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Pets can be emotionally supportive to any owner, but if you’re suffering from emotional or mental health problems, they will be especially beneficial.
College students are under a lot of stress, not just with their studies but also with the turbulent feelings that being young and finding one’s place in the world can bring.
So, let’s take a look at how an emotional support animal could benefit you.
What are emotional support animals?
Emotional support animals are prescribed as a form of treatment to help people with conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
They differ from service animals, who help people with disabilities like blindness and deafness, in that emotional support animals are not trained to perform certain tasks.
But emotional support animals are trained to make sure they give their owners the love, support, and companionship that can help to alleviate symptoms like anxiousness, stress, and panic attacks.
To own an emotional support animal, you’ll need to qualify. Once you have sought advice from your doctor, you can gain a licensed letter enabling you to be eligible to own an emotional support animal.
Check out this helpful article to learn more about how to apply for emotional support animal letters.
Interacting with a Pet Helps Your Body to Release Serotonin
When you own an emotional support animal to help ease the symptoms of things like trauma and depression, your pet’s love and affection will make your body release the happiness hormone serotonin.
Many studies have shown that after just a few minutes of petting, cuddling, or playing with pets, people are relieved of things like stress and sadness.
An Emotional Support Animal Provides Fantastic Companionship
Emotional support animals like dogs, cats, and rabbits, offer fantastic companionship.
Being a college student can sometimes feel lonely, especially if you’re stressed, locked in your room trying to study.
When you build a relationship with a pet, you can soon dissolve those feelings of loneliness, fear, and anxiety.
It Can Be Easier to Meet People
While college life brings plenty of opportunities for meeting new people and engaging in social activities, that can be harder said than done when you suffer from something like anxiety or panic attacks.
But having an emotional support animal can make it easier to meet new people and talk to people. When you have a dog with you, for instance, you have a companion to hold on to and a great conversation starter.
An Emotional Support Animal Can Provide a Sense of Purpose
By owning an emotional support animal, you’ll gain a new purpose in life.
While your pet will look after you by giving you unconditional love, in turn, you’ll need to look after your pet. By having responsibility for the health and wellbeing of your pet, you won’t only gain a new purpose. You’ll also become mentally stronger.
An Emotional Support Animal Can Help You to Prevent Physical Health Conditions
Having an emotional support animal not only benefits your mental health. It can also be beneficial for your physical health.
For instance, when you have a dog, you’ll spend a lot of time walking in the fresh air. By becoming more physically active, you’ll help to prevent diseases that can arise from stagnant lifestyles, such as heart disease. You reduce the risk of things like high blood pressure when you stay physically active, too.
So, an emotional support dog is often the best choice of animal. It will benefit you mentally and physically.
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