Why do therapists suggest emotional support dogs for people with psychological disorders?
An emotional support dog provides emotional assistance which makes this type of dog more in demand. All psychiatrists or mental-therapists recommend anxious or depressed people for registering emotional support dogs. Emotional support dogs are different from service dogs as emotional support dogs are not specially trained, but provide valuable company to the needy people.
Mental disability is not the only area where emotional support animals are being used. People who are in nursing homes are more active when an animal is around them. This also leads to a decrease in their medications. There are many scientifically-proven benefits of having emotional support animals as these animals are the reasons for releasing feel-good hormone (oxytocin) in humans.
Studies show that there are various mental health benefits of emotional support dogs. If you are suffering from problems such as PTSD, depression, general anxiety disorder, social shyness, mild to severe anxiety, stress-induced situations, aerophobia (fear of flying), or agoraphobia (fear of being outside of the home) then you should definitely go for an emotional support animal.
After registering an emotional support dog, you will feel numerous changes in your life such as:
- A boost in the self-esteem
This is a positive change as when you have a dog with you, you will feel happy and you will start to like yourself more. It involves a variety of beliefs about yourself which becomes positive such as the appraisal of your own appearance, emotionally strong, positive behaviors, and many more.
- More motivation
You feel motivated when you spend more time with your pet as the unconditional love of your emotional support dog makes you feel special, which fills real confidence within you.
- Patients feel safer
Patience always feels vulnerable, but a dog can save them from any threat or dangerous situation. No one can dare to attack an unwell person in the presence of his/her pets.
Psychological Disability Service Center (PDSC)’s qualified mental health professionals can help you in registering an emotional support dog and will also guide you in issuing an ESA letter.
See here: What are some common red flags for fake ESA letters?