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In our previous post, we have discussed how an ESA can help patients with depression alleviate their symptoms. Living with an emotional support dog allows you to fight loneliness, reduce feelings of sadness, and create & stick to a routine. All these things help in reducing stress, anxiety and depression.
What about Attention-Deficit Stress Disorder (ADHD)? Does an emotional support animal help patients with ADHD? Will ESA doctors approve you if you have ADHD? What are the best dog breeds for hyperactive children? Let’s find out.
Do Emotional Support Dogs Help ADHD Patients?
ADHD is a mental health condition, affecting children; however, adults may also experience this illness. Patients with ADHD often have trouble paying attention, sitting still, and are unable to complete their tasks on time.
Emotional support animals can help ADHD patients in various ways. The best part of living with dogs and cats is that they help us create a schedule and stick to it.
When it comes to humans, we can tell them how to perform a task, work with them on it or ask them to follow you. But, in the case of animals, you need to do things for them. For instance, you need to feed them and take them out for a walk or play with them everyday to keep them active.
Once you start maintaining a schedule, you are more likely to perform better and finish things on time. ADHD patients have difficulty staying organized and planning things.
Moreover, an emotional support animal helps you boost mood, relieve stress and fight anxiety, thus boosting overall mental wellness.
Studies show that there’s a link between ADHD and stress. According to Nature Neuroscience, both stress and ADHD affects the prefrontal cortex, the brain region associated with regulating attention, behavior & emotion.
Stress changes the brain functions, thus affecting the ability of an individual to organize information & manage emotions.
Having an emotional support dog at home provides an ADHD patient with the opportunity to walk, run, swim, etc. These are great exercises for managing ADHD symptoms. Research shows that when you participate in a physical exercise, your body releases happy chemicals.
Moreover, ESAs help boost sleep, which greatly influences mood, focus, stress, etc. In other words, pet therapy reduces levels of stress & anxiety while boosting serotonin levels, thus helping ADHD patients feel, interact, and perform better.
Top Emotional Support Dog Breeds For Kids With ADHD?
There’s a wide range of dog breeds, thus it’s sometimes confusing to choose the right one for your child who is suffering from ADHD. The major challenge is about the individual temperament of your kid & the dog. So, when getting an emotional support dog, have an open discussion with the breeder about your household & child’s medical condition.
Here are some of the best dog breeds for patients with ADHD-
Golden Retriever
Golden Retriever is one of America’s most popular dogs that is known for its calm behavior. Its temperament, friendly attitude make it perfect for hyperactive children. Golden Retriever is an intelligent dog, so you can easily train it.
Jack Russell
It’s a small, cute, intelligent dog that helps ADHD sufferers ease their symptoms and boost focus. Jack Russell requires a great amount of physical & mental stimulation. It can help ADHD patients with a routine & socialization.
Collie
Collie gets on well with kids and other pets in the house, such as rabbits. It’s a great companion dog, and loves participating in activities with their owner. This dog is energetic when taken outside, but stays calm inside.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
This beautiful, small dog is extremely gentle and is a perfect for apartment living. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can help ADHD sufferers alleviate loneliness and stress-related issues. It requires plenty of exercise, thus can encourage the sufferers to spend more time outside and feel better.
How to Get an ESA For ADHD?
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, to qualify for an emotional support animal, you must be diagnosed with a psychological disability, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, and other mental disorders.
To get an emotional support animal for ADHD, you need to get evaluated from a licensed mental health professional. The therapist will carefully check your medical records and ask you some questions. If they think you need pet therapy for managing your medical condition, they will write an emotional support animal letter for you.
My ESA Doctor is a leading medical clinic that has been operating since 2001. We have a team of highly professional doctors who see patients via HIPAA-compliant software. You can apply the ESA letter online in three simple steps-
- Sign up for an account online
- Talk to ESA doctors via video call
- Get your emotional support animal letter in PDF via email
Also Read- How Emotional Support Animal Letter Can be Beneficial in The Long Run?
Covering it up, emotional support animals can help PTSD sufferers ease their symptoms. Studies show that pets offer ultimate emotional support to patients suffering from mental health conditions. Spending time with them can help you reduce stress, elevate mood, and boost focus. Some of the best dogs for hyperactive children are, Golden Retriever, Collie, Jack Russell, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Get an ESA letter from a licensed doctor to avail housing benefits. Under the federal law Fair Housing Act (FHA), individuals with disabilities can live with their emotional support animals in apartments without paying extra pet deposits.
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