Emotional Support Dog: 9 Benefits That Help Owners

Are you looking for a way to improve your mental health? Do you have difficulty sleeping at night? Does your pet give you unconditional love and support when nobody else will? If so, then an emotional support dog could be the answer! In this blog post we’ll go over six incredible benefits of having an emotional support dog.

Benefit One: They Will Help You Get A Good Night’s Sleep

A study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showed that dogs can help with insomnia. Insomnia is a common symptom for people who suffer from depression. Dogs were found to be helpful because they produce calming physical and emotional effects on human beings. Having an emotional support dog by your side will ensure you get enough sleep every night!

Benefit Two: Pets Provide Physical Support When Nobody Else Can

Having an emotional support dog means having someone there to cuddle up with at all times. When you’re feeling lonely or need some extra comfort your furry companion is there for snuggles. They give the best hugs at bedtime and petting them may offer some solace! Having a companion animal can beneficial for a deeper sleep too.

Benefit Three: Dogs Can Help People Manage Their Stress Levels

In our busy world, it’s not uncommon for stress levels to get out of control. Some people feel more comfortable confiding in a dog rather than another human being. Because dogs don’t judge! They will always love you unconditionally no matter how stressed out you are. Having an emotional support dog is the perfect way to manage all those overwhelming moments of stress in your life.

Benefit Four: Dogs Can Help Their Owners Manage Their Feelings Of Loneliness and Anxiety

If you know someone with an emotional support dog, ask them about their emotions. The companionship they get from their furry friend makes the time they spend by themselves more enjoyable. It replaces human interaction for some! It’s important, as loneliness and anxiety both have negative impacts on our mental health.

Benefit Five: Dogs Provide A Good Distraction From Negative Thoughts

The power of a dog’s presence is that they don’t judge you when you’re feeling down and out. They are just happy to see their owner, no matter what mood the person may be in. This provides much-needed relief for someone who has been stuck with negative thoughts for too long or suffers from depression; it helps them get back on track by providing an unconditional love.

Benefit Six: Dogs Increase Self Confidence And Happiness In Their Owners’ Lifestyles

Having a best friend around makes things better! A study done by the Virginia Commonwealth University found that people with pets were more likely to seek affectionate touch than those without animals present. Meaning, having a furry companion means less social isolation which can lead to decreased self-confidence and depression.

Benefit Seven: Dogs Reduce Stress And Anxiety

One study found that petting an animal can reduce stress by up to 73%! In the same way, cuddling with a dog for just 20 minutes has been shown to lower blood pressure levels and heart rate. This is due to the release of oxytocin (the feel-good hormone) which will lead to less anxiety. Dogs are welcome in many places where other types of animals are not. Places such as nursing homes and hospitals, accept dogs where other pets are not. Thus, making them perfect companions when someone needs emotional support on their worst day.

Benefit Eight: Emotional Support Dogs Can Help Someone Through A Seasonal Or Life Changing Event

Seasonal events like Christmas time or the anniversary of a loved one’s death can be emotionally taxing. Some people need emotional support to get through these tough times. Having an emotional support pet helps to comfort lonely individuals. Just their presence at such difficult moments is enough for the human companion to feel comforted.

Benefit Nine: Being Around An Emotional Support Dog May Lower Blood Pressure

A pet owner with high blood pressure has been shown in a study to have lower stress levels than those without any pets! This effect was more pronounced when participants were petting or touching their animals as opposed to watching them from afar. Having dogs also lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by five points. That’s the equivalent of about two years worth of aging.

Are these Benefits not Amazing?