The Mental Health Benefits of Emotional Support Pets

Mental health issues are not easy to cope with and can be especially difficult if you’re struggling alone. Unfortunately, many mental health issues go undiagnosed and untreated or are treated with medications that don’t always work or come with unwanted side effects. Fortunately, emotional support pets (or ESAs) can provide incredible benefits to the mental health of their owners and may help some people avoid medication altogether, providing another avenue of treatment to those who need it. Here are some common mental health issues that ESAs have been proven to help with and how they do so.

Emotional Support Pet vs. Service Pets

An emotional support animal Letter is another animal that provides therapeutic benefits to its owner. This could mean anything from merely providing companionship, to alleviating symptoms of an anxiety or depression disorder. 

ESAs are not the same as service animals and should not be confused with them. Service animals provide specific tasks for people with disabilities, such as guiding people who are blind or alerting people who have hearing impairments.

How Emotional Support Pets Improve Mental Health

Emotional support animals can be a great way to improve mental health and well-being. They offer unconditional love and companionship, provide comfort, relieve stress, and make living with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other conditions easier. Studies show that they can help alleviate some symptoms of mental illnesses by reducing blood pressure, lowering cholesterol levels, improving heart function, and helping people better regulate their moods.

They Help You Produce Neurotransmitters

Many people who suffer from mental health issues are finding relief by getting a pet. An emotional support animal is not a cure for mental illness, but it can offer tremendous help to those who need it. Studies have shown that interacting with an animal can decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increase levels of serotonin, which is responsible for feelings of well-being. The presence and affection of an emotional support animal can also help someone deal with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

They Calm the Anxiety of the Owner

A study at the University of Western Ontario found that pets can help people with anxiety by reducing blood pressure and heart rate. There are also studies that show that people with pets have lower cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone. These benefits are key for those who suffer from PTSD or other mental health issues. For these individuals, there is often isolation that accompanies their struggles, and finding someone to talk to has been shown to be very helpful in easing some of these burdens. 

• They reduce loneliness: People without friends or family members nearby can be lonely but most people with pets do not feel alone. 
• They provide someone to talk to: A lot of times when we feel down it feels like nobody else understands what we're going through, but it turns out that most pet owners believe their animals provide them support.

 They Provide Mental and Emotional Encouragement

Your furry friend can provide many mental and emotional benefits to you. Studies have shown that people with pets are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Having a companion pet can also help reduce your stress levels. It's been documented that when you come home from work or school, your pet will be excited to see you. This is because they always care about you and want the best for you. When you walk into a room, they're usually one of the first ones there waiting for you. 

So by having an emotional support animal in your life, you'll get all these positive benefits on top of all the love and companionship! They are very intuitive animals who know what kind of mood you're in and they'll stay close to you when you need it. Whether it be lying on your lap while watching TV, snuggling up next to you while reading a book, or following along beside you as you go for a walk around the neighborhood, your emotional support animal is there for anything.

They Give Unconditional Love

Animals give us unconditional love and they provide an emotional support system that can make all the difference in our mental health. Studies have shown that people with pets are more likely to report feeling positive emotions, such as happiness, contentment, and satisfaction. They also show lower levels of negative emotion, like anger, guilt, and stress. One study even found that dog owners were significantly less lonely than cat owners because dogs rely on their humans for companionship and interaction while cats are typically independent creatures who enjoy their solitude. If you’re looking for a way to reduce your anxiety or depression, consider adopting a furry friend.

 They Provide Social Support

One study found that pets can provide social support for their owners by providing a sense of companionship and safety. This is because, when a person interacts with an animal, they are more likely to show positive expressions and emotional engagement than if the person interacts with a human. This can help reduce feelings of loneliness or sadness. They Serve as Self-esteem Boosters: Animals may have the ability to boost a person’s self-esteem by serving as motivation for the owner’s wellness and improved health behaviors. They Help People Cope with Depression: Dogs have been shown in studies to lower stress hormones like cortisol in humans which can be beneficial in coping with depression.