Does Your Condition Qualify For an ESA Letter?

Articles, forums, or ads are all talking about the importance of having an emotional support animal letter online. But, only a handful of conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD are mostly considered for an ESA. Hardly anyone knows that you can apply for an ESA letter online for more than 200 mental health conditions. Surprised? Well, hundreds of mental health specialists have curated a book called Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, also referred to as DSM V.

This is like the “Bible” of the mental health professionals to look for guidelines concerning different conditions and their associated symptoms. So, if you don’t have an idea if your condition will qualify for an ESA letter, here are some of the categories that can help you get one for yourself.

Table of Contents

Mental Health Disorders: A Brief Review

The human mind is one of the most complex entities of all time. No one can predict what will happen next. It took almost 14 years of research for the doctors to compile the list to give you a version of mental health disorders.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (including language, speech-sound related disorders)
Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders
Bipolar and related disorders
Depressive disorders
Anxiety disorders
Obsessive-compulsive and related disorders
Trauma- and stressor-related disorders (including PTSD, Adjustment disorders
Dissociative disorders
Somatic symptom and related disorders
Feeding and eating disorders
Elimination disorders
Sleep-wake disorders
Gender dysphoria
Disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders

These are a few categories that can help you find a way to get an emotional support animal online. But, hardly anyone talks about them. Only a few have come up and talked about their mental health conditions. One needs to understand that mental health is equally important as physical health. Furthermore, mental illnesses are not a rare phenomenon. They are more common than you can even think of. More than 45 million people have one or the other form of mental health disorder. However, people mostly avoid talking about it because of several taboos attached to it.

The Role of Emotional Support Animals

Having an emotional support animal can help speed up your recovery process. After all, most of the patients require the support of a companion. They do not judge you for what you are. So, if you come in brackets of any condition mentioned in DSM V, you are qualified for obtaining an emotional support animal letter online. The only criteria you required is that a licensed mental health professional must declare that. And you will earn the benefit of flying and living your ESA at no additional pet fees or fares.

ESAs offer more than just love and care. They are your true mates that understand your emotional ups and downs and are there for you no matter what. So, if you have any or more of these conditions, going for animal-assisted therapy could be a life savior for you.

Also, Read- 5 Worst Myths About Anxiety Disorders

How to Get an Emotional Support Animal Letter Online?

As we already mentioned above, you can qualify for an ESA letter if your medical condition is enlisted in the DSM V. Still, if you are unable to figure, talking to a mental health professional might help. You can reach to your family doctor or simply apply online.

For that, you need to create an online account and answer a standard questionnaire as a part of your pre-qualification form. If you clear the first step, you will be contacted by a mental health practitioner via video call. He/ She will ask multiple questions as a part of his evaluation process. If deemed eligible, he/ she will recommend you for an emotional support animal.

Bottom Line

There is more to mental health disorders than just depression, anxiety, or PTSD. If you have any other condition beyond those commonly talked conditions, consider talking to a professional. Who knows you might be eligible for an emotional support animal letter online?