Do you have a mental or physical disability? Or some form of handicap that you could use some assistance with? If so, there are several outlets to seek help. One is with an ESA or emotional support animal. This type of animal can provide emotional support and boost your mood and well-being. An ESA is just one type of companion animal that can assist you with certain limitations. There are other dogs that can also help you in other ways, too. Here are just a few ways that these dogs can help you and empower your life.
Offering Support For Depression And Anxiety
Emotional support animals are well known for providing added support for those suffering from panic attacks and depression. This is because sometimes just the presence of an animal offers comfort and unconditional love. This alone provides a calming effect that can help lower blood pressure and reduce racing thoughts. So maybe you’re wondering how to get an emotional support animal? If you suffer from depression or generalized anxiety disorder, ask your doctor about getting a medical prescription for an ESA. From there, you’ll be able to have your dog legally live with you—especially if dogs are prohibited in your rental unit. You may also be able to take your dog with you into some public places that allow it. Don’t be confused with being able to take your ESA pet everywhere, only certified service dogs are able to travel and enter into any public domain with you.
If You Have Visual Impairments
In some cases, an ESA may help you at home if you have problems or limitations with your vision. If you are high risk or have total blindness, you may qualify for a leader dog for the blind. These dogs are trained extensively to help you navigate through daily living with their undivided assistance. It takes months for these dogs to be trained and they are often trained with their new owner intermittently until they’re ready for their new home. Contacting the Leader Dogs For the Blind is the first step in finding out if you qualify for this type of canine assistance.
Helping With PTSD
Did you serve in the active military? Were you in the war and now you have been experiencing extreme stress and negative reactions or flashbacks of a traumatic event? If so, you may have post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. This can be a debilitating medical condition that can lead to isolation and unwanted feelings and behavior. One thing that your doctor or therapist may suggest doing is getting a support dog for help with PTSD episodes or symptoms. If you have a service dog specially trained in PTSD, he will be able to notify you or others of a possible attack coming on. He may also be able to help comfort you and bring attention to your condition should you have a severe attack and are unable to respond immediately. You can also obtain an ESA companion dog that can help provide emotional support at home. Ask your doctor about getting in touch with professionals who can help find the best pet to help your situation.
Alert Dogs
Everyone knows about K-9 dogs that help assist police offers and first responders with tracking down people. And while they receive extensive instruction and on-the-job training, these dogs can get specialized guidance on how to alert others of when someone is feeling ill or experiencing a serious medical condition. These types of alert dogs can either part of a police K-9 team or be available for placement with a qualified individual. Some conditions that they alert the owner or others about include:
- *Diabetic alert-When blood sugars are dangerously high or low.
- *Seizure alert-Just before a seizure occurs, during and immediately after.
- *Emergency alert-Notifying the handler or others of an actual or impending emergency situation, such as a fire or break-in.
Dogs can be trained specifically to be alert to how a person reacts to others and how they may act differently when they’re experiencing a true medical concern or emergency.
If you have any type of life-altering medical condition or you feel your mental illness is holding you back, you may find an entirely new lease on life with a specially trained dog.