Emotional Support Animals: Changing the World One Snuggle at a Time
Tyesha Elder
Emotional support animals (ESA) are a very important therapeutic tool and are needed in many areas of life. These animals are meant to provide comfort and relief from the stresses of everyday life. More Americans are turning to emotional support animals for help. More specifically, members of the military are finding ESAs particularly helpful. This paper explores the sociology of ESAs in relation to the treatment of PTSD. The military is a type of service that will lead to a feeling of loss and depression. This leads many service members to become more compassionate towards animals. When this happens, the service members form an unbreakable bond with these animals. In return the animals provide a sense of security and comfort to the service members, that help them continue to fight until they return home. The main argument of this paper is that ESAs play an important role in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and that such programs should be continued and supported.
Tyesha Elder is from Columbia, South Carolina. She is a senior sociology major with a minor in business. She enjoys having quiet time to de-stress.
