Emotional support animals.

Howlingvapor said:

I don’t have any kind of actual licensed emotional support animal, I don’t know how that works, but I do have my dog Athena. She’s gotten me through a lot of tough times and walking her every day has been a huge help with my anxiety and depression. When we first got her I was so stressed out from work and school that I told my folks I wanted nothing to do with her. For context when I was a kid and didn’t understand the responsibility involved in a pet they got me a puppy and it was never house broken and ended up an outdoor dog until my aunt and uncle took her home with them last Christmas. They always blamed me for the dog’s numerous issues because it was technically mine, but I was like 12. Anyway sorry for the tangent, but because of that whole situation I didn’t want the responsibility on me for Athena. But as it usually goes with me and animals I eventually warmed up to her and she’s basically become MY dog lol. She watches tv with me, practically tackles me when I come home from work and even takes naps with me sometimes. I love her more than anything and I’ve honestly been trying to figure out what to do when I move out eventually because I probably won’t be able to take her with me.

I guess my point is that animals are sometimes incredibly beneficial to mental health, because they’re essentially a source of unconditional love. You never feel like you could disappoint them and they make you feel loved even when no one else does. My dog once even pulled me out of a really dark place when I collapsed on my floor in drunken stupor wanting to take my own life and she immediately ran up to me and started licking my face. It’s almost like she could tell something was wrong. And yeah that’s the little goofball herself in the picture.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...