Anyone here has an ESA? Share your experience ♥️🐕👷

I'd like to preface this by saying that I know the difference between an Emotional Support Animal and a Service Animal. And that I'm not trying to be one of those people who try and abuse the system. I think it's fucked up and a great disservice to anyone who actually relies on a service animal to go on with their everyday life.

ANYWAY. A short background: a few years ago I have been diagnosed with severe depression and GAD. I'm not medicated and I haven't been to therapy in over a year. I know it's bad. I haven't made the best decisions when it comes to my mental health. I'm also an addict.

However, there is one thing that brings me happiness and hope. He's about 10 lbs and I adopted him back in May. My dog means the world to me, he makes me want to be better because he deserves to have a "mom" who's not a piece of shit. Having him helps me get out of bed, he makes me feel responsible and loved unconditionally. He also helps a ton with my social anxiety. If I have him with me while out of the house he easily replaces the substances I would normally use as social lubricant. He makes interacting with people less overwhelming, and since I feel responsible for him and would never forgive myself if something bad happened to him, if I bring him along I behave myself a lot better.

So that brings me to the point of this thread. I want to get my dog certified as an ESA, so it would be easier to bring him along in situations that I know will be stressful, or to travel overseas to see my family (NO WAY I am checking my baby in cargo like a fucking suitcase for him to die in there). I still need to find a doctor who could write me the ESA letter but I think I qualify.

Does anyone here have experience with the subject? I'd love to read your stories.