Why Everyone With Anxiety or Depression Should Consider an Emotional Support Animal

It’s not easy to live with anxiety or depression, yet many Americans must do just that. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America reports that 40 million U.S. adults have anxiety disorders, while 17.3 million people live with depression. Luckily, the conversation around mental health is growing, and people are more willing to open up about their experiences and symptoms. Despite this, only 36.9% of those with anxiety disorders are receiving treatment.

Emotional support animals (ESAs) can help. An ESA is an animal that offers comfort to someone with a diagnosed mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression. Any animal can be an ESA if it helps you cope with your symptoms, and there’s no formal training requirement. Let’s explore the reasons why anyone living with anxiety or depression should consider an ESA. 

1. ESAs Provide Unconditional Emotional Support

Emotional support is essential for anyone with anxiety or depression, but even your most trusted friend or family member can be hard to be around when you’re feeling vulnerable. Emotional support animals provide non-judgmental support and companionship when you need it but find it hard to be around other people.

Human-animal bonds have been shown to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. A market research study found that 85% of respondents believed that interaction with an animal could reduce loneliness, while 76% thought it could also address social isolation. These sentiments were especially strong among pet owners who had experienced the benefits of animal companionship for themselves.

2. ESAs Help Alleviate Stress and Anxiety Through Physical Interaction

Physical interaction can bring you back to yourself when you're feeling stressed or anxious and help reduce your symptoms. This interaction could be with a loved one, a close friend, or an emotional support animal. Physical contact with animals has been proven to be calming by increasing oxytocin levels in the brain and reducing cortisol levels.

Oxytocin helps to slow your heart rate, lower blood pressure, and create a sense of calm—all things that can help you feel better when you’re struggling with anxiety or depression. An ESA acts as your social support and helps calm your stress responses so you can healthily cope with your symptoms.

3. ESAs Encourage Daily Structure and Responsibility

Anxiety and depression can make it seem like your life lacks meaning, even when it doesn’t. In many cases, establishing daily routines and creating structure can help you feel like your life has a purpose, motivating you to keep moving forward. Taking care of an ESA is a great way to set predictable routines and add meaning to your life.

Studies have found that routines help create purpose in life and can help counteract the symptoms of mental health conditions like anxiety or depression. Caring for an animal creates an easy routine, including feeding, bathing, walking, and playing. In turn, this can reduce feelings of hopelessness while stabilizing your mood and giving you a reason to get up daily.

4. ESAs Help Combat Social Isolation

Social isolation is a real problem today, with one in three adults in the U.S. reporting feeling lonely and one in four feeling like they lack social and emotional support. Depression and anxiety can exacerbate these feelings of isolation. An emotional support animal can help break the cycle of isolation by encouraging you to step outside and engage with the world. ESAs can also help boost your confidence if you’re worried about leaving the house.

Research underscores the significant role of companion animals, particularly ESA dogs, in combating social isolation. Whether dogs, cats, or other pets, their companionship proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering emotional support to individuals navigating the challenges of stay-at-home orders and limited social interactions.

5. ESAs Support Emotional Regulation

Anxiety and depression can make it hard to regulate your emotions, which can exacerbate your symptoms. Emotional support animals can help improve emotional regulation, offering comfort during depressive episodes or anxiety attacks.

A study published by Human Research in Rehabilitation found that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) positively impacted memory, attention, emotion regulation, and depressive symptoms in participants, while no significant changes were found in the control group. Contact with an ESA can have the same effect on anyone dealing with symptoms of anxiety and depression.

6. ESAs Complement Traditional Mental Health Treatments

ESAs offer numerous benefits to those who live with anxiety and depression. From encouraging routine and structure in your life to reducing cortisol levels when you’re stressed or anxious, ESAs can be a helpful part of a mental health treatment plan. However, ESAs don’t replace traditional treatments like therapy and medication; instead, they complement these treatments by offering holistic emotional support.

So, while getting an emotional support animal can be a solid alternative anxiety treatment, it won’t cure your symptoms. However, it can be vital to an overall mental health care plan.

7. ESAs Can Improve Quality of Life over Time

There are several long-term benefits of ESAs for anxiety and depression, including increased emotional resilience, improved coping mechanisms, and an improved outlook on life.

A study conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh, surveyed equal numbers of pet owners and non-pet owners over 13 years of age. The results showed that pet owners were 41% less likely to be depressed than non-pet owners. If you are already prone to depression, getting an animal can lead to gradual improvements in mental well-being over time. In addition to providing emotional support, ESAs can encourage more social interaction and exercise, which can help improve your outlook on life and potentially decrease depression symptoms.

Conclusion

Emotional support animals can play a huge role in managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. They offer comfort and support, help you regulate your emotions, give you a greater sense of purpose, and even decrease cortisol levels to help calm you when you’re stressed. The emotional, mental, and physical benefits of having an ESA are numerous for those suffering from anxiety and depression and can make a significant difference in managing mental health.

If an ESA could help you manage your symptoms, consult a mental health professional or ESA specialist to evaluate whether an ESA could be a valuable addition to your treatment plan. They can help you get an ESA letter, making it easier to find housing without worrying about paying pet deposits and fees. The best ESA letter services make it easy to get a letter and allow you to renew the letter as needed.