As a college student living away from home for the first time, getting an emotional support animal was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
More and more people are being diagnosed with mental illnesses every day. According to the website Rachel Bustin, over 43.8 million adults each year are diagnosed with a mental illness. Emotional support animals are a safe and calming aid to those who struggle with an illness.
Society has slowly become more accepting of ESA animals, whether it be apartment complexes waving the fee of the animal or college dorms being required to allow support animals for their residents.
Certain steps must be taken to get your pet considered as an ESA. First and foremost, you must meet with a therapist to see if you qualify for an ESA. Then you can request a letter of ESA from said therapist. And that’s it! All you have to do is make sure you have the ESA letter from your therapist and your pet will be considered an emotional support animal.
Ferris State University along with many other colleges have many accommodations in place for their students who meet the qualifications of having an ESA. Ferris State allows students with disabilities to meet with a disability counselor to see if they meet the needs of an ESA if they do not have a therapist. Once approved, the pet can then live in the dorm and be allowed in certain buildings such as FLITE.
Having a support animal has been proven to help relieve anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses. These pets provide companionship, responsibility, endless love and affection and form a special bond with you. Having an ESA provides a reason to get up on those hard days. Also, having an ESA will trigger the release of dopamine in the body which creates the feeling of bonding and love.
ESA animals are not required to do any type of training like service animals are. The animal doesn’t provide any skill besides providing comfort for their owners. However, support animals are expected to be potty trained, harmless and overall be a well-behaved animal.
The presence of this animal can make you feel happier, whether it is playing fetch with your dog or listening to your kitten purr. Most of the time they love to be cuddled and practically ask nothing in return. With my kitten, Ollie, I just change his litter box and feed him and he gives me love in return.
The support animal helps those who feel alone feel loved and accompanied while at the same time building confidence and creating stability. This will reduce the risk of panic attacks, depressive episodes or other mental health illness symptoms. They also provide a natural and effective treatment option.
Having an ESA can potentially allow mental health patients to stay away from addictive medications while still treating any physical and psychological symptoms.
In my experience, having an ESA has turned my life upside down in the best way. Ollie always gets excited to see me and loves to play with his toys. He keeps me from being bored and provides a sense of “adulting” since he trusts me with his life. He has helped by making me laugh when he falls off the counter or drinks out of the toilet. He has also helped with my anxiety by just being there whenever I need him to be.
I definitely would recommend that anyone who is considering getting an ESA or has a mental illness buys the pet. It is truly life-changing and helps in so many ways.