Emotional Support Animals Benefits Your Health
Emotional support animal is a type of animal that helps the owner in overcoming or dealing with a given disability that they are living with in the life. It could be mental health issues, blindness, or lifestyle diseases like diabetes.
Studies show that other conditions can benefit from emotional support animals. Examples of these include those who suffer from mild to severe anxiety, social shyness,
The animal gives support and provides companionship that will ease any one aspect of the disability. They are trained to work for people living with disabilities and assist them in carrying out some tasks.
These tasks include guiding the blind, pulling a wheelchair, or alerting the owner with diabetes when their blood sugar level drops, reminding them to take their medication or even alerting others in case the owner gets a seizure.
Types of Emotional Support Animals
The common types of emotional support animals include dogs, miniature horses, and cats. Exotic, barnyard animals have not yet been perceived as emotional support animals. Examples of such animals include ducks, monkey, turkey, and peacock.
Benefits
Why would anyone choose to use an animal for emotional support? Well, numerous researches have revealed that animals can provide significant health benefits. Pet has a positive effect on human mental health. This is because it fosters emotional connectivity, which helps the owner coping in times of crisis.
Increases physical activityPhysical activity promotes good health. However, depression and other mental illnesses often keep people from engaging in physical fitness activities. It might be hard to find a reason to wake up for a morning jog, but, an emotional support dog will get you out of bed. This daily activity gives you a sense of purpose.
Walking a dog increases the feel-good hormones in the body. Studies at Harvard University have shown that petting a dog lowers blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health. Indeed, there is a correlation between the pet and lower triglyceride levels.
- Increases mental simulation
Emotional support animals can be used to help the owner in recalling memories that hold meaning to the owner. It also helps them to sequence temporary events. This is true, especially in patients with chronic and head injuries such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Animals also act as a catalyst during therapy sessions. The patient is able to relax and break the ice with the therapist. An emotional support animal helps in the initial resistance that accompanies therapy sessions.
- Reduces anxiety and stress levels
Today’s lifestyle predisposes us to a lot of extreme anxiety and stressful situations. Research has proven that emotional support animals can counteract the effects of stress and anxiety. As one interacts with the animal, stress levels drop. They become more peaceful, composed, and in control of their emotions. This reduces or prevents panic attacks.
Passengers on flights have been reported to have their animals with them on board because the animal help them be less anxious during the trip. Petting animals produces an automatic relaxation that slows down breathing. This simple act produces hormones such as serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin, which are all hormones that play a role in improving moods.
- Offers Companionship
Relating to people can be complicated. This is even harder when someone is coping with depression and does not feel the need to socialize.
Emotional support animals provide safe, secure, and loving companionship. A bond that is simple, genuine, and not necessarily demanding. The owner can relax and be themselves without feeling pressured to pretend to please others.
- Nurtures Bonding and Socialization
People suffering from depression are often victims of social isolation. Owning an emotional support animal can help to make new friends.
Dogs often draw people’s attention because they are social animals. As the dog becomes the focus of attention, the owner engages in conversations.
Children with conditions such as autism feel a deep bond with animals and relate better with them than with humans. Indeed, they improve significantly in the acquisition of language skills when animals are incorporated in the treatment.
Results of including Emotional Support Animal in Treatment
Doctors have noted tremendous improvements with patients who use the emotional support animal in their treatment regime. The areas of improvement are:
- A boost in their self-esteem and self- worth
- Increased social interaction
- Patients feel more safe, secure and comforted
- Increased intrinsic motivation
- Decrease in the symptoms of the illness being treated or managed
- Increase in the sense of purpose
- Reduced loneliness
Requirements for owning an Emotional Support Animal
Emotional Support Animal is covered under the Federal Fair Housing Act in America. You, therefore, need a recommendation letter that you can use in air travel, or apartment housing circumstances. We understand what your animal means to you.
You can get this letter between two to three hours if you qualify to use ESA. EsaCare team of qualified health professionals and counselors are always on call if you need someone to talk to when you are in crisis. Reach us on 1-800-273-8255. Or text “HOME” to 741-741.
Conclusion
The health benefits associated with emotional support animals are therapeutic. Anyone coping with mental illness ought to own a flurry friend to make their life a little more fulfilling.