We all have our down days, but some people have them more often than others. There are also those who are perpetually depressed or anxious. Many treatments are available for various anxiety disorders ranging from prescription medication to ongoing therapy, or a combination of these. One such treatment is the use of an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) to help anxious individuals to relax and overcome their anxiety.
In order to understand how an ESA can help those with anxiety disorders, we first need to know what an ESA is.
What is an Emotional Support Animal?
While pets as companions have been popular for hundreds, if not thousands of years, an Emotional Support Animal is a fairly new concept. An emotional support animal is a pet that has been ‘prescribed’ by a psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist to a patient as part of their plan towards wellness. The aim is to provide comfort to the patient, and something positive for them to focus on. The overall goal is that the animal will provide emotional support for patients during times of need, when they may not have any nearby friends or family to rely on.
Can Any Animal be an Emotional Support Animal?
Almost any animal can be prescribed to provide an individual with a psychological disability. The best way to look at it is, if it would be kept as a pet, it can also be used as an ESA. Naturally, a wild animal such as a polar bear definitely wouldn’t be suitable, but any domesticated animal such as the most typical options like cats and dogs, down to spiders and snakes can be used – whatever the individual being treated is comfortable with and can adequately care for. As long as the animal contributes towards the individual’s wellbeing, there are no real restrictions as to the type of animal to be used.
Unlike Service or Assistance animals, Emotional Support Animals do not require any special training or certification – their job is purely to provide emotional support, rather than physical assistance to the owner.
How to Legally Make My Pet an ESA
To legally make your pet an emotional support animal, a therapist must recommend an ESA for your mental illness. According to the NIMH, 1 in 5 Americans suffer from a mental illness – including anxiety. A licensed therapist must write you an ESA letter recommending an emotional support animal for your condition.
You are not required to register your ESA on any registration site or purchase a emotional support animal vest for your pet. As long as your therapist recommends an emotional support animal for your wellbeing along with a letter, your pet can qualify as an emotional support animal.
How Can I Get an ESA Letter from ESA Doctors?
Emotional Support Animals for Anxiety
In much the same way that care providers and home-visit nurses care for the elderly and disabled in their own homes or in nursing homes, Emotional Support Animals are prescribed to help the psychologically disabled to overcome or cope better with their disability. While Service Animals are there to assist those with physical disabilities such as leading a blind or partially sighted person, or pulling a wheelchair-bound person along, an Emotional Support Animal does exactly as the name suggests – it provides emotional support to its owner.
As many individuals suffering from an anxiety disorder often report loneliness as a significant contributing factor towards their anxiety, simply having a pet around can stave off the feeling of being lonely. By having an Emotional Support Animal, the symptoms of anxiety can be greatly relieved as the individual will never be truly alone.
How Can an Emotional Support Animal Help with My Anxiety?
Although animals cannot speak or even begin to comprehend what the patient is going through, Emotional Support Animals can aid the anxiety sufferer by giving them an emotional outlet – someone to talk to when there might be nobody else around. What makes this even more ideal is that the ESA will not judge the individual, where an actual person may judge or attempt to offer unwanted advice.
In addition to providing someone to talk to, Emotional Support Animals can ward off feelings of anxiety through the provision of affection. Physical touch can help anxiety through creating a bond between the person and the animal. What better way to feel better than cuddling up with your dog (or rat, if that’s your thing!)?
As all animals require their own care and attention, having an Emotional Support Animal can improve the symptoms of anxiety. By simply providing a distraction for the owner, an ESA can ward off the symptoms as they begin. If an individual is spending time grooming, feeding, walking and playing with their ESA, they are focusing more on the animal rather than the cause of their anxiety, which over time can contribute to a steadier, more positive outlook on their life.
Emotional Support Animals are a great way to help with your anxiety!
