Emotional support animals (ESAs) are becoming popular by the day, as more people embrace the fact that they offer an alternative treatment approach to people who suffer from mental and emotional disorders.

In fact, in a recent survey of pet owners, up to 74% of pet owners experienced health improvements from owning a pet, and up to 75% reported that the mental health of a friend or family member also improved from pet ownership. While there has been a lot of confusion regarding emotional support animals, there’s no doubt that owning one can be of great benefit to your overall well-being and mental health.

Below, we’re going to look at some of the different ways in which emotional support animals help people.

ESA’s Provide Unconditional Love

People suffering from mental or emotional disorders often feel isolated. Owning an emotional support animal can help such individuals to feel love, that can be otherwise hard to find. ESAs provide unconditional love that people suffering from mental issues may find hard getting from others.

According to emotionalsupportanimals.net, the close bond with an ESA can be a stepping stone to creating more meaningful connections and relationships.

ESA’s Help Regulate Emotions and Feelings on a Daily Basis

When you have a mental or emotional diagnosis, managing day-to-day issues can also be an issue. With an emotional support animal by your side every day, it becomes much easier to regulate your emotions and feelings.

There is clear research showing that the presence of an animal, as well as doing simple things like petting, can help individuals reduce their anxiety levels. The constant attention from an ESA helps stabilize human emotions, improving moods.

ESA’s Help Stabilize Intense Emotions

When dealing with particularly difficult moments, individuals suffering from mental or emotional disorders often find themselves highly agitated, fearful, down and anxious. Even in such difficult times, emotional support animals are there to offer support.

With their steady-state, constant supportive stance and affection, those suffering from mental issues can divert their attention from the situation at hand and focus on their pet. This, alone, is among the best ways of stabilizing intense emotions.

ESA’s Provide Social Support

A majority of pet owners see their pets as family members, which is good news. If you suffer from a social anxiety disorder or other condition that makes you feel uncomfortable around people or when outside, an ESA can be a great social companion and is the perfect stepping stone to improving your social skills.

Their social support enables you to embrace conversations during walks, create better human-to-human friendships and embrace a whole new world of social life.

ESA’s Help Us Learn How to Remain Mindful

Emotional support animals offer a unique way to cope with emotional entanglements and other challenges when addressing trauma-related struggles or simple day-to-day stresses. They help us learn how to remain mindful and aware of the present moment.

It’s no secret that anyone can reap many benefits by being more mindful, including experiencing a regular boost in mood, learning to make the best out of their time and overall increased emotional stability.



ESA’s Are Great for Calming Anxiety

People suffer from all kinds of anxieties and fears. For instance, if you’re one of those people who’s always anxious about taking a flight, an ESA could be a great companion to calm you down.

With 18% of American adults suffering from anxiety issues, according to Adaa.org, having an ESA during moments of anxiety can make things much better. Instead of being overwhelmed by your fears and panic attacks, an ESA can help you feel more relaxed and comfortable.

Emotional Support Animals Work Great

They Work Great with Other Forms of Treatment

ESAs are not just about offering the emotional support and comfort needed to individuals suffering from mental or emotional disorders. They can be integrated into specific treatment models that help provide their owners with greater relief from their mental issues.

In most cases, emotional support animals are combined with cognitive-behavioral treatment and mindfulness techniques to help treat symptoms. ESAs are increasingly being incorporated into various forms of therapy.

Conclusion

Getting an emotional support animal can be a great way to support your mental health. What matters most is getting the go-ahead from a licensed therapist to use an ESA as a form of mental support and treatment plan.

With the right ESA, you’re bound to experience the power of the human-animal bond for the benefit of your well-being.

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