Since the past, cases of severe emotional stress or physiological illnesses have risen. In fact, 1 in 5 individuals is noted to suffer from different kinds of mental sickness. More than that, the rise of emotional support animals or ESAs have also been noted. This is because emotional support animals can be a huge part of the treatment by offering individuals with unconditional love, support, and companionship. People who have ESAs have been noted to have fewer levels of panic attacks and depression/stress outbreaks. Moreover, these animals are an excellent measure against symptoms such as phobia, anxiety, depression and other psychological illnesses.
The first step to getting an ESA is by qualifying for it. To be deemed eligible for an ESA, individuals have to obtain a recommendation emotional support animal letter from a licensed healthcare professional or psychiatrist. But before you head out to your nearest physician, here are some of the things you need to know about the ESA recommendation letter:
How Do I Receive an ESA Letter?
Typically, ESA letters must be requested or issued by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist. It can be easy to get for those who are already taking therapy from certain doctors. Since the doctor knows about the individual’s condition, they can quickly roll out an ESA recommendation letter. However, those who do not go to therapy may need to join one or two sessions with a licensed physician to have their medical history recorded. This enables the doctor to note down if the individual is eligible to be around animals. One good thing is that the process can even be done online if the professional is licensed.
Some qualifying conditions to receive an ESA letter include panic disorder/attacks, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression or even PTSD.
Once the physician clarifies your condition, he will write down a recommendation letter and send it to the nearest ESA center or give it to you. With this certified letter, you will be identified as a patient who requires a good ESA to care for mental or emotional issues. The letter will also include that you need an ESA to have motivation for performing daily tasks and the animal is part of the therapy to get you back on track.
Does My Recommendation ESA letter Need to be Certified?
While getting a valid certificate for an ESA is not essential, doctors may write a recommendation letter for their patients who are suffering from mental disorders. They include animals as part of a treatment that helps individuals to get back to their daily life routines. This works because some emotional support animals act as motivators for individuals who have otherwise lost the meaning of life.
Can ESA Letters Be Requested Online?
The answer is yes. Getting an ESA letter is very easy and you do not have to necessarily walk to a physician’s office to get it. However, it is important to look out for scammers that will claim to have certified letters. Chances are that they might sell you an invalid letter. To prevent that, it is easier to go to online companies who offer ESAs, along with the help to connect with their own physicians. These physicians can take your interview and write the letter online.
Once you have got the letter, the same company will provide you ESA choices. Moreover, this way it will be more affordable.
Can an Emotional Support Animal Be Purchased?
No. Those who have ESAs are only authorized to have these animals through a recommendation letter. If you see any company or person selling registered/licensed ESAs then they are not legitimate.
What Animals are the Best Type of ESAs?
While dogs are the most popular emotional support animals, other animals can also be considered as ESAs. These animals can include birds, cats, owls, and even hamsters. These animals can mostly be found at an animal shelter. You will be required to spend some time with all kinds of animals available and see which one you emotionally resonate with. This animal will then be your ESA until you are treated properly.
In multiple cases, cats and dogs can be excellent emotional support animals as they not only have loving personalities, but they also help individuals to get motivated. They also do not need to be trained to do a specific task.
How are Service and Emotional Support Animals Different?
Some misconceptions state that emotional support animals are the same as service animals. However, that is incorrect. Service animals are trained animals who perform multiple duties for their owners. Individuals who are given service animals are mentally or physically disabled. Meanwhile, Support Animals have not trained in any way and are just helpful in providing individuals with much-needed love, attention, and support.
Pets are amazing companions to have, especially if you suffer from chronic depression, anxiety, PTSD or panic attacks. These animals are great in offering the required emotional support and care that can help individuals get back on track.
To be certified to have an ESA with you, it is important to have a licensed recommendation letter from a therapist or psychiatrist. This will ensure that your companion is allowed to stay with you and go around with you whenever you go.
