5 Things You Should Know about ESA Prescription

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are designed for people in distress. They offer a constant, comforting presence in the face of incapacitating mental illnesses like anxiety, depression, autism, bi-polar disorder or PTSD. An emotional support animal can help with all these illnesses and symptoms just by being available to their owner. An ESA can be any domesticated animal, including dogs, cats, teacup pigs, fish, and even horses.

Although emotional support animals are not required by the law to be trained in certain aspects, unlike service dogs, they are expected to be well-mannered and kept under control so that they do not become a hazard or nuisance for people around them. They are merely intended for companionship and affection. Primarily, emotional support animals can help people with conditions such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, paranoia, panic attacks and other numerous psychological and emotional conditions.

5 Things You Should Know about ESA Prescription

1. An ESA prescription is also referred to as an emotional support animal letter, and is different from getting a service animal permission. Service animals are trained animals, typically involving dogs. They are trained to detect and respond to signs of emotional or psychological disability in their owner/handler, and carry out tasks that alleviate those symptoms. They are allowed to accompany an impaired or disabled individual to all public places including courts.
2. An emotional support animal prescription is prescribed by your doctor and is the key to taking advantage of all the favorable laws related to ESA owners. This important letter can be obtained from any licensed mental health professional, both online or offline. It is a simple document that primarily confirms your status as a patient who has access to an ESA. It is extremely important that you keep this letter with you all the time, especially when travelling with your emotional support animal or when dealing with a potential landlord.
3. Also keep in mind that you will need to renew these letters every year. If you fail to have your ESA prescription with you when travelling or renting, or if it happens to be out dated, you can legally be denied your ESA rights.
4. Not everyone can qualify for an emotional support animal, which ultimately means that not everyone will be entitled to an ESA prescription. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 4 American citizens are mentally/emotionally disabled. If you are one of those people you can easily apply for an Emotional Support Animal either through a licensed doctor or through a reputable online site. The letter will basically confirm that you indeed suffer from an emotional disability and that an emotional support animal can help you cope with the symptoms while bringing you therapeutic benefits. Some of the mental conditions that can help you qualify for an ESA letter include depression, anxiety, phobias, PTSD, gender identity crisis, social anxiety, suicidal tendencies, etc.
5. An ESA prescription should include the following points:

• That you are currently a patient of a certified mental health professional or the doctor who confirmed your mental condition
• That you are under medical care of the same doctor or mental health expert and are being treated for your disability
• That your mental/emotional disability significantly prevents you from performing or participating in at least one or more daily tasks.
• That an emotional support animal is part of your current treatment plan and that it will help alleviate the symptoms of your disability.