More than a Pet: 7 Heroic Emotional Support Animal Stories

It’s been official for a while! Pets have a significant impact on your mental health. Look into your emotional support animal’s eyes… what do you see?

Whatever it is, it must be intuitively fascinating. But simply put, it’s a resonance of neurological resonance. So, what does research into the topic say about this emotional connection? Let’s break it down.

According to multiple studies, people who own pets have considerably lower chances of being diagnosed with mental disorder problems.

Adopting an emotional support animal (ESA) will help you in managing emotions as well as distract you from many psychological health-related symptoms.

With the current upward trend in the number of people with mental disorder problems, this is a breakthrough in the medical world.

If you’re having mental health issues, get yourself an ESA Letter today!

 

 

If you’re eyeing an ESA, you’ll find a variety of support animals available to choose from, and this works just like a soothing touch. You’ll be well within no time.

To give you a clear picture of these facts, let’s get a glimpse of how living with a mental disorder feels like and how ESA’s play a significant role in correcting these conditions.

 

1. How ESA Helped Anna To Cope With Her Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Name: Anna Walters

Age: 18

Gender: Female

 

 

Q: Anna, can you please tell us what triggered your anxiety issues?

It all began after my parents got divorced. I was fifteen at the time, and being the only child, I had to handle everything on my own. Of course, my parents had promised that we would go through this together, and for the first few months, I couldn’t tell that they were separated. As days went by, everything drifted from bad to worse. Our regular meetings with dad came to a standstill, and my mom spent most of her time at her job. I was all alone most of the time. Although I had several friends back then, opening up to them about our family falling apart was pretty hard.

So, I began having disturbing thoughts, and all I could see was people staring at me, which made me boycott school on several occasions. That was just the beginning. I started isolating myself from even my friends since being around them was quite overwhelming. All I wanted was to be invisible.

 

Q: Can you expound on your experience?

Sure! Well, my parents drowned themselves in their work since this was the best way they could deal with the divorce to the extent that I could now meet up with my dad only at Christmas. They both forgot I existed, and this made me believe that I was the reason behind their divorce. Back then, every time a person asked me how I was handling the situation, I used to feel restless and awkward since this made me self-conscious.

 

Q: At what point did you discover that what you were experiencing wasn’t in the best interest of your mental health?

I don’t remember the exact date, but it was probably a year after my parent’s divorce. By then, I had lost weight, and I had bags under my eyes, but I hadn’t noticed that yet. My mom brought this to my attention, and she kept pleading with me to visit a doctor. At the time, I had been consumed by anger and loneliness, so I didn’t listen. But from that point, things started going downhill, and being around people became overwhelming. I could tell that everyone was judging me wrongly, just from their looks. I remember I had a panic attack in the middle of our class presentation, then the whole enchilada went black. I only realized that I was in a hospital after regaining consciousness. This was when I got to know that I had GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder).

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Q: Did you resolve to have an Emotional Support Animal right after your diagnosis?

Not really! After being diagnosed with GAD, I was put on medication, and I used to attend some therapy sessions to keep my anxiety condition under control. Things gradually became better for me after a month, but I was always out of school due to medication. So, my mom was introduced to Emotional Support Animals and ESA Care by one of her colleagues whose sister was battling some mental issues too. However, we didn’t get my Emotional Support Dog straightaway. We did a lot of research about ESAs online and even checked the website. Once my mom was assuaged, we went ahead to request for one, and that’s how I acquired Muffins.

 

Q: How long did it take you to get an Emotional Support Animal letter, and how did this change your life?

Getting a recommendation letter and getting Muffins took us around 7-10 days. The ESA letter was relatively easy to acquire, and it has transformed my life tremendously. All I had to do is to consult the doctor, answer a few questions, and within four days, the letter was delivered. I’ve had Muffins for a year now, and she boosts my mood whenever I feel low. I just love the way she jumps at me when I’m on my phone or watching television and in an attempt to make me play with her. I always talk to her when I’m having a mental breakdown. And trust me, she’s an excellent listener. We also go for walks in the mornings and evenings. She always senses my emotions and comes to my rescue immediately by kicking my face or even cuddling me until I smile again. She’s so bubbly, and everyone loves her. I spend a lot of my time with her when I’m home. That’s how Muffin has transformed my life immeasurably for the better.

