Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders, affecting approximately 50 million Americans. What’s more, the rate of anxiety disorders in people around the world has increased by 25% since the 2020 pandemic. With these numbers, more and more people are turning to alternative treatments to support their mental health.
Emotional support animals (ESAs) and service animals differ in terms of training and certification, but both can provide mental support for their owners. This article looks at 10 unique ways ESAs and service dogs can help ease anxiety.
What Are ESAs and Service Dogs?
Any animal can be an emotional service animal if it offers relief from the mental and physical symptoms of a mental health disorder. To qualify for an ESA, a therapist must evaluate and certify, in a written letter, your need for an ESA. Since ESAs require no training, they are widely accessible to people with a range of mental health conditions.
Service dogs are highly-trained psychiatric support animals. These animals often support people with moderate to severe mental health challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, or autism, to name a few. Unlike ESAs, which require no training, service dogs must meet certain temperament and training requirements to be called a “service animal.”
The Unique Roles of ESAs and Service Dogs
As described above, ESAs offer emotional support. Whether that’s through alleviating feelings of tension or worry when stroking a pet, finding feelings of stability in a regular feeding and walking schedule, or simply finding comfort in an animal’s non-judgemental companionship, ESAs provide unique emotional support.
To qualify your pet as an ESA, your first step is to speak with a licensed mental health provider (LMHP). You’ll discuss your symptoms and how the presence of an animal helps alleviate them. Based on your conversation, the LMHP will determine if you would benefit from an ESA and write an ESA letter that you can use to ensure your ESA can live with you in most circumstances.
With the help of an ESA letter, landlords, banks, and other housing authorities cannot deny you housing or demand additional fees for having an animal live with you. It is important to note that there are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, your letter ensures you have the emotional support you need.
ESA letters can help secure housing accommodations, but this letter does not authorize having your ESA in all public spaces. Though some airlines have allowances for ESAs, be prepared to pay an added fee to take your ESA onboard.
Service dogs differ because they are highly trained and must pass rigorous certification to be considered a service dog. One major difference between service dogs and ESAs is that you can take your service animal with you in most public places. Not all animals qualify as service dogs, and not all people with anxiety need a service dog!
If you’re unsure whether you’d benefit more from an ESA or service dog, speak with an LMHP.
10 Ways These Animals Ease Anxiety
Whether you need an ESA or service dog, these animals offer significant mental health benefits for people with anxiety. Here are 10 ways ESAs and service dogs help with anxiety symptoms:
1. Provide unconditional love and companionship
Anxiety can make it easy to feel judged, unloved, and alone. An ESA or service dog can be the perfect balm for these uncomfortable feelings by providing its owner with unconditional love and companionship.
Perhaps you often find yourself worrying whether your friends actually like you or feeling alone. Having an emotional support dog who is always excited to greet you when you get home from work or a cat who always snuggles with you on the couch may help you feel unconditionally loved and less alone.
2. Encourage a daily routine and physical activity
Moving your body and getting your blood pumping is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. An ESA or service dog can hold you accountable by encouraging daily walks or playtime. Perhaps, through the experience of owning an ESA, you’re able to discover that taking your dog on a walk, riding your horse, or playing with your ESA helps clear your mind, boost endorphins, and decrease overall feelings and symptoms of anxiety.
3. Offer nonjudgmental emotional support
An emotional support animal or service dog can help you feel supported without any hint of judgment. Regardless of the animal you choose, you know that at the end of the day, they love you no matter what. This nonjudgmental support can be a great source of relief for people with anxiety.
It can be easy to constantly worry about the past or present or find yourself fearing what others will think of you. Your ESA can serve as a wonderful and consistent presence to remind you that they will offer you love and support no matter what.
4. Reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation
Loneliness and isolation are feelings closely tied to anxiety; whether loneliness is the cause of the anxiety or a symptom is different for everyone. Animals provide a consistent, loving presence that may help reduce these persistent feelings of loneliness and isolation.