Because animals can provide an enormous amount of emotional support through a variety of ways, having an ESA is a fantastic way to help you with your anxiety. Although simply having an Emotional Support Animal isn’t guaranteed to cure you of your anxiety on its own, it’s definitely a great addition to your mental health improvement plan.
Start the ESA questionnaire to see if you qualify for an emotional support dog.
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Disclaimer: For informational purposes only.
Can it be a cat
Yes, cats make wonderful emotional support animals! To see if you qualify, please complete the ESA questionnaire and a licensed therapist will be able to assist you.
Do emotional support animals fall under the Service Dog ADA rules and regulations? If so, the question can be asked “What is the a animal trained to do? What service does the animal provide you?” Can they go into any place serving food? Can they go into grocery stores? Can they go into movie theaters? What is someone is allergic? Does the person with the animal have to cover their meds for an allergic reaction?
Emotional support animals do not have the same level of access as service animals. They are not covered under the ADA, but they are covered under the Air Carrier Access Act to fly in cabin with their owners and the Fair Housing Act to live with their owners.
Can they go with you to high-stress environments? (Mine include: School [College], Work, and out and about as I get extremely nervous around other people).
Unlike service animals, emotional support animals are not entitled to public access. You can always contact the high-stress locations and ask if you can be accompanied by your emotional support animal.
Please…..3 dogs can be emotional support animals for only one person ?
Thanks.
Yes, a person can have 3 dogs as their emotional support animals if their licensed mental health professional deems it necessary.
Is there a limit to how many you can have??
There are no legal limits to the number of emotional support animals you can have, but the animals cannot create an “undue financial hardship” for your landlord.
I have struggled with Excoriation for most of my adult life. It wasn’t until recently that I learned my symptoms had a name and so I have found way more support to enable me to try to overcome this urge. I rescued a cat from the road side nearly a year ago today, and this little furry friend has developed a fantastic trait I’d never thought possible. Whenever she sees me picking she tries to get between me and the mirror. She has a different meow, that I haven’t heard any other time. I like to think she’s telling me to take a breath and step away. Cat’s often get a bad rep for being aloof and less loyal than dogs. Perhaps I have lucked out.
My son Already has a documented disibility and already have an emotional support animal. I own my home and have 5 acres. Neighbors have horses HOA state that goats not allowed. Is this something you can help with?
Emotional support animals can be any type of animal. If you have the space (5 acres), then your HOA should not be able to dictate the type of animal that your son can use as an ESA.
Does the letter have to be from psych MD, or can a general practitioner write the letter as well?
Emotional support animal letters should be written by a licensed mental health professional.
Last year I went to a family picnic with many family members I did not know. Even though I took medication for my anxiety before leaving the house, I had a major panic attack at the park which resulted in me going into the bathroom, lying on the floor crying. Could I have brought my ESA with me to avoid my a panic attack or should I just avoid situations that cause anxiety?
This is a topic that you should discuss with your mental health professional.
Awesome! This is one of the most useful things on the topic I have ever found. Thank you for your effort.
I havent seen a doctor about my anxiety or my depression but my dog has definatly helped me a lot I’ve been so much happier and I’m borderline obsessed with my dog I get anxious when around loud crowds while alone like in Walmart for example I’m always super anxious unless I have someone with me and I never like to be alone. Now that I’m going to be going off to college in a years or so my anxiety is getting worse not just about leaving home but worrying about my dog and how not only he but also me will be without me . As of right now we spend nearly all our time together and I don’t really go out much because I know he’ll be upset. I know this for a fact because when I went on vacation for a week I care back and he’d lost weight and I cried when we left for vacation and when we came back from it I was worried the entire time we were gone. He’s been my near constant companion since I was in 7th grade(I’m curently in 11th) in middle school I was really depressed and I still am a little but nowhere near as bad as used to be thanks to my dog. My mom doesn’t want me to see a therapist because she says it will mark me for life (even thought my brother went when he was younger) so I haven’t been to one But as the time for me to go away for college gets nearer I keep getting more and more anxious and I’m constantly worrying about what Me and my dog are gonna do and we definatly can’t afford for me to go to one of the colleges that allow pets because there out of state anyone have any recommendations on what I should do I’d really appreciate any advice.