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2. Mr. Fuzzy Helped Mark With His Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Name: Mark Crowne

Age: 25

Gender: Male

 

 

Q: Can you please shed more light on your condition, mark?

Ever since I was a child, there was something in my mind that bound me to lock my bedroom door before retiring to bed, and I was sure that if I didn’t, I would die. I never disclosed this to anyone at home, but once I joined college, it became difficult to hide it since I had a roommate.

 

Q: Was there something linked to your Obsessive-compulsive Disorder?

Yes! I was afraid of death. Long ago, a robbery occurred in my neighborhood. The buglers took all they could but still injured the inhabitants of the home, who later were admitted to a hospital. Luckily, no one died, but that incident intensified my fear of dying. So, I made it a habit to lock my door before going to bed.

 

Q: How did you manage to keep this a secret, and how did people discover that you had OCD?

Trust me! Keeping it a secret was challenging! I used to lock my door daily before going to bed, then wake up very early to unlock the door before my mom would come to wake me up to prepare for school. This trend went on for years, but everything turned to a dilemma when I was assigned a dorm room with my roommate. My roommate used to study with his friends, and he always came in late. Well, everyone had a key to the room, and I used to lock the door before going to bed, but my roommate would leave the door open whenever he’d come into the room. He’d not heed to my constant pleas to lock the door after coming back. He’d shrug my directives off all the time.

One night, I decided that I would lock the door myself, so I stayed up since it was a bit petrifying to sleep, knowing that the door would be unlocked at some point. Funny enough, my roommate never showed up that night. I ended up missing almost all my classes the following day since I couldn’t stay awake during the day. This became the beginning of my endless sleepless nights that had been triggered by fear. My mental health was adversely affected, and I began having fatal anxiety episodes. The situation worsened, and I had no choice but to inform my parents about my condition.

Really inspired by ESA stories? Well, click the button below and get your own ESA letter today.

 

 

Q: How did your parents react after you told them about your condition?

Well, my mom thought that I was playing some hoax on them. She wouldn’t understand how I’d kept this a secret for all these years without her getting a hint of it. And above all, how this affected my mental health severely. They did some research and tried to understand my condition, although few people understand the struggle people struggling with OCD go through unless they get it. Upon my parent’s request, I began attending therapy sessions, and this played a significant role in me getting better.

Q: Can you please tell us how you discovered ESA and how it has changed your life?

I came to learn about ESA Care from one of my college friends. Before I began the process of obtaining an emotional support animal, I conducted a lot of research on the benefits of having an ESA for my OCD condition. Today, I owe all the peace I’m experiencing to the medical practitioners at ESA Care because you guys were with me every step of the way. Mr. Fuzzy, my emotional support cat, has helped me overcome my fears. He is my best friend, and he lives with me in my dorm. I no longer care about whether the door is open or not since Mr. Fuzzy keeps me sidetracked from negative thoughts.

Mr. Fuzzy always knows when I’m distressed. And when this happens, he’ll always try to get my attention by either climbing on my back or hitting my shoulders before jumping on my lap just to hint that it’s time to play. He is a goofy guy. The Emotional Support Letter has also played a significant role in my healing process since with it, Mr. Fuzzy is allowed to stay at places where other cats can’t gain access. I’ve lived with Mr. fuzzy for more than a year now.

 

3. Jack Defeated His Social Anxiety Disorder With The Help Of His Emotional Support Dog

Name: Jack Trevor

Age: 19

Gender: Male

 

 

Q: Jack, how did being in public make you feel?

It was dreadful, for lack of a better word, since no one was aware of the struggles I was going through mentally. Being around people made me nervous, uncomfortable, shaky, and unable to speak. I used to fake sickness so that I wouldn’t have to attend parties and other social gatherings.

 

Q: For how long did this go on before the diagnosis?

