Life can often times be overwhelming for us. Most days, we can barely get out of bed and we drag ourselves just to survive yet another day.
Emotional support animals have become a thing in recent days, with an increasingly large number of people experiencing emotional stress and depression. The role of emotional support animals or ESAs are different from pets and service dogs.
While pets generally provide emotional support and comfort, an ESA provides the “kind of support that is critical to an owner’s daily functioning, whether traveling or going about daily activities,” according to Senior Planet. Service animals, on the other hand, carry out a task for someone with a disability.
Here are several things to consider when getting an ESA:
Ask
Getting an ESA will not only affect you – it affects the animal as well. You need to ask if getting one will not only be good for you but will it also be good for the ESA. Like any other companion animal, ESAs also need care. Consider if getting one is appropriate for your circumstances. You also need to ponder upon what you expect the ESA to do for you, emotionally and physically.
Apply
If you have made up your mind about getting one, you will need an official letter to certify your need, ideally from your doctor or personal therapist. If, however, your doctor or therapist refuses to prescribe an ESA for you, you can take the Free ESA Assessment here. If you qualify, you can get your letter in less than 24 hours.
ESAs are usually prescribed for people suffering from certain mental disabilities such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and personality disorder.