It’s 3 pm on a Tuesday, you’re working from home and still in your jammies, staring at the ceiling, wondering if cereal for dinner counts. Meanwhile, the dishes have piled up, your unread emails are a mile long, and your productivity level is somewhere between sloth and rock. Trying to get it all done feels like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops, so why even bother? 

If that sounds familiar, you probably know what it feels like to experience depression. While talk therapy is helpful, and medication can work for some, you might be looking for even more daily support. Something that can give you structure, force you to move around a bit more, and provide consistent comfort. 

Now imagine that same afternoon, only a furry paw and wet nose presses against your hand with a leash in their mouth. But rather than feel overwhelmed, you’re overcome with a sense of love and duty. You change, grab the leash, and head out the door for a walk in the park. When you get back, you seem to have enough energy and momentum to throw some clothes in the machine and finally open your emails. That’s the power of an Emotional Support Animal (ESA). 

Read on to learn how an ESA compares with medication and what exactly they offer for treating depression naturally. 

Understanding Depression Treatment Options

The first line of depression treatment is often a form of talk therapy, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Science backs up its effectiveness, with a paper reviewing hundreds of studies showing its success alone and with medication.

On top of talk therapy, medication is becoming more and more common. The most popular antidepressants are SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors). SSRIs work to keep serotonin (the “feel good” neurochemical) available in the brain. SNRIs do the same but for both serotonin and norepinephrine, which helps with arousal and alertness. These neurotransmitters can improve your mood, social behavior, and sleep cycles — but it depends on the person. 

The Drawbacks of Medication

The downside is that not everyone wants or can take medication. There are also plenty of people who experience side effects like fatigue, weight changes, headaches, or emotional numbness. Then there’s the risk of becoming dependent on medication, making it harder to get off them. Some people can also become resistant, needing higher doses or not getting much out of medication at all. 

The Rise of ESA’s: An All-Natural Treatment Option

ESAs are companions that serve a purpose. They offer emotional comfort, structure, and routine, all of which impact depression. Countless research studies have investigated what behavioral and lifestyle patterns can increase depressive symptoms. The majority have all come to a consensus, where a list of essential things seem to be missing from our lives, such as:

• Physical touch
• Emotional support
• Routine and structure
• Regular physical activity
• Social and community belonging
• Nutritious and anti-inflammatory foods

It’s no surprise that rates of depression are rising as we move farther and farther away from how humans evolved — in tight-knit communities, working together to raise families and take care of each other. 

Fortunately, even if you’re living isolated, you can bring more emotional comfort, physical activity, routine, and a sense of belonging and purpose into your life — with the help of an ESA. Research is showing their unique benefits, showing that they can help people with varying mental health conditions. 

Medication vs. Emotional Support Animals: A Comparative Approach

Here’s a basic breakdown of how the two compare: 

Why an ESA Could Be Better for Some People

Medication isn’t for everyone. Even if it is working for you, you might still want extra support that can help you change your daily habits for the better. We can name at least 20+ benefits of ESAs for anxiety and depression. Here’s a look into what you can get with the right ESA: 

Routine and Exercise

With an ESA, you really can’t get away with spending the entire day in bed (okay, that depends on the animal you get). But in general, most dogs need at least 30 minutes of walking per day with active breeds needing two hours or more (think Border Collies). Even 2.5 hours of brisk walking weekly is associated with a substantially lower risk of depression.

Cats also need an absolute minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise. Especially if they’re indoor-only, you need to give them dedicated playtime so they don’t get bored and stressed. Our pets can get anxious and depressed without exercise — just like us. 

Plus, having that sense of responsibility of caring for another can create a domino effect of positive wellness habits. They can get you moving, giving you momentum that puts you into action and shifts you in another direction. This can lead to a daily routine that keeps you moving forward rather than standing still and feeling stuck. 

Connection and Companionship

An ESA will always be by your side, offering a non-judgemental ear and innocent encouragement. They don’t tell you to “just cheer up” or give unsolicited advice. Instead, they provide a grounding presence and comforting tactile touch (like furry belly rubs and cuddles when you’re down. 

Even a cat’s purring sounds can calm you down, but also playing with them can excite you and lift you up. Overall, interacting with ESAs releases your “love hormone” oxytocin and reduces stress (for dog owners and other ESAs, too). With an ESA, that sense of loneliness can feel less overwhelming. 

How to Decide If an ESA Is Right for You

Just like medication isn’t for everyone, an ESA is also a personal choice that needs many factors to be taken into account. Here’s what to think about when deciding whether or not to get an ESA: 

• Can you handle the daily responsibilities like regular playtime, feedings, and walks?
  
