If these rights have been violated or a person feels intolerance against him or her, an individual may contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), filing the complaint and providing all the necessary documentation. But first, let's figure out what service animals are for and in particular the purpose of emotional support animals.

What do the service animals aim for?

Service animals are especially tamed animals that can perform tasks for the benefit of people with disabilities. The training process of these animals lasts several years during which animals are being taught to meet any disability-related need of their handler. Service dogs are often qualified as licensed health professionals that give a person an opportunity to forget about the inability and live a free and active life. Service animals serve people with physical issues. That's the main distinction between a service animal and an emotional support one.

A service dog can be a guide for humans with visual impairments, an alarm for humans with deafness, and the ability to move for humans with mobility issues. A service dog is also trained to perform a variety of household assignments on a daily basis. For example, a dog can be disciplined to turn lights on and off, load and unload laundry, call an elevator, and bring to the handler needed things, like pills. Dogs can even be taught to provide first aid.

The animals are also protectors for a human with an inability. They can protect their owners from any danger including those that come from strangers. Dogs сan also anticipate potential health problems of their handlers ahead. For instance, they can prevent heart attacks and other cardiac illnesses, or seizures, like epileptic seizures.

What does ESA do?

What is equally important, the dog can provide emotional and psychological endorsement to its owner. Any illness can be cured faster if the patient is in a good emotional state. This is one of the principles of how psychosomatic works. That's why psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals agree that animals' emotional support, in some cases, may even be more productive than medical treatment. Especially when it comes to patients with various personality disorders.

An emotional support animal (ESA), fundamentally, improves the general well-being of its owner by influencing his or her mood. The need for an ESA does not always arise in a person with a mental disability. Above all, an emotional support dog, like any pet, affects a person's emotional state and his attitude towards himself. Emotional support animals are able to raise the handler's spirit, give him or her self-confidence, make him less withdrawn, but more friendly and sociable. In addition, ESA contributes to making new acquaintances and friends.

Emotional support animals to maintain mental health

In addition to improving the overall well-being of an individual, emotional support animals can help with the treatment of various psychiatric diseases. Among the most commonly spread ones are anxiety, depression, panic attacks obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorder, and others. For example, during a panic or anxiety attack, an emotional support animal calms its owner thereby stabilizing one's heart rate and reducing blood pressure, which removes the threat to a person's health and life. Moreover, the animal is trained to help people fight phobias and fears. They can relieve their owners of obsessive thoughts and help to adapt quickly to society. This is essential for people with post-traumatic stress disorder, social and antisocial disorders, and plenty of other mental impairments.

People with mental or emotional disabilities who come for medical advice diagnosis or treatment often think that their inabilities are shameful. That's why doctors and therapists believe that an emotional support dog for such patients will be the best decision for the treatment. To qualify for an ESA a person who has confirmed cognitive disabilities has to contact a psychologist, psychiatrist, or any other licensed mental health professional to receive an ESA letter. The ESA letter, doctor's note, and other documentation will also be useful for later life with ESAs and solving all possible controversial issues that may occur. For example, ESAs may not always be allowed into public places, such as airlines. If this happens to you, you can contact the federal government or choose another pet-friendly airline.

Add This Entry To Your CureZone Favorites!