If you’re grappling with a mental health condition—whether it’s generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—having an emotional support animal by your side can offer the emotional and practical assistance you need.
Research has found that a furry friend may reduce feelings of anxiety, bring you back to the present if you get lost in your thoughts or worries, and even lessen the need for medication and health care services.
Plus, caring for a pet can add a sense of purpose, routine, and social connection to your life that boosts your well-being, says Nicholas Farrell, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and Director of Clinical Development and Programming at NOCD.
Let’s take a look at how an emotional support animal may specifically help with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), starting with a little background about the condition.
Understanding OCD
OCD is a serious mental health condition that affects 2.5% of the global population. It’s characterized by a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. The symptoms of OCD can range from mild to severe, but any form of OCD can cause distress that may eat up a significant part of your day.
However, OCD is highly treatable with exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy, a specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy. Studies have also shown that health-promoting habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and staying connected to a support system can help people with OCD better manage their symptoms.
Find the right OCD therapist for you
All our therapists are licensed and trained in exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP), the gold standard treatment for OCD.
Can emotional support animals reduce OCD symptoms?
Though there has not been rigorous scientific study in the form of randomized controlled trials to show that emotional support animals can reduce OCD symptoms, it doesn’t mean that they can’t help.
“What we do know is that the gold-standard of treatment for people with OCD is ERP therapy. My NOCD colleagues and I have used it with thousands of people—and it’s been able to get their lives back on track.”
Many conditions that emotional support animals have been shown to help with—depression, anxiety, PTSD—disproportionately impact people with OCD. So it’s entirely possible that the companionship of an emotional support animal can help support your mental health—just make sure you’re also receiving treatment from an OCD specialist.
Bottom line
If you have OCD and you’re wondering if an emotional support animal could help you, it’s a good idea to speak with your therapist first. Pets can provide a much-needed sense of connection and accountability for people navigating mental health issues, but an emotional support animal should be seen as a complement to—not a replacement for—first-line OCD treatments like ERP therapy.