Benefits of Having ESA's


Cuddles... The Best Kind of Medicine:

It's no surprise that our furry babies can be a great way to reduce anxiety and promote comfort and happiness. Research has shown that when you pet your beloved family pet, your brain releases Oxytocin. This is known as the "cuddle chemical" and has a variety of health benefits. A reduction in stress levels is the biggest positive factor when it comes to petting our fur babies. Due to the reduction in stress levels, cortisol levels also decrease. Increased levels of this hormone can be known to cause inflammation, reduced immunity, and weight gain. Having an ESA also has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. Blood pressure decreases and becomes stabilized, while it decreases the risk for a variety of cardiovascular diseases. The number one reason people apply for an ESA is because of the positive outcomes for many mental health conditions. These can include (but are not limited to) PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety. Having an ESA has proven to improve a person's self-esteem and reduce feelings of loneliness. The best part of having an ESA is that you can take them with you in certain circumstances. These include no-pet policy housing units, college dormitories, and commercial flights. Another perk to having ESA pets is that some apartment complexes will waive the pet fees with proof of documentation! So how does this process work to certify your furry friend? The first step usually requires filling out an application that either a therapist or your healthcare provider will review. Once they determine that you would be a good candidate for an ESA they will review your medical history and current mental state. Once you have been approved, a letter will be written and given to you in person or by mail. A misunderstood concept people think when it comes to ESA pets is the fact that the animal has to be either a cat or a dog. In reality, any animal can be classified as an ESA as long as it provides some benefit to the person's well-being. People have been known to have horses, guinea pigs, lizards, and many other animal species as their therapy pets. Personally, I find ESA pets to be extremely helpful and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. I would know, as I have two giant cuddle bugs that have been certified as ESAs for a few years now. I honestly couldn't imagine getting through some of my battles without them. If you feel you may benefit from an ESA, reach out to your provider to begin the process. Don't have a provider or therapist? Not to worry! There are many sites online where you can apply for an ESA and get assigned to a licensed therapist to discuss your case. Here is a list of sources where you can apply for an ESA!

  • CertaPet (most popular) 
  • Pettable 
  • US Service Animals
  • ESA Doctors 
  • Support Pets        
My Lovely ESA Fur Babies!!!! 

Simba (Left) Nala (Right) 
     

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wishing Everyone A Peaceful Memorial Weekend

Image
Hoping everyone is having a pleasant three day weekend! Enjoy some time with family and friends and take advantage of this good weather! Don’t forget though… freedom always comes at a cost. Take some time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to allow for us to have these beautiful things! 
Read more

Learning How to Ground

Image
  Tuning Into Your Environment: Anxiety and panic attacks are very common and can be difficult to manage. Especially when you're by yourself and are unable to rely on others for help. So what do you do? Luckily there are some effective ways to help control these conditions. Grounding techniques and mindfulness are great resources that benefit many people who suffer from these conditions. Below is a list of ways to help calm a person's mind and reorient them to their environment.  The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique:   Name out loud: 5 - things you can see (you can look within the room and out of the window) 4 - things you can feel (the silkiness of your skin, the texture of the material on your chair, what does your hair feel like? What is in front of you that you can touch? A table perhaps?) 3 - things you can hear (traffic noise or birds outside when you are quiet and actually listening things in your room constantly make a noise but typically we don't hear them). 2 ...
Read more

The Ultimate Loss

Image
Forever Missed But Never Forgotten: It's a situation no one ever wishes to find themselves in. The heartbreak and grief that comes, but never goes away. We learn to cope with the pain and move forward as best as we can. Every 11 minutes a person takes their own life. The first thoughts that usually go through a person's mind is, "How did I miss it?" The difficult answer is, we usually don't. Those who struggle learn to hide behind the feelings they truly feel. In fear that people will judge them or not believe them. Family and friends may feel sorrow, guilt, and anger. There is one common statement I hear constantly regarding those who complete suicide. "What a selfish decision, all they did was transfer the pain onto us." As much as this may seem to be the case, we have to remember that these people felt they couldn't see another way out. A person suffering constantly from these thoughts can only continue on for so long. When they attempt to reach o...
Read more