It’s a secret that many people don’t know about, but owning an emotional support animal has some profound benefits. ESA or emotional support animals are your best friends that keep your company through thick and thin. For example, you may experience stress and anxiety that has become a common occurrence in the working class of society.
Your ESA guide will help you tackle stressful situations and offer comfort and confidence to avoid pressure and depression. They’re almost as good for you as your mom’s home cooking. Whether it be from stress or depression, having a furry friend by your side is sure to make everything better.
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Health benefits of owning an ESA:
- Individuals with ESA have lower blood pressure: In a study from the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, individuals who had been diagnosed with anxiety or depression and lived with an ESA experienced lower systolic blood pressure, a key component of treating hypertension, than those who did not live with an ESA.
- Helps control the glucose level: Numerous studies have also shown that regular dog ownership is linked to lower blood glucose levels. Since stress raises one’s risk for diabetes, having a companion animal may help control the condition.
- Soothing your pet can positively affect cardiovascular health: Studies have shown that having pets reduces blood pressure and makes it easier for individuals with hypertension to adhere to medication regimens—which is significant because high blood pressure significantly increases the risk for heart disease or stroke. People who own dogs are 50% more likely to survive a heart attack, which can be attributed to the benefits of having companionship and reduced stress.
- As if all of this wasn’t enough, studies have shown that having pets can help you live longer. People who had dogs or cats were less likely to die early than people without pets. And while some may argue that it’s because healthier people are more likely to own pets in the first place, there is another explanation for these findings: pet owners visit their doctor nearly 20 percent more often than non-pet owners.
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Helps with your mental health issues:
- Regulates your oxytocin levels: Another study showed that just petting an animal increases oxytocin levels in both parties—and this is even more significant for individuals who have never had pets before! When you have more oxytocin flowing through your system, your body secretes natural anti-inflammatories that help with pain management while reducing cortisol levels (stress hormone) present in the body.
- People with ESAs are less likely to be depressed: According to a 2011 study published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, ESAs may help reduce depressive symptoms. It has been dubbed “the Lassie Effect.” People suffering from depression can get relief by spending time with their furry friend ESA, who improves the person suffering from chronic depression or other mental health issues.
- Improves and uplifts your mood: Emotionally supportive animals have shown the ability to improve mood levels, particularly among individuals diagnosed with depression or other mental illnesses. The ESA’s companionship can lessen feelings of loneliness —which is linked to an increased risk for developing depression.
- It turns out our furry friends are pretty good at cheering us up, too: Petting animals releases endorphins which stimulate feelings of happiness—similar to physical exercise or eating chocolate. Additionally, if treated like another family member, pets provide unconditional love without judgment or bias. Again, having someone accept you as you are unconditionally is just what the doctor ordered. For instance, consider cat breeds like the Maine Coon. They are gentle and affectionate giants that relish spending quality time with their human companions. They have a strong sense of being part of the family and don’t mind invading your personal space or privacy. When you opt to search for Maine Coon kittens for sale, these cats find immense joy in following you from one room to another as you go about your daily activities.While Maine Coons are undeniably affectionate and sociable, they typically aren’t your typical “lap cats.” Instead, they prefer to be by your side rather than perched on your lap, making them an excellent choice for adoption among Maine Coon kittens for sale.
- Suicidal tendencies: People with suicidal thoughts could benefit from owning pets such as dogs who provide unconditional love and affection that helps people cope emotionally, except for cats known to be independent creatures.
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Maintains your work-life balance:
- ESA’s lead to higher satisfaction rates at work: People who own ESAs are more satisfied with their jobs than those without an ESA, according to research by the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations. Not only that, but they’re also more productive on average — which means they get more done in a day.
- They lessen the severity of acute stress: In one study, researchers found that participants who had been subjected to a socially stressful event experienced less anxiety when accompanied by their pet dogs during the experience. In another study, students who were told they would be speaking to a panel of interviewers experienced less acute stress during the exercise if their dog was present with them beforehand.
- Support in social interactions: Guide dogs for the blind and eerily enough emotional therapy dogs also help people gain confidence and trust when it comes to navigating in public spaces. It’s even said that these furry friends offer psychological benefits beyond their physical strength. They serve as a friend and act as a guardian in public spaces where one may become easily lost.
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Helps you with acrophobia and other social phobias:
A study found that when people with acrophobia used an emotional support dog to accompany them, they were able to overcome their fears faster than when they tried to go it alone. A study found that when people with acrophobia used an emotional support dog to accompany them, they overcame their fears faster than when they tried to go alone.
It will help you get through a city without fear of being judged or stared at because they’re so cute it makes people smile! Even just the presence of an emotional support animal triggers serotonin production, which will immediately affect your mood and outlook on life for that day! (not to mention, if you dress them up for Halloween, they’ll get a lot of compliments!)
Conclusion:
last but not least, they will make you smile! If you’re feeling down, nothing helps more than playing with a dog and seeing how excited they get when they see their leash come out! Emotional support animals love going for walks and spending time with you, which in turn makes them healthy and happy too! You know you need a esa to get you through the day with ease and lots of cuddles.