This has led to the emergence of emotional control animals (ESAs), which are designed to help relieve the symptoms of mental health issues.
A variety of issues, such as anxiety, depression, social anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can be relieved by these adorable furry friends.
If you think that an emotional support animal might be right for you, then you will need to get a permission letter from a medical professional. This can include therapists, psychiatrists, and doctors.
If you are unsure of how to get permission for an ESA, this informative guide is designed to help you.
What are the Benefits of an Emotional Support Animal?
There are lots of reasons why people seek ESAs, including:
A variety of animals can become ESAs. Among the most popular ESAs are dogs, cats, pigs, birds, rabbits, snakes, and guinea pigs. This means that you can use whatever animal comforts you most.
These animals can relieve symptoms by creating a calm atmosphere.
They offer companionships to people who may feel alienated because of their mental illness. These companions will provide unconditional love. This is great for people with social anxiety.
An ESA will make their users less anxious.
They stabilize intense emotions. This can be particularly beneficial to people with severe problems.
If you are unsure of whether an ESA can help you to manage your mental health issues, it is worth giving them a try. After all, there are tons of advantages to using an ESA.
How Can You Ask a Doctor For an Emotional Support Animal?
Any animal can be registered as an ESA. However, you must have permission from a medical professional before an ESA can be registered. Here are the steps that you can take to acquire this permission:
Locate a professional who can help you. Though doctors can issue these permission letters, they may not be the best option. This is because they may not be as familiar with your specific mental health condition as a specialist, such as a counselor or a psychiatrist. If you have been seeing a professional for treatment of your condition, it is best to approach them. This is because they will have knowledge of your specific case.
Organize an appointment. This can be done in person or, if it is more convenient for you, online.
Familiarize the professional with your symptoms. It is particularly important to do this if they are a doctor, therapist, or another professional who you have not seen before.
Tell the medical professional that you want an ESA. It is best to have an open conversation about your intentions. This is because doctors will be able to give advice about whether they think an ESA will be suitable for your condition. For example, some anxiety sufferers may experience heightened symptoms if they are not comfortable around animals.
Ask for a permission letter. If your doctor believes that an emotional support animal will be beneficial, then it is best to outright ask them for permission. You should bear in mind that though they could deny your request, they will likely accept it if you have severe mental health problems.
When getting an ESA letter online, be careful to access it from a credible source. Sadly, there are some scam ESA letters online.
Why is it Difficult to Get an Emotional Support Animal?
It can be hard to obtain permission for one of these ESAs. This is unfortunate, as many people experience relief when they utilize one of these animals.
One of the main difficulties with getting an ESA is that there is high demand for them.
As a result, medical professionals have to ensure that they are only permitting people who need ESAs.
Moreover, some people feel awkward about outright asking for this permission letter.
You should never feel awkward about this, especially if you genuinely believe that you need and could benefit from an ESA.
Mental health professionals are there to help you, so you should not feel uncomfortable about having these conversations.
If you have not been given permission for an emotional support animal, you can try asking a different professional.
When rejected, make sure that you are not rude to the doctor. Though it can be disappointing, they have simply made what they believe to be the correct judgment.
Are You Eligible For an Emotional Support Animal?
You can apply for an ESA if you suffer from a mental health problem. There are a large variety of conditions that make someone suitable for these support animals.
If you are unsure of whether you should get one, simply talk to your doctor. This is because they will be able to offer advice about whether an ESA is suitable for your condition.
Here are some of the most common conditions that ESAs are used to treat:
Depression
Bipolar disorder
Anxiety
Attention deficit disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Learning disorders
Frequently Asked Questions
What Dog Breeds are Best For Emotional Support Animals?
Any breed of dog can be used as an ESA. In terms of the most popular breeds, retrievers, beagles, corgis, and greyhounds are quite commonly used as ESAs.
Are Emotional Support Animals Different From Service Animals?
Yes, they are different. Service animals are used to provide services to humans. For instance, they help people with physical disabilities to be more mobile.
In comparison, ESAs won’t perform specific actions. Because of this, support animals often have to undergo training. Furthermore, while any pet can be an ESA, service animals are usually dogs.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, emotional support animals are a brilliant concept. They allow their owners to feel relieved and calm.
Plus, they create a non-judgemental companion who will love their owners no matter what.
If you have been struggling with any of the aforementioned conditions, you may seriously benefit from an ESA, which could improve your life!
Hi, I’m Anna Granger and I have had my therapy dog, Bunny, for three years now. I have had a severe case of anxiety since my teenage years, so much so that I wasn’t leaving my house. I remained indoors for almost an entire year before my parents encouraged me to seek professional advice.
The result of that was Bunny - a 5 year old labrador who follows me around everywhere and is trained to detect when I’m about to have an anxiety attack. Through our three years together, Bunny can even sense when I’m feeling just a little bit anxious and work to calm me down.