It took me around five to seven years. As a kid, skipping parties was comfortable, but as I grew older, it became pretty hard since people started asking questions. At school, life wasn’t that easy since I didn’t have any friends. Socializing was a nightmare for me.

Having strong mental health is the key to a happy life – maintain it by getting your ESA letter today!

 

 

Q: What triggered your anxiety condition, and when did you discover that you had Social Anxiety Disorder?

Honestly, the school was hard for me, and I had to drop out because no matter how hard I tried, avoiding people was impossible. Our class bully knew I had problems facing people, and so she would gather kids around me then incite them to yell and laugh at me. I didn’t want any attention drawn to me. And therefore, I didn’t share this with any of my teachers. After dropping out of school, my parent scheduled a doctor’s appointment because they knew something was wrong with me. It turned out that I had Social anxiety disorder. It turns out I inherited this disorder from my grandmother, who had it back in her youthful days.

 

Q: How were things at the time of the diagnosis?

After diagnosis, I began researching on social anxiety disorder. I could now understand my actions and why I was avoiding public gatherings. However, the anxiety started to build up since I had dropped out of school, and surviving off my parent’s budgetary allocations was pretty lame. These thoughts clouded my mind day in day out until one day, I fainted.

 

Q: How has your experience with ESAs been, and how did you come to know about them?

I had no idea that ESAs existed. I got to know about them from a nurse the day I was taken to the hospital after fainting. Well, there was a nurse who continually used to ask me questions that I barely answered. Then, she decided to tell me about Emotional Support Animals on one occasion.

Book your appointment with EsaCare today!

 

I then came across Esa Care and instantly began my quest for an ESA recommendation letter. Within eight days, I had my recommendation letter with me and my Emotional Support Dog. Now he keeps me company whenever I’m working, resting, or even traveling. Everything is going on tremendously well for me, and I no longer experience anxiety problems when interacting with people. Tyson is quite playful, and that’s why I tag him along wherever I go. I just can’t picture a life without him. He gives me the zeal and confidence I need to fulfill my purpose in life.

 

4. An Emotional Support Bird Helped Jade Deal With Her Panic Disorder

Name: Jade William

Age: 21

Gender: Female

 

 

Q: When did you start experiencing panic attacks?

I had my first panic attack when I was thirteen. I was standing when the sun brightened up abruptly, and my knees became shaky, and within no time, everything went black. I came back to my senses after being taken to the hospital. This experience was terrifying, and I’ve had to deal with the fear of getting a second panic attack in public ever since.

 

Q: What impact did panic disorder have on your life?

My life was miserable. Ever since dad left, life wasn’t easy for me, my younger brother Luke, and my mom. I hated the feeling since I couldn’t even go to my friend’s house in fear of having another panic attack and people judging me.

Over time, going to school became difficult. I remember a day when my mom sent me a text saying that she was on her way to the hospital during my basketball game. After reading the book, I started sweating immediately, and my hands became shaky; then everything went black. It’s then that I affirmed that this was just the beginning of many more panic attacks to come.

Don’t let stress get to you – apply for an ESA letter now!

 

 

Q: When did you realize that adopting an Emotional Support Animal was necessary, and how long did you take before coming up with that decision?

I thought that the panic attacks would go away with time. I reasoned that the whole thing would be over by the time I joined college. But I was wrong. Things only got worse. In college, I always had thoughts of losing Luke and my mom, and this drove me crazy. I’d call or send them multiple text messages daily. I joined a group for therapy sessions, but it didn’t work. Finally, a friend told me to adopt an Emotional Support Animal. At first, this sounded strange to me, but after doing a lot of research, I decided to adopt an ESA.

 

Q: How long did the adoption process take?

Honestly, the acquisition process was quicker than I’d imagined. It took me around 7-10 days since I first had to do some consultations with a mental health practitioner who assessed my medical history and gave me approval. My ESA recommendation letter then came after 2-5 days.

Coco, my bird, has played a significant role in reducing my panic episodes. She chirps and sings all day long, and taking care of her keeps me busy all day. We watch shows together, and her chirps take any negative thoughts away.

