By Anoushka Mirchandani
People with disabilities may for a number of reasons use service animals and emotional support animals. Although most dogs, cats and other pets have an emotional connection with their owners, an emotional support animal (ESA), must be prescribed to a person with a debilitating mental condition by a certified mental health practitioner. A therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist must determine if the animal's presence is necessary for the patient's mental health. Owning a pet, for example, may reduce anxiety or provide a sense of purpose in life.
When individuals hold or pet an animal, they report feeling more calm, less worried, and less lonely. They also had a lower level of depression and a regulated heart rate and blood pressure. Imagine how a permanent companion may help alleviate the stress and consequences of mental illnesses on a daily basis.
Animals, despite their inability to communicate and their inability to consistently sympathise with or comprehend sentiments, give valuable companionship. Many owners like conversing with their ESAs because they know the animal cannot criticise them or give them advice. ESAs offer physical affection as well as providing someone to interact with.
Animals need affection and care and humans are no exception. Those who want additional physical affection and connection might sense that love and attention when they are paired together. Taking care of another living thing also makes people feel important and self-sufficient, which is vital for those with mental illnesses. Focusing on their ESA helps them divert their attention away from the things that trigger anxiety and toward activities that are beneficial to their mental health, such as getting outside and taking walks. Although taking care of an animal might be difficult, it also provides individuals with a feeling of purpose and optimism.
The present scenario with the COVID-19 pandemic is unquestionably different. A person with a mental condition may be badly affected by large quantities of change. People are feeling overwhelmed as a result of the various changes taking place right now, including political choices, social distance, quarantine, and company closures.
Those with ESAs are fortunate in that they have a companion who is unaware of the change–though they may notice that you are at home more frequently. Even if their owners are worried and overwhelmed, their ESAs are not. The constant presence of a neutral animal can help people relax and concentrate on their ESA rather than the news.
During the quarantine and social isolation phase, animals have primarily aided people in feeling less alone and providing emotional assistance. It's no wonder that pets are populating social media feeds and video conferences...these are the companions who are helping people cope with the disruption of routine and the danger of COVID-19. While conversing on the phone or video conferencing with a loved one might make you feel less isolated, having an animal around can offer an additional emotional lift.
It's no surprise that many animal shelters have seen an increase in adoptions since the commencement of COVID-19. Even if the companion is furry, those in quarantine understand the desire for companionship.
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