Can you get a service dog for anxiety and depression?
I have pretty bad anxiety and depression. I have panic attacks fairly easily. Sometimes when I'm anxious or depressed I scratch myself or just cry and verbally bully myself. I know this is bad, but I don't know how to stop on my own. I'm always so afraid that if I tell anyone they will get mad at me. I'm just wondering if you can get a service dog to help with this and if I could possibly qualify. Please, no harsh comments. If you have questions that could help clarify, please ask them.
Can you get a service dog for depression?
yes, in some instances, psychiatric service dogs can be recommended for people with depression but they are task trained dogs, not just pets ... they would have the same public access as any other type of service dog ... there are also emotional support dogs which are basically well trained pets and they do not have the same public access as service dogs, more provide support than any actual trained task ... an emotional support dog could live in no-pet housing and can travel in the cabin of a plane ... http://www.iaadp.org/psd_tasks.html
With an undiagnosed anxiety disorder and depression, I believe that a service dog will help me. I won't be able to own one until I graduate from high school due to family allergies, but that's when I'll need it the most. What do I do?
I think you’re missing the point of a service dog and how to get one. Service dogs are dogs trained to be an aide for someone with a documented disorder that officials believe negatively impacts their ability to live life normally.You need to be documented before they will consider it. If you want to remain undocumented, you can just get a normal dog.However, to buy a service dog that is already trained; that is a very expensive thing to do. I once looked it up, and the price was around 7k.There is a ton of paper work involved in getting a service dog.Think hard before you go about this. You may be taking a dog away from someone else who actually needs it’s help rather than you needing a pet for emotional support.I suffer from a fair amount of anxiety and depression. Granted, it gets better when I’m away from family; but it is still there. I looked into getting a service animal. My therapist talked to me about the process.I barely qualified for one. I will get an animal for emotional support. I do believe emotional support animal is different than a service animal. Please correct me if I’m wrong!Edit: I apologize if you feel like I was attacking you. I was just trying to get my point across and have you think hard. If you have gone about life normally, but just suffer from anxiety & depression like me, save up for a pet. You don’t need to specifically have a service dog.A fair number of people think they need a service animal to go through life if they feel like they are struggling, but end up just fine living life as they did before (by seeking help through other means like a therapist and such).
How can I get a service dog for my anxiety issue?
“Have enough Frequent Flyer Miles,” I hope that made someone smile. The person was referring to the peacock incident. Always call ahead to the airline and see if paperwork or arrangements are needed.In the article, a male peacock with very long tail feathers was excluded from flying on the plane. Fox ran the story. Here is a further explanation from Snopes: FACT CHECK: Did United Airlines Deny a Passenger's Request to Fly with an Emotional Support Peacock? There are limitations on what animals can fly with depending on person safety and room the animal takes up. Understandably, it would be a big problem to have miniature pony on the plane blocking aisles as a comfort animal. I took a small parrot on a plane some years ago, just as a pet and their was no problem. United had a great reputation for helping people with support and service animals. I do not know if this animal was too long with its tail feathers included or was a risk to other passengers.How to do get an emotional support animal? Have a serious/ moderate emotional or psychical illness and have an M.D. or counselor/therapist that has knowledge about how an emotional support animals that can help you. The animals are usually dogs or cats that help a person with loneliness, help them get motivated to go outside, and help a person feel calmer. The professional that treats your illness may write a letter supporting that you require one for your housing, and sometimes they may accompany you on travel.Everything You Need to Know About Emotional Support Animals
Can dogs sense when you are depressed and/or anxious?
They certainly can. And that’s only a tiny part of the amazing things they can do.Since having a brain tumour removed four years ago I’ve developed bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, fear, frontal lobe syndrome, anger, intolerance and innumerable others personality traits that I never had before my surgery. I don’t really know who I am anymore, I’ve changed an awful lot but I’m learning and now, with the help of a Government Trainer, I have begun training my Mini Fox Terrier mix to help me recognise when my moods get out of hand.Prior to meeting our trainer I thought we were going to teach my dog how to help me with my moods and somehow remove me from situations when I started to become angry, sad or confused. But I was very wrong. Apparently I’m the one that needs to be taught. Dogs have an innate ability to read our various energies, it’s just that we humans don’t know how to read their body language.When he has completed his training my dog will be an ‘Assistance Dog’. Not to be confused with a companion or therapy dog. An Assistance Dog can go anywhere the public can go. Just like a Guide or Hearing Dog.Recently when I was playing with my laptop in bed, my dog was on his bed on the floor beside me. I was watching something that was a bit of a tear jerker and I started to cry and my dog jumped up and sat beside me and started licking my cheek. Then he lay on the bed with me.Dogs know if you are sad, happy, angry or sick. They know you’re emotions and much more. We just need to learn their reactions to our behaviour and be aware of it. If you have a dog you’ll know that they are aware if you ignore them. Many dogs also know when people have cancer, epilepsy and other serious illnesses. Today I went to an auction house with my dog and although he isn’t supposed acknowledge people, there was a young boy there in a wheelchair. He probably had cerebral palsy or a similar disorder. The young boy couldn’t talk but when he saw the dog started to wave his hands around in excitement and had this huge smile on his face. The dog went straight over to him and got up on his hind legs, doing a little dance, he put his paws on the boys legs and moved around to his side. I confirmed with the boy’s Mother that this was okay and she nodded. When my dog licked the boy’s hands he was so happy. My dog doesn’t react like that with anyone. He knew that boy was special.