 

5. Astonishing Journey Of Shelly: How She Dealt With Foniasophobia With The Help of an ESA

Name: Shelly McArthur

Age: 41

Gender: Female

 

 

Q: Shelly, can you please tell us how your encounter with traumatic situations was?

I always felt like there was someone around me all the time waiting for the ideal moment to attack me. I always avoided going to places, and even when in the house, I felt like maybe someone was hiding in the basement. I was still ready for an attack at any time. The thought of being alone in the house terrified me.

 

Q: When did you start having traumas?

Well, I started experiencing traumas when I was pretty young. My traumas were triggered by an incident that happened on my way back from school. Someone was following me, and the streets were disserted. Not even a single person was on the path that evening. Luckily, I got home before the stranger got a chance to attack me. There were nights when I couldn’t sleep, and if I did, I would get up sweating, breathing hard, and crying. I still get scared to date by any minor noises at night.

 

Q: Did the incident cause any other change in your life in addition to the fear of getting killed

Yes!  A lot changed. The way I talked to the people changed, and it became even harder to trust people. I also stopped staying out late.

Having an ESA will help keep away negative thoughts and bring back positivity into your life!

 

 

Q: When did you now decide to conquer your fear?

Even after getting married, my fear continued to haunt me. I didn’t want my children to perceive me as weak. All I wanted was to be a role model to my two lovely boys. And with my husband serving as a marine, I had to toughen up for my children’s sake since he wasn’t home most of the time. So, this was my turning point.

 

Q: How did you get to learn about ESAs, and how has this impacted your life?

I was browsing online, trying to find a solution to my anxiety problems when I came across an article about ESAs. I did some comprehensive research, after which I decided to adopt an Emotional Support Animal.

Well, after adopting my Emotional Support Dog, Max, I started experiencing numerous positive changes within months. I began going for walks with Max from time to time since I knew he would be with me fulltime. Max loves lying down on my lap, and his ticklish fur keeps me smiling all the time. He always makes me feel safe, and I talk to him all the time about my feelings.

 

6. Will’s Story: Emotional Support Dog Helped Him Manage Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Name: Will Freeman

Age: 37

Gender: Male

 

 

Q: Can you please tell us how your experience was with GAD?

From a tender age, I was always struggling with thoughts, feelings of exhaustion, I could only speak with one person at a time, and I also had personality issues. Owing to these issues, I always avoided interacting with many people in fear of getting disappointed.

 

Q: Is there a reason behind that feeling?

Well, my dad was the root cause of these feelings. He owns a law firm, and since he was a perfectionist, he wanted things done a certain way. He always saw me as a disappointment and never believed that I was doing enough. Whether it was in school, playing tennis, or piano lessons, he never saw anything positive in me.

 

Q: When did you know that what you were experiencing wasn’t normal?

Honestly, it was more like a mind-blogging revelation moment. Since I felt like I was a disgrace to my dad, I thought that everyone in our school went through the same humiliation and insults from their parents. And so on this fateful day, I decided to catch up with one of my classmates who used to score lower than I in an attempt to make myself feel better. So, I asked him how he handles his dad’s insults when he scores low in examinations. The boy was shocked. He told me that his dad never insults him even when he performs poorly in school. For a moment there, I felt angry and stupid. It turns out, I was the only kid who was a disgrace to his father all this while, and this made me depressed.

Get your ESA Letter and avail the benefits that come with it!

 

 

Q: When and how did you begin the recovery process?

I happened to attend a motivational session that a friend of mine had invited me to, and this became my turning point. I had problems interacting with people, but the speakers’ confidence was motivation enough, and from that day, I made a vow to conquer my fears. I didn’t want to be my dad’s puppet anymore. I knew then I had to stop being shy and stand up for myself.

 

Q: How did you get to know about Emotional Support Animals, and how has this impacted your life?

My life-changing moment came when I was working as a manager at a country club. As I was going about my daily duties, I saw a girl walking with a cat. First, I thought it was a pet, and I wondered why the receptionist let them in. After a long chat with the receptionist, that’s when I came to know that it was an Emotional Support Animal. That immediately caught my attention, and I embarked on research. After days of research and consultation, I decided to give it a shot. That’s how I met my Emotional Support parrot, Charlie.

