What is an Emotional Support Dog?
Anyone who has owned a dog knows the unconditional love and support they give. There's nothing like coming home from a bad day at work and waiting for you at the door is your furry friend waiting to give you all the love you need and turn your day around. Because of their ability to provide support and unconditional love, the mental health profession has begun using dogs (and other animals) as emotional support for individuals with varying mental health issues. Emotional support dogs have been shown to help individuals suffering from the following:
- Aerophobia (the fear of flying)
- Agoraphobia (the fear of leaving the home)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- General Anxiety Disorder
- PTSD
- Social Shyness
- Stress-Induced Situations
With the help of emotional support dogs, those suffering from the above disorders have been able to begin recovering and regaining the confidence and freedom with the help of their emotional support animal.