If you live by yourself, having an ESA in your home may have a calming effect, reminding you that you are not alone. Even if you live with others, having an animal that loves and supports you no matter what may help reduce feelings of loneliness.
5. Assist with specific tasks during panic attacks (service dogs)
Service dogs are highly trained to assist people with psychological or physical disabilities, whether it is fetching medications or being on alert to protect their owners. Regular panic attacks are one of many disabilities that these dogs can be trained to support.
This may look like fetching anti-anxiety medications for their owner, sensing the physical changes that happen when a person is about to experience a panic attack, or clearing a crowd when they sense their owner is in distress.
6. Improve sleep quality with a comforting presence
Sleep disruptions are a common symptom of anxiety. Whether you’re unable to fall asleep or constantly wake up in the middle of the night, experts say that the presence of an ESA may help address these frustrating symptoms.
Simply knowing that your loving, supportive animal is with you may be enough to help your mind relax.
For some, the sleep benefits of an ESA come from simply having them in their home. For others, having the ESA snuggle up with them in bed may provide the tactile, soothing support needed to drift off to sleep.
7. Create opportunities for social interactions
Social anxiety can exist in various forms and severity. Depending on your situation, an ESA may provide the support needed to create social interactions.
For instance, if you have a dog, taking this dog to the park or on regular walks through the neighborhood may provide you with opportunities to chat with your neighbors or other dog lovers.
Even if your ESA is not physically with you, people love to talk about their pets! Having your own animal friend opens a world of possibilities for starting meaningful conversations with other animal lovers.
8. Serve as grounding tools during anxiety episodes
Anxiety can be a highly physical experience. Whether it is a feeling of tightness in your chest, nausea or an upset stomach, or feeling restless, an emotional support animal or service dog can help you feel more grounded during these episodes.
Stroking the soft fur of a rabbit or feeling a dog lean up against your leg are just two examples of animals providing the tactile touch needed to help you ground yourself in the present moment.
9. Promote mindfulness through care routines
Animals require frequent and regular care. Feeding, brushing, playtime, and snuggle time are regular tasks required of anyone with an ESA or service dog. Fortunately, these tasks provide wonderful moments for mindfulness.
Living with anxiety, it can be difficult to disconnect from the chaos you experience in your mind or life. By owning an ESA, you can use the daily, necessary care tasks as moments for mindfulness and breathing, allowing you to ground yourself in the present moment.
10. Enhance the overall quality of life
Pets increase the joy and overall quality of life of their owners. No matter your mental health condition, an ESA may help you feel more connected, grounded, and purposeful in your day-to-day life.
With time, the support and love of an animal can enhance your overall quality of life, making you feel more fulfilled and loved at the end of the day.
Choosing Between an ESA and a Service Dog
When trying to determine if you’d benefit more from an ESA or service dog, there are some essential factors to consider: your needs, lifestyle, cost, training, and legal requirements. Let’s take a closer look at each factor below.
Your needs
Do you want your animal to help you with specific tasks like bringing you your medication bottle or identifying the early signs of a panic attack? Or, do you want your animal present to pet when you’re feeling overly nervous?
The purposes of emotional support animals and service dogs differ widely, so start by thinking about how an animal can help you better manage your mental health.
Your lifestyle
If you lead an active lifestyle, you’ll likely want an emotional support dog or service dog that can accompany you on walks, runs, and other excursions out of the house. If you have a physical disability, in addition to anxiety, then a service dog may be a better fit for your lifestyle.
Alternatively, maybe you simply need an animal to spend time with when you’re at home to put feelings of loneliness at bay. In these cases, an emotional support animal, such as a cat, rabbit, or bird, may be the right fit for you.
Cost
Obtaining a service dog costs significantly more than an ESA. With an ESA, you simply cover the cost of meeting with an LMHP. In comparison, service dog training courses often come with significant fees, not to mention the fees associated with testing and certification. If your need for a service dog is concrete, then this cost is worth it!