Seeing a therapist will not make you for life. Your information will be private. You can see a therapist IRL or connect with one online. We hope you can find the help you need so that you can live a happy and fulfilling life.
I have trouble sleeping alone from anxiety at my university which is far from home, both my home and university apartment don’t allow pets but I feel that having a dog around would help me sleep. Would it be possible to get an ESA letter first and get a dog afterwards since I cannot currently have a dog at my residence?
Yes, you can get your ESA letter before getting your animal.
Hello, I currently suffer from an Anxiety Disorder. I take medicine every night for it, but one of the side effects is not sleeping well, sleep deprivation, and/or insomnia. I still have a difficult time in large crowds, but I do really well when I have someone I know with me. When I don’t, I get panic attacks really easily. I’m in college about to go off to university. Do you think that going off the medicine and getting a therapy dog would be beneficial? Or do you think it would be a good idea to get a therapy dog while still on the medicinie?
This is something you should discuss with your doctor/therapist.
Does your employer have to allow you to bring your ESA to work?
Employers are not required to allow emotional support animals in the office.
Do hotels have to accept you ESA?
Hotels are not required to allow emotional support animals.
Hello,
I am traveling with my ESA to go to Iran. since there is no direct flight from US to Iran, I have to go to Istanbul, turkey with Turkish airline and have a 4 hours layover. Then take another Turkish airline to go to Iran. Turkish emailed me that the route from US to Istanbul they consider my pet as ESA, but the other route from Istanbul to Iran, my dog does not consider ESA and has to go to cargo. This is a 15 pound Shih tzu. can they do that?
You should contact the disability department at Turkish Airlines to get the correct information.
Do you have to be a certain age?
You are not restricted by age.
The information here was extremely helpful. Thanks so much.
Hi I have 2 questions;
what animals other than dogs or cats would make good ESA’s? (can’t afford a dog and mum is allergic to cats.)
Are ESA’s allowed into schools (on a leash or in a carry cage of course)?
Rabbits, rats, hamsters, birds, even chickens can make wonderful emotional support animals! Schools are not required to allow emotional support animals on campus.
thank you! I have a rabbit I have been considering registering but was looking into other options first. =)
Hi I suffer for anxiety and I just wanted to know two questions. The first one is can you bring your animal/s anywhere you go and let’s say you have the letter that’s allows you do get an ESA, can you show that to people to let them allow you in such as ( school, hotels, restaurants, stores, etc) with your animal
Emotional support animals do not have public access rights.
Hi
I’m in year 8 and I currently have depression.
Nobody seems to know how to help me even though sometimes I can’t help myself,
I have resently been having anxiety fits at school and at home.
If I was to apply for a ESA how would I explain that to my school, family and friends?
Can a German Shepherd fit to be a therapy dog ??
Yes!
My biggest anxiety fear is flying on airplanes. From the time I decide I need to take a trip to the time I actually ordered the tickets I’m in constant worry. I usually end up ordering tickets at the last minute because of my fear. I always take my dog with me on the plane for comfort. I recently found out from a lady at the airport with a emotional support dog that I should be able to maintain And emotional support dog status for my dog. Please confirm.
This is correct! You can either talk to your own LMHP or connect with one online.
My daughter’s anxiety seems to be getting worse and worse since she’s gotten married and moved out. Reading all of these makes me think an ESA would really help her. She finally went to her doctor about it and has started taking meds. She and her husband live in an apartment that doesn’t allow pets. If she saw a Licensed mental health professional and got a prescription for an ESA, would their landlord have to allow it?
Yes, emotional support animals are allowed access into apartments with “no-pets” policies.