Benefits of Emotional Support Animals

Ever wondered how these emotional support animals are important for mentally disabled individuals?

Confused about ESAs role in treating the mental and emotional problems?

Read below to understand more about the benefits of emotional support animals.

1. What is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)?

An emotional support animal is a certified animal partner authorized by a mental health provider to help treat people with mental health conditions. They do not have any specialized training like the service animals to perform specific tasks. However, they serve their masters by providing support and companionship for dealing with depression, phobias, and panic attacks.

ESAs also comfort the mentally disabled persons by helping them cope with their temperaments. Moreover, by offering them self-confidence and unconditional love, they assist their owners during depression attacks, which helps boost their self-esteem.

Any animal can be your emotional support, and not just a dog. Other types of animals, including cats, snakes, and horses also serve as ESAs.

2. Benefits of Emotional Support Animals

Why would anyone want an assistance of an animal for emotional support? Are they effective and helpful or just a trend? Do they only draw attention for the wrong reasons or holds way more importance in real life?

In a world where almost 6% of the entire population suffers from some kind of mental illness, it is very important to understand the concept of ESA. And how theses furry friends help us in different ways.

In reality, there are a variety of psychological, emotional and social benefits of owning an emotional support animal. Following are the ways in which these support animals can help the disabled people:

2.1 Genuine Care and Support

One of the key advantages of having a companion for emotional support is that it provides comfort and a sense of support. Especially those who may struggle with issues such as insomnia, suicidal thoughts, post-traumatic stress disorder, or certain phobias.

Depression affects more than 15 million individuals in the US alone, which is equivalent to 6.7% of the country’s population. Animals are very intelligent and keep in sync with human emotions. They can sense anyone who is feeling down and empathize with them by giving them unconditional love. This is something everyone can enjoy whether they have a mental illness or not.

Emotional support animals especially dogs are preferred by the mentally and emotionally disabled individuals. On the other hand, ESA rabbits are also amazing creatures that make an individual feel relaxed and secure.

2.2 Good Company

Loneliness is one of the symptoms of mental illness and stress. Animals with emotional support can provide company when you feel lonely and need a loving companion.

Animals can be a very fun company. Playing with them releases your stress and calms you down in so many ways. It might seem stupid to drag a thread on floor to make your pet go nuts. But the effects it has are mind blowing.

Seeing your pet do those crazy things actually brightens your mood up, leaving you happy and relaxed.

2.3 Natural Treatment

Heavy medications are not enough to treat many illnesses because of their adverse effects like nausea and headaches. While an ESA can provide natural treatments for those specific disabilities.

Being around an animal can be of much more importance than just having a good company. Seeing your pets, being around them and petting them can cause your body to release many neurochemicals. They act as antidepressants in the body.

Also, playing with your animal can be extremely good for your stamina building, maintaining blood pressure and for physical health.

2.4 Inspiring

Unlike service dogs, a support dog can improve confidence, and self-esteem of a patient in multiple ways.

ESAs keep their owners busy and occupied and they focus less on their problems and issues which controls anxiety in them. Also when you take your pet outside daily, you get some fresh air for yourself. This is essential for boosting your mood as well as your physical health.

2.5 Sense of Security

Nothing is as terrible as feeling insecure, scared, and being alone. Having an emotional support animal provides a sense of security and protection at home and outside.

Good things about dogs are that they are loyal creatures and will not think twice before they put themselves at risk to protect and defend you. They are always alert and bark at unusual noises and disturbance that results as an alarm for others as well. Therefore, a patient will feel safe and secure around them.

2.6 Traveling and Housing Benefits

A person with ESAs also enjoys some other legal privileges. According to FHA, if a disabled individual is staying in any housing facility, the animals are exempt from any additional pet deposits. Moreover, the landlord must also provide reasonable housing for them under the housing act.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development also allows the house companies for making “no animals” policy exemptions. This Department of Housing enables a mentally disabled person to live with their animal pet.

Moreover, according to the rules and regulations of the Air Carrier Access Act, any discrimination against a mentally disabled person traveling by air is prohibited. ESAs are also allowed to travel with the individual anywhere in the country if you have a verified ESA letter.

However, a person should notify the airline 48 hours ago before leaving with the ESA in some cases. These pets help people to calm their anxiety on the plane.

There can be several mental health benefits of having pets for treating disabilities and providing a long-lasting companionship. Having a friend who is there when needed is surely a big relief that can help reduce the feeling of isolation and causes of anxiety.

3. How to Get an ESA Letter?

An individual can visit a mental health professional to check if he qualifies for an ESA or not. However, there is another way of applying for an ESA.

We offer authentic and legal ESA letter on our website where an individual just has to fill out the questionnaire upon which his responses are analyzed by our licensed mental health professionals. If qualified as a person with weak mental health, our experts will issue a prescription stating your need for an emotional support from an animal in order to treat your illness or a disability.

You can get your legal letter from us, RealESALetter, in less than 48 hours. This certificate can be transferred to any mental treatment provider of your preference. In addition, the ESA letter remains valid for a whole year from the date of issuance. An individual is eligible to avail all housing and traveling facilities within that year.

Apart from that, there are cases when a person may require several pets to treat the disability. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) states that a mentally or emotionally disabled person can have more than one emotional support animal. We can also help you get an ESA letter including multiple pets.

it's time that you should stop struggling with your mental and emotional disabilities alone and choose the company of a valuable and non-judgmental friends and get an ESA. Request your letter from RealESALetter now.