How Do Emotional Support Animals Help survivors?

Did you know that animals can be a vital asset in a survivor’s journey to recovery? Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are animals that are designated to provide support, comfort and relieve symptoms of those who have experienced trauma or mental health issues. For survivors, ESA can make a tremendous difference in overall wellbeing and quality of life. 

An ESA is different from a service animal, and both require different certifications. A service animal is an animal, typically a dog, that has been extensively trained to provide support to and guide disabled people through their daily tasks. ESA are any kind of animal and they provide emotional and mental support. Learn more about the certification process of ESA here.

How ESA Support Survivors

Survivors of sexual assault and/or abuse are at a higher risk of developing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, eating disorders, anxiety, and other mental health issues.1 However, ESA can provide a silver lining for those who are struggling.2

Many studies have shown that support animals and pets can be powerful tools for survivors and those experiencing mental unwellness. ESA have the ability to help both the survivors’ psychological and physiological health.2

Mental Encouragement

ESA have been shown to help with:

  • Lowering anxiety2,3
  • Trauma support2,3
  • Alleviating loneliness2,3
  • Enhancing social engagement and interaction3,4
  • Normalizing heart rate and blood pressure
  • Reducing pain and stress3
  • Increasing pleasure3,4 
  • Reducing depression2

Negative Affect

Studies have shown that animals, specifically dogs, cause humans to produce more dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for happiness. Having an animal companion can boost your mood and encourage you to do things, such as going for a walk, that we may not do if we are going through a bout of depression. Research also shows that cuddling with a dog or cat releases oxytocin, a hormone also associated with causing feelings of happiness.4

Social Interaction

Having an animal companion or an ESA means that you will always have a friend around. Animals also can increase our social interactions with other people, such as talking to another dog owner at the dog park or joining an online community dedicated to posting about your cat. People love to bond with other people over animals!3

Anxiety and Trauma

Animals can sense things that people can’t and can be our own alarm system. There’s a reason people have guard dogs, a dog often will bark when someone approaches your home or enters your property. For survivors, having this alarm system can make them feel so much safer. Additionally, our pets are more in tune with our emotions than we realize, and may cuddle up with us when they sense we’re sad.3

It’s important to remember that these animals are not just pets- they are essential support systems for survivors.

Sources:

  1. Oram S. (2019). Sexual violence and mental health. Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 28(6), 592–593. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796019000106
  2. Pedretti, G., Wirobski, G., Range, F., & Marshall-Pescini, S. (2021). Artificially elevated oxytocin concentrations in pet dogs are associated with higher proximity-maintenance and gazing towards the owners. Physiology & Behavior, 237, 113451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113451
  3. Brooks, H. L., Rushton, K., Lovell, K., Bee, P., Walker, L., Grant, L., & Rogers, A. (2018). The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence. BMC psychiatry, 18(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1613-2
  4. Hoy-Gerlach, J., Vincent, A., Scheuermann, B., & Ojha, M. (2022). Exploring Benefits of Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): A Longitudinal Pilot Study with Adults with Serious Mental Illness (SMI). Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2022.0016

Support Is Available

988 suicide & crisis lifeline

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We’re committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.

Phone: 988

Chat: Click here to chat

Text: Send any message to 988

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Crisis Text Line

We provide free, 24/7, confidential text-based mental health support and crisis intervention in both English and Spanish for anyone in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Text: “HOME” or “HOLA” to 741741

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7 Cups

7 Cups is an on-demand emotional health service and online therapy provider. Anyone who wants to talk about whatever is on their mind can quickly reach out to a trained, compassionate listener through our network. We have hundreds of listeners who come from all walks of life and have diverse experiences.

Chat: Click here to chat

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