It’s no secret that emotional support animals can lift your spirits. But you can only keep an emotional support animal if you have a qualifying mental disorder. The medical conditions that permit you to keep an ESA range from anxiety, PTSD, age-related cognitive decline, autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder to depression. So, if you have any of the above-mentioned mental health disorders, you are eligible to get an emotional support dog or cat. Though there is a lot of confusion about what emotional support animals are and how can your furry little friend help with emotional problems. Truthfully, dogs can not only help you with emotional problems but also increase your productivity.
There is so much to emotional support animals than just vests, privileges under the Air Carrier Access Act and Fair Housing Act. Especially in a country that has been taken by the storm of mental illnesses. This is to say that emotional support dogs and for that matter, any other ESA fundamentally plays several roles in your life. In this post, we will discuss the role of an emotional support dog and the ways in which they can increase your productivity. Let’s begin.
Emotional Support dogs reduce stress
Individuals who suffer from emotional instabilities often struggle with panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. All these mental illnesses arise from an extremely stressful environment, modern lifestyle, traumatic experiences, etc. Sometimes anxiety and depression can be difficult for people to handle. This is where comes the need to bring in an emotional support dog in your life. Dogs can reduce anxiety and the same has been proved in several studies.
One study claims that when a person interacts with the dog, dopamine (a neurotransmitter that controls the feeling of pleasure) production increases. In fact, you should spend more time with your pooch. It will also help you increase the capacity to love and care over a certain period of time. So, whether you are depressed or have constant episodes of anxiety. You can get an emotional support dog. You will feel safe and cared for in the company of that dog.
They will increase physical activity
One of the most commonly occurring mental disorders is depression. According to the World Health Organization as of 2017, 300 million people are suffering from depression all around the world. This is indeed a fact that most people tend to ignore and the possibility of that number being ignored over time. If I talk about mental health conditions like depression. There are a lot of other things that come along with it. One of them is the decrease in physical activities.
Usually, people suffering from depression tend to lock themselves in a room and find it hard to get out of bed. But if the same individual gets an emotional support dog, that particular dog will give them a purpose to get out of the bed. Not only this, but regular walks with the dog will also help them recognize the need to stay fit while dealing with depression. Gradually, when mental health improves they will realize how a simple walk can help them stay fit emotionally and physically. Instead, in a recent survey, it was found that dog owners walk more than people who do not have dogs. This means that they walk more and increased physical activity is good for the body. It boosts the production of endorphins, also known as the ‘feel good hormones.’
An emotional support dog will increase productivity at work
The concept of having an ESA in a workspace is still under scrutiny but some companies allow pets in the office. Also, it is noteworthy that according to the American Disability Act only animals that support humans’ physical disabilities are allowed in public places. However, some states come with an exception in their laws. They allow ESAs to be a part of different public places. So, you can check your state laws and see if you are allowed to take an ESA to public places.
Having said that, let us see how an ESA will help you increase productivity at work. First and foremost, having a dog around will keep your spirits high. This means that you will work on a project or an assignment wholeheartedly. The end results will definitely be good and you will be highly productive at work. In addition to this, an ESA will also help you keep the stress at bay. You won’t have to work under the pressure of having anxiety or panic attacks. Moreover, you will stay calm throughout the day. A win-win situation for your company and you.
1 out of 5 Americans suffer from an episode of depression every day. And guess what? It is impossible to figure out what an individual might be going through. So, with that in mind and how an ESA can actually increase the overall productivity is in itself amazing. How about getting an Emotional Support Dog? Let us know in the comment section below how do you feel about getting an ESA. And we would love to learn about your experiences with an ESA, in case you already have one.