Friends, I have met countless people throughout the years who have quietly suffered. Whether they experienced anxiety, depression, loneliness, or vague emotional pain they couldn’t express in words, these were people who hurt and quietly battled their reality every day.
One question they kept asking me was how to know if you need an emotional support dog.
I want you to take a second and consider whether a support dog is something that could benefit you. I’m not saying you need one. But for many people I’ve met, an emotional support dog literally changed their lives. They didn’t miraculously wake up happy and without mental health symptoms. But they did feel more grounded. They had something dependable to help them weather the hard times.
What Is An Emotional Support Dog?
Before we get into how to know if you need an emotional support dog, let’s back up. What exactly is an emotional support dog?
An emotional support dog is not the same thing as a service dog. Service dogs are trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities. For example, a service dog may guide someone who is blind, alert a person who has epilepsy before they have a seizure, or remind someone with schizophrenia to take their medication.
An emotional support dog isn’t trained to do anything. Their “job” is just to exist and provide comfort to their owner. The only thing that makes your dog an emotional support animal is a letter from a licensed mental health professional documenting that you have an emotional or psychological condition and that your dog benefits your health. That letter also qualifies you for housing and other accommodations.
That’s pretty much it!
Why Get An Emotional Support Dog?
Humans have loved dogs for as long as we’ve been human. We’ve always known that there was something about these creatures that we’re drawn to. They offer unconditional love, limitless comfort, and a joy that is undeniable.
But beyond that, for people who struggle with mental illness and emotional distress, dogs are literally good for our health. When we interact with them, our bodies release all kinds of helpful hormones and chemicals:
- Cortisol (the stress hormone) goes down
- Blood pressure decreases
- Oxytocin (the feel-good/love chemical) increases
Studies have proven that when you’re around dogs, you feel better. Science says so. When people tell you that their dog helps them feel calmer, less anxious, and more grounded, it’s not just emotional — it’s physical.
Are you starting to see how these loyal creatures can make such a positive impact on our lives? Let’s dig into a few signs that having a support dog would be good for your mental health.
6 Signs You May Benefit From An Emotional Support Dog
1.You Deal With Anxiety Frequently
Do you struggle with anxiety? Do you wake up every day dreading what the day will bring? Would you describe yourself as being “stressed out” or “on edge” much of the time?
If anxiety is a regular struggle for you, an emotional support dog might provide relief. As humans, we get ourselves wrapped up in our heads. We worry about things we can’t control. We spiral when things don’t go our way. And all that anxiety we generate in our heads literally hurts us. It causes panic attacks, makes our blood pressure soar, and damages our relationships.
But dogs live in the moment. If you’re panicked or worrying about something, your dog will nudge you with their nose. They’ll climb into your lap. They’ll plop down beside you and park it. Their calming presence can help us calm down.
2.Depression Or Sadness Is A Battle You Face
Depression lies to you. It tells you that your life doesn’t matter. Getting out of bed is pointless. Eating nutritious food isn’t worth the effort.
But when you have depression, just getting out of bed each day is an accomplishment. Looking after yourself can feel impossible. With depression, everything feels heavy. What’s worse is how isolating it can be. You want to stay inside. You don’t want to talk to people. You may push everyone away.
But having a dog means you HAVE to get up. You have to feed your dog. You have to take your dog outside. You have to be social with another living creature. Depression sufferers have told me over and over that their dog was literally the reason they got out of bed some days.
Having something to take care of that depends on you can help you fight that nasty depression whispering in your ear.
3.You Feel Lonely Or Isolated
Loneliness is the worst.
Whether you live by yourself, work from home, or just feel disconnected from people in your life — loneliness can take over.
A dog can help.
Sure, they aren’t human. But damn if a dog doesn’t fill that lonely space when you need it.
4.PTSD Symptoms Or Trauma
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a unique beast. If you live with PTSD, you know how difficult life can be.
You struggle to control flashbacks.
You constantly feel on edge.
Things that shouldn’t trigger anxiety send you into a panic.
You may even feel numb.
But dogs are incredible with PTSD clients I’ve worked with. Time and time again, dogs have sensed when their person was struggling with PTSD symptoms. Clients have told me their dog would nudge them during nightmares, sit with them during panic attacks, or simply ground them when they felt disconnected from reality.