  • Are you okay with the possibility of being woken up daily at 6 am by a wet nose demanding breakfast?

• Will you be able to manage the financial impact? 
  
  • Can you fit monthly food and toys into your budget? Do you have savings set aside for emergency vet bills (and plenty more cute toys that you didn’t realize you needed)? 

• Do you have the emotional energy daily to interact and play with your ESA? 
  
  • Maybe it’s been a long day and you just want to roll into bed, will you still walk with your dog or play with your cat before falling asleep? 

• Does an ESA fit into your lifestyle?
  
  • Is your routine stable or do you head out of town a lot? Do you have affordable arrangements in place for their care when you’re not available?

• Do you have the physical space for both you and your ESA?
  
  • A small space might not be enough, it depends on both the animal’s and your needs. 

• Can you foster the type of pet you want to see if it’s really practical?
  
  • This way, you’re not tied in. If it’s not a good fit, you don’t have to go through the stress of finding someone else to adopt them. 

If you’re still unsure, it’s best to talk to a mental health professional. They can guide you through specific exercises and thought processes to decide what would work best for you. 

Including an Emotional Support Animal in Your Treatment Plan

The first step toward inviting an ESA into your life is talking with a licensed mental health professional. They can help you figure out the daily routine logistics and decide which type might suit you best. If you’re on medication and looking to wean off of it, speaking to your psychiatrist about how to go about it is essential. 

Once you bring an ESA into your life, you’ll likely have a bit of a learning curve. It takes time to get to know a new soul. Even if you know the breed, each animal is so incredibly unique with their own personality — no two animals are exactly alike. 

Think ahead about how you’d like your day to look with your new ESA and how you can make it happen. You can always tweak your routine as you go about learning of the obstacles in your way. 

Debunking Myths About ESAs

Whether you’re considering an ESA or just curious, here’s a bit of fact from the fiction: 

“ESAs Are a Quick Fix”
ESAs definitely won’t magically “fix” your life overnight. They’re more like long-term help toward slowly building up a sense of safety and security. Although, if you get super active with them right away and come from a sedentary lifestyle, you might really notice those endorphins going off when you walk briskly or run around the park with your dog (nature plus physical activity with your ESA can give you the best pick-me-up of all). 

“Only Dogs Work as ESAs”
Many animals are effective at reducing depressive symptoms. This includes cats, birds, rabbits, and even fish for some people. Each animal has its own unique way of connecting to the person open to them. 

“It’s Too Hard to Get an ESA Letter”
In a matter of days, you can get a valid ESA letter without ever leaving your home with Pettable. The first step is to take a 3-minute survey and then have a 15-minute consultation. Depending on your state laws, you can get your ESA letter emailed to you within 24-48 hours. 

How to Qualify for and Select the Perfect ESA

Ready to take the next step and see if you qualify for an ESA? Here’s how to get started:

1. Speak to your licensed mental health professional or take the 3-minute quiz on Pettable to be automatically matched with one. 
2. Have a consultation letting the professional know of a condition that would be recognized by the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses). 
3. Get an official ESA letter from your licensed mental health professional that explains how an ESA supports your condition. 

Choosing the Right ESA

There are a few key points to consider. The cuteness of that kitty or puppy has to align with things like: 

• Matching your temperament to theirs
• Having a home big enough for the two of you
• Budgeting enough for regular and emergency costs
• Coordinating a daily routine that works for both of you
• The length of the animal’s life and your commitment to care for them 

You can check out some of the best ESAs for depression, where we align temperaments and activity needs to different breeds and animals. The goal is to find an animal that fits into your life and improves it, rather than making you feel stressed out or burdened by their care. Since it’s hard to know for sure what having a certain ESA is like, fostering the type of animal you want first is a great way to get a better idea of what might work, avoiding the stress of having to put them up for adoption again. 

A Brighter Future with Natural Support

Depression can make even the simplest of tasks feel like swimming through molasses. While medication might help some people, an ESA is an all-natural aid that can lead to long-term behavioral changes (and daily comfort). They can offer a sense of responsibility and purpose, force you to be more active, and feel less lonely. 

If you’re on the fence about it, try talking to a mental health professional to see if it’s a good fit and fostering first. You can also do plenty of research checking out the benefits of ESAs for anxiety and depression. Feel free to take Pettable’s 3-minute quiz to get matched with a licensed professional to find out if you qualify for an ESA and get the ball rolling for your new pet (...get it?).