After acquiring Charlie, I didn’t know how to handle him or what to do with him, but with time we became best friends. Charlie has learned to figure out my moods over time. And whenever I’m sad, he kisses my forehead then sits on my shoulders until I give him attention. We are together most of the time, and I’ve taught him many new words since I acquired him. Charlie is a carefree parrot, and staying with him over time has made me carefree too. I’m confident now, and I talk to people without any fear. My life has completely changed. I’m happy now!

 

7. A Life-Changing Experience Of Oliver With His Emotional Support Animal

Name: Oliver Cox

Age: 43

Gender: Male

 

 

Q: Can you please share your experience with us?

Yes! Well, I had to drop out of school because I felt like everyone was looking at me, and this made me nervous. Besides that, I was constantly being bullied at school, and my anxiety problems became worse with time. Back at home, my elder siblings thought I was chicken since I was the youngest, and they could, from time to time, lock me up in the basement without any lights. To everyone, I was nothing but a freak show.

 

Q: When did you start experiencing traumas, and what caused them?

I watched a television show when I was six, depicting some men wearing clown-like outfits, kidnapping kids, and then demanding ransom. So, one day as I was playing with my toys on my porch, I saw two men approaching our house clothed in clown attire. By then, my mom had gone inside the house to answer a call, and I was all alone. I began trembling, and all I could think of were the news reporters’ words from the movie. Luckily, my mom came back, and the clowns were gone. The clowns were some teens from the neighborhood who were pranking kids in our block. Sadly, the prank experience never left my mind.

I had my first trauma when I was only seven years old at a circus event. I’d developed some fear of clowns after the clown incident, and so when the clown performance came up, I began having flashbacks of the day that the kids came to our home. I started sweating, and my hands became shaky; then, everything suddenly turned black. That’s how it all started.

 

 

Q: What was the bullying in school for?

My classmates got to know about my fear of clowns during one of our classmates’ birthday parties. At the party, they had clowns as entertainers, but I panicked. From that day, I became the laughing stock in school, and I had to quit at some point.

 

Q: After how long did you discover that you had PTSD?

I was diagnosed when I was in my 30s. I had no idea that what I had was a disorder. I always thought that the fear was just a phase and that it would go away with time, but this never happened. I found out about the disorder from a colleague of mine whose nephew was struggling with the same. That’s when I discovered that all the fainting, heavy sweating, and social engagement withdrawal wasn’t normal.

 

Q: Can you tell us how the experience with your Emotional Support Animal has been and how long it took to acquire him?

My Emotional Support Animal, Rogers, has helped me immensely in managing my anxiety over the last couple of months, and for that reason, I never let him out of sight. He is my best friend, and he always has my back. He wakes me up in the morning by jumping all over the place and licks my face whenever I come back from work, and this makes me giggle. He has a way of relieving me of my stress, and with that, I’ve been able to conquer my fear.

 

Q: How was your experience acquiring an ESA letter

The process of acquiring an ESA was relatively quick and straightforward, and thanks to ESA Care, I’m now living life to the fullest. It only took me four days to get my ESA recommendation letter after consultation with a mental healthcare practitioner, and on the fifth day, I adopted Rogers. I seriously can’t imagine a life without Rogers.

Click the button below to get your ESAcare letter today and keep your pet close!

 

 

Take away points:

These are just seven stories about animals out of the millions of heroic actions. Anxiety is a severe mental health problem that can alter people’s health tremendously. Some of them heal, while some live with their health conditions without even realizing that they are sick.

If you experience any anxiety problems, consult a medical health expert without hesitation to ensure you get the necessary help before it’s too late. You are acquiring an emotional support animal that will give your life a new spectrum, just like in the case of Anna, Oliver, Jake, Jade, and many others.

There’s no better time to air out your mental health issues than right now. What are you waiting for? Visit us at ESA Care today, and see if you meet the requirements for an ESA recommendation letter.

Your freedom is just a call away! Call or book an appointment online now!