Dogs provide comfort that is undeniable. If you struggle with PTSD symptoms, having a living, breathing creature that nudges you back to reality could be a game changer.
5.You Get Dreaded Social Anxiety
Putting yourself out there is hard.
Whether it’s talking to your neighbors, asking your boss a question, or attending a party — social anxiety can turn small tasks into heroic efforts.
If you struggle with social anxiety, having a dog can help. For one, taking care of a dog gives you a reason to leave the house. You’ve got to get up and feed Fido! You’ve got to walk Fido around the block! You’ve got Fido now.
Plus, when you do go out in public with your dog, strangers will actually want to talk to you! Dogs are social bridges. You’ll start having reasons to be social again. And before you know it, your anxiety will decrease.
6.A Mental Health Professional Suggested It To You
This one sort of speaks for itself. If you talked to your therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or anyone in the mental health field and they suggested you consider getting an emotional support dog — well, consider getting an emotional support dog!
How To Know If You Need an Emotional Support Dog
QUIZ
Take this quick quiz to see if you could benefit from an emotional support dog.
Do you often feel like your emotions are out of control?
Do you struggle with mental illness like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or a mood disorder?
Do you often feel like you have nobody to talk to?
Does your mental illness make it difficult to function at work, at home, or in other areas of your life?
Would having a comforting presence to come home to each day really benefit your mental health?
If you answered yes to most of those questions, you may want to talk to your mental health professional about whether or not an emotional support dog is a good idea for you.
They can provide an official letter for you if you need one and help you decide if your needs would benefit from a four-legged companion.
Things To Consider If You Want An Emotional Support Dog
Let me clarify: having a dog is a LOT of work.
They need food, water, and lots of love. They need exercise, vet visits, and training. Getting a dog is a huge commitment. But if you’re consistent with a dog, they could actually push you to be more consistent with yourself.
Will you ever forget to feed and walk your dog? Yes! But when you do, you’ll feel bad about it. You’ll make sure it doesn’t happen as often. Many people thrive when they have a dog because they know they NEED to take care of themselves now. They have something to live for. A happy, wagging tail that gets excited when they come through the door every single day.
If you’re ready for the commitment, adopt that baby! Dog adoption can be life changing.
FAQs
Are There Certain Breeds That Make Better Emotional Support Dogs?
Nope! Any dog can be your ESA if you need one.
Will My Emotional Support Dog Live With Me? Will They “Work”?
Your dog will 100% live with you. Emotional support dogs do not “work” the way service dogs do.
Service dogs are trained to go into care facilities, hospitals, schools, etc. to provide comfort and support. They work with many different people and provide therapeutic benefits across a range of individuals.
Emotional support dogs live with their handlers and provide comfort specifically to them.
Can My Pet Already Live With Me and Just Get ESA Documentation?
You can!
As long as your landlord follows Fair Housing Act regulations, you should be able to obtain a waiver of their no-pets policy because you have a mental illness and your dog benefits that condition.
While you should always notify your landlord and give them proper documentation, you do not NEED to get an ESA letter before you get your dog.
Can Kids Get Emotional Support Dogs?
Yes! Children can benefit from emotional support dogs just like adults can.
If you believe that your child would benefit from having a constant, loving presence in their life, talk to their therapist or doctor about it.
Do I Need To Pay For My ESA Dog’s Accommodations?
You should NOT have to pay any pet fees or deposits if you have proper documentation for your emotional support animal.
Your landlord cannot charge you anything associated with “pets” if you provide them with the proper paperwork.
Under the Fair Housing Act, emotional support animals are not considered pets. So you get all the same rights as a tenant without a dog.
Can My Dog Sleep In Bed With Me?
Yes! Dogs are great roommates. 🙂
Conclusion
How to know if you need an emotional support dog is pretty simple: if you need one, you know you need one. Life is hard enough as it is. Whether you struggle with depression, anxiety, loneliness, trauma, or any mental illness or health condition that causes you pain — you deserve to feel better.
And while your dog won’t solve all of your problems, they can help you cope. They won’t get angry when you’re short with them. They won’t turn their back on you when you’re having a hard time. They won’t say mean things to you when you’re already feeling badly about yourself.
Dogs are magic. If you think having a support dog could help you, please reach out to your mental health professional about it. They can determine whether you would qualify and write you the letter you need to take home your new best friend.
You’ve got this. I believe in you.
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