Furever and Always
There’s nothing like coming home to a sweet little furball ready to soothe the day's stress away. This is especially true for people who depend on emotional support animals to help ease the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Several years ago, medical professionals drew insight into the profound effects that “pets” can have on persons with non-visible, emotional, and mental disabilities (Butwin, 2019). Mood disorders like depression have a high prevalence in the United States, and something as simple as waking up to a fuzzy face looking at you in adoration can make a surprising difference, if nothing else, then to give you a reason to get out of bed (“Hey, my person! I need to pee, and I’m hungry! Common get up!”).
Let’s not forget about that good ol’ boost of Oxytocin – the attachment hormone (Sandoiu, 2017). You know, that stuff your brain releases when you look at a cute baby or get a hug from someone you love? You get that from pets too! Service dogs have been used since WWI, when dogs were for the first time specially trained to be seeing eye dogs for the blind, but emotional support animals are newer to the scene and professionals are seeing a great benefit in recommending these animals to people under the right circumstances (Butwin, 2019).
Essentially, an emotional support animal is a legally recognized animal that serves as an adjunct to the treatment of mental disorders (Ferrell & Crowley, 2021). Practitioners have a framework to consider when recommending emotional support animals, based on the evidence of research showing an improvement in symptoms when used as ongoing therapy. Aside from the joy they bring just by being a source of companionship and love, having an animal that requires exercise, attention, care, and love can be a motivating force to someone who otherwise might not have the will to do much on their own (“Service,” 2022). Caring for an animal can give someone a sense of accomplishment and significance. Additionally, emotional support animals have a keen sense to tend to an owner who is struggling with anxiety or having a panic attack. Just by getting in their owner’s lap, lying next to them, or even laying on top of their owner in these times has shown to decrease the intensity of overwhelming symptoms. Owners of emotional support animals who live alone have found a decrease in anxious symptoms simply by having their animal, so they are not alone. While emotional support animals are handled a bit differently than service animals, they can make a big impact in people's lives (“Service,” 2022). It’s important one checks their state and local laws regarding the details of emotional support animals, but if you feel you could benefit from an emotional support animal or have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us!
References:
Butwin, J. (2019). Emotional support animals are more than just pets: It is time for the department of justice to align its emotional support animal policies with other anti-discrimination laws. The Fordham Urban Law Journal, 47(1), 195. https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/ulj/vol47/iss1/6
Ferrell, J., & Crowley, S. (2021). Emotional support animals: A framework for clinical decision-making. Professional Psychology, Research and Practice, 52(6), 560-568. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro000039 1
Sandoiu, A. (2017, November 25). 'Love hormone' explains why your dog loves to see you smile. Medical News Today. (2022, June 29). Retrieved June 29, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320170#:~:text=Every%20time%20you%20gaze%20lovingly,look%20lovingly%20into%20someone's%20eyes
Service dog for panic attacks: How they help & how to qualify how they can help & how to qualify. US Service Animals Blog. (2022, January 18). Retrieved July 1, 2022, from https://usserviceanimals.org/blog/service-dog-for-panic-attacks/