellness—they can motivate their owners to get outside, socialize with others, and engage in physical activity on a regular basis thereby improving their overall health and wellness.
At the end of the day, emotional support animals are a powerful force for good in a person’s life. If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or another challenge, an emotional support animal may be just the support needed to make a difference.
FAQ Section
What makes an ESA different from a regular pet?
Emotional support animals (ESAs) provide their owners with managing mental health challenges. A regular pet or companion animal can be an ESA as long as it specifically helps a person manage an emotional or psychological condition. Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords must let a tenant have an ESA if they have a legally valid letter from a licensed mental health professional.
It’s important to know that emotional support animals are different from service animals, which are specially trained to perform specific tasks for people struggling with mental and physical health challenges.
Do ESAs help with anxiety and depression?
Research suggests that emotional support animals can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Though it differs from person to person, emotional support animals offer incredible emotional and psychological support for those who need it.
How do ESAs encourage a healthy lifestyle?
If you have a dog as your emotional support animal, then you’re likely to notice that you’re more active day-to-day and that your physical health is improving. ESAs also help people establish a regular habit and routine, which can lower anxiety and increase feelings of belonging, responsibility, and general mental well-being.
Finally, people love to talk about their pets! Your ESA can have social interaction and even help address social isolation or anxiety by giving you something to discuss and connect with others.
Can anyone get an ESA?
No. To get an emotional support animal, you must be determined by a licensed mental health professional to have a psychological or emotional mental health condition. Qualifying mental health conditions may include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, insomnia, paranoia, and others.
What are the legal requirements for having an ESA?
A qualified licensed mental health professional must provide a letter stating that you meet the definition of a mental health disability and are recommended by health professionals to have an emotional support animal. Additionally, this letter must also include your health professional’s official letterhead, their business name and contact info, their signature, and their license information.
This article was written for WHN by Nadya Khoja from Pettable Nadya is an Experienced Head Of Marketing with a demonstrated history of working in the internet industry. Skilled in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Microsoft Word, Sales, Adobe Creative Suite, and Event Management. Strong marketing professional with a Master of Digital Media focused in Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia from Ryerson University.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN does not agree or disagree with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement.
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