Training
If you opt for a service dog, you will need to spend time and energy training it. Remember, service dogs must complete training courses and be able to meet certain requirements to become certified service dogs. ESAs don’t require any specialized training.
Legal Requirements
Service dogs can legally accompany their owners in public spaces and while traveling. ESA letters ensure you get reasonable housing accommodation for you and your pet; however, your ESA letter does not allow you to take your animal to restaurants, stores, and other public places. Some airlines allow ESA letters but may charge a fee to fly with your animal.
How to Qualify for an ESA or Service Dog
To qualify for an ESA, follow these simple steps:
- Think about whether an ESA may help you find relief from your mental illness.
- Schedule an appointment with a licensed mental health provider to discuss your need for an ESA.
- During your appointment with an LMHP, be prepared to talk about your symptoms and how an ESA offers relief.
- If the LMHP determines that you would benefit from having an animal, they will write you an ESA letter. This letter must include the LMHP’s professional letterhead, a statement certifying your need for an ESA, their signature, and the date.
- Once you receive your ESA letter, submit it to your landlord, bank, or housing authority to request accommodation.
To qualify for a service dog, you must be diagnosed with a mental health/psychiatric disorder by an LMHP. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you must be legally disabled to be eligible for a service animal. The ADA defines a legal disability as a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more “major life activities.” If you’re unsure whether this applies to you, start by connecting with an LMHP to discuss your symptoms and needs.
Emotional Support Animal and Service Dog Laws
An ESA letter or service dog certification protects an individual’s right to live with their support animal under the Fair Housing Act. This law provides that housing authorities cannot deny you housing simply because you have an ESA or service dog. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, you cannot be denied housing even if the landlord or housing management doesn’t allow animals.
The Fair Housing Act also protects ESA owners from rent increases, pet fees, deposits, and additional charges due to the presence of their animals.
Service animal certifications are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with a legal disability are permitted to take their service dogs in public places. Unlike ESAs, which are not protected under the ADA, service dogs may accompany you into restaurants, stores, government buildings, medical offices, and other indoor places that are otherwise off-limits to animals.
In recent years, the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) has restricted individuals from bringing ESAs on airplanes. Though service dogs are allowed by law, only certain airlines permit ESAs; others may demand an added fee.
Tips for Caring for Your Emotional Support Animal
Whether you get an emotional support animal or service dog, it is essential to build a strong bond with it. To care for your ESA or service dog, here are some tips to help guide your training and bonding:
- Keep a regular walking and feeding schedule to teach your animal to rely on you for these daily activities.
- Practice obedience training at home, using treats and positive reinforcement to build a healthy bond.
- Regularly play with your four-legged friends, take them on walks, and spend intentional time petting them.
FAQs About ESAs and Service Dogs
To help you make the right decision for your health and well-being, below are some of the most frequently asked questions about ESAs and service dogs.
Can any pet be an ESA?
Yes! If the animal provides support and relief from a mental health condition, then it may qualify as an ESA. ESAs don’t require any training, meaning that any animal can be up to the task.
Are service dogs covered by insurance?
No. Health insurance does not cover the training, care, and maintenance of having a psychiatric service dog.
How do I know if I qualify for an ESA?
If you struggle with a mental illness, then you may qualify for an ESA. Start by scheduling a consultation with a licensed mental health professional. Based on this appointment, they will determine whether you qualify for an ESA letter.
Conclusion: Finding Comfort and Support
There are many benefits of ESAs and service dogs. From non-judgmental comfort and support to enhancing your overall quality of life, these psychiatric support animals can be an incredible anecdote to an individual’s mental health challenges.
If you think you may benefit from having an ESA or service dog, start by seeking professional advice. Talking with an LMHP is the best, risk-free way to find out whether a support animal is right for you.
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