How Can an Emotional Support Dog Help You
With a growing load of stress in our lives, all of us sometimes seek emotional support. However, some people find it especially hard, if not impossible, to live through dark times in life, so they require immediate help.
Does it sound familiar? Then why not get a furry friend for a company?
Emotional support animals are a popular trend of recent times. And getting a dog as an ESA may become your next best choice. Why? Let’s dig into details and see why dogs can be much more than just our pets.
Why Would You Choose an Emotional Support Dog?
If you are struggling with a mental disorder or feeling depressed, you may find it soothing and comforting to have a devoted canine friend by your side. Sometimes, having a companion animal can be enough to help you break free from emotional problems and pave your way ahead through life difficulties.
Why choose a dog? The reasons are almost countless. An ESA dog can:
- Distract you from negative thoughts and help you fight the symptoms of a disorder
- Give you a much-needed “helping paw” in stressful life situations by constantly being by your side
- Help you live a more productive life as you’ll take up a role of a caretaker for another living being
- Give you self-assurance when you are about to lose hope.
Have you ever heard about dog-assisted therapy? This method of treatment can help you restore emotional wellbeing, regain confidence and, moreover, improve your health and live a happier life all at once.
Dogs can be especially helpful here as they always stay loyal to their owners. You might now want to get one yourself but first, you should get familiar with the rules.
Step-by-Step Tour on How to Get an Emotional Support Dog
Getting a support dog is not hard and a short guide below will let you know all about how to get one, why you need to “certify” your canine companion and how you can do it.
Where to get an ESA letter?
You can either get an ESA letter online (using one of the telemedicine services) or go to a local mental health facility. Whatever you choose, make sure your emotional support dog letter is signed by a licensed healthcare provider. Surely, the easiest option would be to get it via the Internet without leaving the comfort of your home and with no need to visit a therapist in person.
Easy steps to getting an ESA dog:
- Identify whether a dog is the best type of animal for you
- Get in touch with a certified mental health expert (you can do it online)
- Check if you are the right candidate for an ESA letter
- Take an emotional support dog letter from doctor and use it appropriately.
If you know for sure that a support dog will work for you, don’t waste your time but check if you can get a letter now to access terrific benefits.
Why do you need to legalize your ESA and how to do it?
Too many people think it’s necessary to pass emotional support dog registration but let’s get it straight – no specific registration is required by the law and no such thing is requested by the airline companies or landlords. To make your dog a legitimate ESA, you only need a special letter signed by a therapist. Only this letter will give you access to all the benefits which every ESA dog owner can enjoy.
What freedoms will you get?
You’ll be granted many amazing privileges like the right to:
- Rent an apartment where no pets are usually permitted.
- Access certain public places where animals are not allowed.
- Travel together with your pet by airplane.
- Take your dog to the workplace to make your days at work less stressful.
Just imagine how good it would be to rent no-pet housing without paying any extra fees. Or maybe you’d rather choose to go traveling together with your little friend?
It’s possible!
That’s what awaits everyone who gets an ESA letter. And that’s the key reason why you want to get one in the first place – to have no restrictions and to never separate with your pet for too long.
On top of all that, you won’t need to register dog as emotional support animal. You should only receive an ESA certificate and you’ll be all set to start a new life!
How will your life change?
Surely, an emotional therapy dog is not a cure for all disorders but it can greatly improve your quality of life if your mental health is out of order. More specifically, having a dog by your side can help you:
- Feel better mentally and physically
- Get rid of gloomy thoughts
- Improve your mood and mental wellbeing
- Stop feeling lonely and isolated
- Feel more confident
- Become more attentive and compassionate to others
Health troubles are not always visible and those who suffer from mental disorders require support and care much more than the rest of us.
An ESA dog here literally plays a role of the best man’s friend – it will never betray you even in the darkest days of your life. And it’s also a great way to divert your attention from any annoying thoughts that keep bothering you.
What health conditions can you handle with a companion dog?
The answer is simple – all sorts of disorders. These are:
- Learning and cognitive problems
- Phobias, fears and panic attacks
- Anxiety and depression
- Addictions and behavioral problems
- Emotional traumas, stress and PTSD
- Motor skills problems, etc.
That’s not to mention that you’ll get a faithful companion and won’t feel lonely or abandoned anymore. It’s not a myth, but a reality of modern world.
What is also true is that we can’t rely on medications only especially if they don’t work for us the way we need. If that’s your case, getting an ESA dog would be the best investment in your health and wellbeing. Who wouldn’t want such an easy solution? Believe us or not, everyone who already has an ESA sees nothing but positive effects and knows how much it means to have such a loyal friend.
If you don’t have one yet, check if you qualify for an ESA letter now and welcome terrific changes into your life!