When one thinks of an emotional support animal, something like a dog usually comes to mind. However, what we believe as animals that can offer emotional support has been widening to include all sorts of animals. For example, cats have been known to be used in hospitals, mental health clinics, and certain programs for kids due to their ability to calm people down and offer people who are struggling affection and comfort.

In my work as a therapist, I’ll frequently put spending time with or cuddling a pet as a coping skill on client’s crisis plans. It’s an effective way to relieve anxiety, bring someone back to the present moment during a panic attack, or offer consolation when experiencing grief after the loss of a loved one or relationship.

Any creature that brings comfort can be an emotional support animal and what is being socially accepted as emotional support animals has really widened over the last few years – creatures like birds, bunnies, and even horses are now considered by many to be emotional support animals! And while it may not be popular opinion for those who only enjoy mainstream or domesticated animals, I’m going to argue that emotional support animals can reach well beyond the scope of the average household pet. I believe that ANY creature or critter can be an emotional support animal. Yes, even TARANTULAS! Or snakes, or lizards, or any other creepy crawly or strange critter you might want to keep in your home.

I’ve spoken quite a bit about how getting a tarantula (my first tarantula, a grammostola rosea named Spidey) helps me deal with ongoing anxiety. Due to my experiences with Spidey, I don’t believe a pet has to be something that you can pet, cuddle, or can return affection and communicate with you in order to be comforting or an emotional support animal. I think this is what makes tarantulas even more interesting when thinking about them in this light.

In my several years of being in a lot of tarantula groups on Facebook and in tarantula forums, I regularly see tarantula owners talk about how becoming interested in tarantula keeping and obtaining their tarantulas literally pulled them out of debilitating depression, helped them get clean from addiction, and has helped them cope with extreme loneliness or other mental illnesses and conditions. If that’s not an emotional support animal, I do not know what is. I myself got Spidey shortly after a breakup and I was still feeling sad about it. Having her offered me a healthier way to be with my emotions and have a healthy distraction while I was healing instead of trying to ignore my emotions with partying or jumping into another relationship like I used to do.

This might sound strange to someone who is foreign to tarantulas or someone who is arachnophobic, but tarantulas are incredibly soothing (if they’re not running up your arm, of course lol). When watched from a safe distance, tarantulas are fascinating and you can get sucked in for hours. And if you do manage to have a docile tarantula you can handle, many tarantula owners find this to be relaxing as well. I personally have found the occasional handling session to be very meditative as it forces to me to remove all worries and racing thoughts in my head so that I can be present and in the moment with my spider.

I don’t think that an emotional support pet has to be an animal that gives affection. Tarantulas are not an animal that even has the ability to feel emotion as far as we know. But any tarantula owner will tell you that the hobby is rewarding and enriching to their lives and for some, having a pet that does not require much except for basic care is very relieving. For some of us, it is a struggle to simply care for ourselves so having a low maintenance pet like this to enjoy is a perfect match. Other T owners find the care and maintenance to be meditative and relaxing. If you’re a tarantula owner, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

What I’m saying is, an emotional support animal can be anything and we need to be respectful and mindful about what others enjoy and find solace from. Has having a tarantula impacted your emotional health positively? Share your story below, I would love to hear it!