Nowadays animals have a great influence on people’s lives. They have become an important source for providing support and care to people. There was a time when we used to think that animals are dependent on humans for care. However, times have changed and research has found out that people are more dependent on animals for emotional as well as physical support.
There is a category of animals known as emotional support animals, that are meant to provide people with emotional and physical well-being. So, if a person is dealing with chronic mental disabilities, then having ESA turns out to be of great help. These animals are well-trained and particular with performing various tasks. They make you feel better by remaining on your side always, and they make you practice a healthy schedule to help you overcome depression, anxiety and other serious mental issues. In this article, you will learn some of the characteristics of an ESA, and how they benefit you.
ESA must provide you companionship
This is the first and foremost purpose of any ESA to provide their owner with companionship. This means that they must be pleasant and friendly with the owner. They must love and respect their owner for providing them with a place to live which is safer from outside, and for fulfilling all their requirements. However, animals get happy and start to love you automatically once you shower them with care. So, both you and your pet get a companion to share feelings and to spend peaceful time together. Providing companionship is the most important of all, so if you have found your true companion in a pet, then it’s the right time to get an ESA letter for your pet.
ESA should make you feel better
The purpose of getting an emotional support animal is to feel better. So, you need to check if you really feel better around your pet or not. Many a time for people suffering from mental disabilities pet becomes a liability, they consider them as an extra burden over them, because having a pet means you need to constantly look after it. Hence, ask yourself how you feel around your pet, does it feel like a burden or comfort. Moreover, the job of an ESA is to make it easier for you interact with people, when you interact with more people you feel better. As people suffering from mental trauma neglect to talk to people around them, and they live in their own world of negativity. Hence, having a furry friend beside you must make you feel comfortable interacting and socializing with people.
ESA should correct your routine
People having ESA as pet often seem to have proper schedule of the day. They wake up early in the morning, spend their day in a healthier way and go to bed early as well. These habits help a person to fight and overcome the problem of stress and anxiety. As the worst part of having anxiety is it holds you in bed for an entire day and you don’t feel like doing anything apart from lying in one place. So, this is another important purpose that an ESA has to fulfill, is to make an appropriate schedule for their owner. When you have someone to wake you up in the morning and take you for long walks then there is no possibility of denying. As humans we often need motivation from others to do things. Hence, if your pet does it for you then you are blessed to have it.
Affectionate animals serve best as ESA
This point is very obvious, as if you are seeking mental support from your pet then your pet must be affectionate enough to offer you. Affectionate pets are best at providing emotional support, as they have strong feelings of love and liking towards people and so they can’t see them suffering. The best example of this is the relationship between a human and a dog. This relationship is unlike any other pet, as there exists a strong connection and understanding between the two. This is because they are domesticated for years, they have been bred and conditioned for centuries to provide true companionship to humans. This is why when you talk about an ESA the first animal that comes to mind is a dog. For most people, a dog is an obvious choice for providing them with mental support and stability. A dog promises to be on your side no matter what, and always have your back in every situation, they are the most loyal pets to have.
Relaxed pets make the best ESA
An easy-going and relaxed pet is best for emotional support. As in stressful situations they don’t lose their calm, or else they help their owner to cope with stressful situations by remaining calm, composed and decisive. So, suppose in chaotic situations if your pet loses its calm as well, and starts to rush around in the then it will be more difficult to handle, and instead of making the job easy for you it will make it a mess. Hence, choose an easy-going pet for emotional support, so that you will have somebody to make you calm if you lose your temper. Spending time with a relaxed pet elevates the level of serotonin and dopamine in your body to make you calm.
Conclusion
An emotional support animal helps to mitigate the symptoms of mental illness such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. Many a time a person suffering from such problems finds it difficult to cope with trouble, and when no medication and professional help works, then ESA is prescribed during such cases.
These animals are licensed by mental health professionals to provide an individual for mental treatment. The animals are given documents that state they are eligible for emotional support. Also, the documents confirm that an individual has a legitimate need for their companion animal and certain rights are entitled by federal law as well. Thus, an ESA helps you to feel better by offering companionship, helping you to follow a healthy routine, and remains affectionate and considerate towards you.