I have severe depression and anxiety. I am looking at getting a dog. How can I certify it as a therapy dog versus just having an emotional support dog?
A therapy dog is a dog that might be trained to provide affection, comfort and love to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, disaster areas, and are defined but not covered or protected under the Federal Housing Act or Americans with Disabilities act.An emotional support animal (ESA) or support animal, is a companion animal (pet) that a medical professional says provides some benefit for a person disabled by a mental health condition or emotional disorder. Emotional support animals are typically dogs, but are sometimes cats or other animals. Service or Support animals are covered or protected under the Federal Housing Act or Americans with disabilities act.What benefits will you achieve by obtaining a designation as a therapy dog?A medical doctor or licensed therapist is qualified to complete the application for a service or emotional support animal. See form here. Service Dog RegistryI am here only to be truly helpful.About Dr. Dorothy:Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, Ph.D., Metaphysican and International Best Selling Author is a recognized authority on bridging Science and Human Potential. Dr. Dorothy provides comprehensive protocols to discover and transform the root cause for issues and diagnoses. Mental, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Transformation combines creating health while healing past mental, emotional, and physical distress.Source:Service Dog Registry
Can you get a service dog if you have anxiety or stress? How hard is it and or do you have to like be 100% disabled?
Yes, absolutely! These specially trained dogs are often provided for veterans who have PTSD and depression. They are very effective.Here is a link to some useful information:Can You Get a Service Dog for Depression? Where to Go and MorePer the information at the above link, there are different types of service/support dogs for psychological conditions. Here are the differences:Psychiatric service dogA psychiatric service dog is trained to recognize and respond to their handler’s disability by performing work or tasks. The handler must have a mental or psychiatric disability that limits one or more major life activity.The ADA protects service animals and allows public access so that the dog can go anywhere its handler goes. A service dog is not considered a pet.Emotional support animalAn emotional support animal is a pet that provides comfort or emotional support to a person. Unlike a service animal, an emotional support animal doesn’t need to be trained to perform specific tasks.The ADA doesn’t cover emotional support animals so they do not have legal public access. They’re only covered under the Fair Housing Act and Air Carrier Act. This means the only places that are legally required to permit an emotional support animal are housing units and aircraft.Therapy dogsTherapy dogs are trained to engage with many people other than a primary handler. These dogs are used to provide comfort and affection as a form or psychological or physiological therapy to people in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices. They do not have the same legal public access as service dogs.All three types of service animal can be beneficial to a person with depression. The type that is best for you depends on your needs. Psychiatric service dogs are working animals and not considered pets. They’re extensively trained to perform specific tasks, such as reminding you to take your medication or leading you to someone if you’re in crisis.An emotional support animal isn’t trained to perform any tasks but can provide you with a therapeutic presence which can be comforting and uplifting.
Can you qualify for a service dog if you have severe social anxiety?
To qualify for a service dog, you need to (a) have a disability that impairs your activities of daily living and (b) a service dog could perform tasks that would mitigate the problems from your disability. If having a dog would help you relax, you could qualify for an emotional support animal (ESA). An ESA can’t go places with you in public, but they can live in no-pets housing and accompany you in air travel if you have the right letters from your doctor.Severe social anxiety could definitely be a disability, but what tasks would a dog perform for you? Just helping you feel less anxious by cuddling etc. isn’t a task; a task would be something like leading you away from a bad situation.And as one other response mentioned, you would need to deal with a LOT of hassle from the public. People constantly try to distract service dogs, pet them (with or without asking), complain about them, etc. Business owners who are tired of badly behaved fake service dogs will confront real service dog handlers and demand ID (which isn’t a real thing) or say that even service dogs aren’t allowed in their restaurant or other business. You would put yourself in some very anxiety-inducing situations just to get access to the places you need to go.It might be a better strategy to get an ESA to help you recover from anxiety at home, than a service dog to go out in public with you. The dog could comfort you while you’re on the phone at home, too.