#also! my therapist and I both agree that I would benefit from an SD so this isn't coming outta nowhere

[kelev9]

hi! Question for service dog handlers!!

How did you go about talking to medical professionals about getting a service dog, mainly for owner training one? (I assume that the process would be different if you're getting an SD from a program). Did you talk to a medical professional at all? I know you can't be "prescribed" a service dog but was there anything that medical professionals did on their end? (write you a doctors note, put something in your file about getting a service dog, etc) I've been talking to my therapist about getting a psychiatric SD for awhile now but would it be worth talking to a psychiatrist or a general care doctor about it as well? This is super duper preliminary/just the beginning of the process but I haven't found a lot of resources about this part. Any other help/advice about this is super appreciated!

[actuallyservicedogs]

Hi there! I need some help regarding parents. My mom is incredibly supportive of me getting a service dog for my ptss and my mobility problems. Crazy supportive. However, my dad used to be supportive (when it would help him win a legal case), and has suddenly become very aggressive towards the idea, because I was very sick and couldn't help him work. I guess my question is, do you have any tips to help explain that an SD is something I need? (I'm on mobile, so I'm sorry if this is in the FAQ!)

This is in our FAQ! But since you’re on mobile and I know the app sucks a lot, I can copy paste it below for you! If you have any other questions after this, please feel free to write in again!

hello! So, I tried to speak with my mom about getting a service dog, but because of being so anxious (reason A why i want to get an SD), I kind of messed it up really badly. My mom told me that I don't need to get a service dog because im "not blind or deaf, and I know you don't have that many problems". My mother sees me less often than all of my friends do, and they all agree that a service dog would help me. How do I tell my mother, respectfully, that I really believe I qualify for an SD?

It might be helpful to write everything you want to say down either as a script or just to give to her, in case your anxiety kicks in and you fumble again the next time you talk to her (this happens to me ALL the time, I know how frustrating it is!). If you choose to speak instead of writing everything down, I would kindly ask her to please wait until you’re finished talking before she offers her counter-arguments.I would explain in detail, first of all, that service dogs are not only for blind and deaf people, but can assist with lots of other disabilities, both physical and mental. The legal definition of a service dog is a dog that is individually trained to perform work or tasks to assist a person with a disability, and that mental disabilities are included in that. The legal definition of a disability under the ADA is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity (which is listed on our FAQ) and you can use that to show her exactly in what way(s) you are disabled. I would then discuss the different issues that you specifically face due to your anxiety and whatever other things you have going on, and explain exactly how a service dog could help you in those situations. I would be specific about how debilitating your issues are and how much they affect your ability to be independent.For example, let’s say that you have dissociation spells and often become disoriented; you have panic attacks and sob uncontrollably or self-harm; you become so lethargic that you forget to or cannot get up to eat or take your medication; or you become terrified when unfamiliar people come too near you. A service dog can be trained, when you are dissociating, to guide you somewhere safe, such as outside, to a bench/chair, or to your car, on cue; they can learn to recognize when you are beginning to have a panic attack and ground you by performing deep pressure therapy; they can stop you from crying or self-harming/repetitive behaviors by pawing/nudging you and encouraging you to do something else such as play with them or brush them; they can be taught to bring you your medication at a certain time each day, as well as pester you until you get up and eat; and they can be trained to passively block others from approaching you, or alert you to someone approaching you from behind.I would also look for videos (posted by the handlers and not just passersby being like “ooh look at this service dog doing a thing,” preferably) of each task that you feel would be beneficial for you, or find a video of someone explaining how important that task is for them, and show them to her. Videos of people talking about how much their psychiatric service dog has benefitted them are also great.

Video examples of tasks:

Guiding handler outside and to car

Providing deep pressure therapy

Alerting to panic attack and self destructive (hitting) behaviors

Interrupting repetitive scratching

Medication retrieval

Passive blocking

Circling around handler (blocking)

These are just some of the many tasks that a service dog can learn to perform for you, and there is a list of even more in this blog’s FAQ if you want to peruse it.

If you are able, I would suggest speaking to your doctor or therapist about considering a service dog as part of your treatment. It would be a good opportunity to practice what you’re planning on saying to your mom, since many people in the medical field don’t know much about psychiatric service dogs and often confuse them with emotional support animals, and you’ll have to explain to them what it is exactly that you need. Your mom might be more willing to listen to you if you have their approval, and they might even be willing to discuss it with her themselves once you’ve explained everything to them.

Finally, remember that it may take time for her to come around to the idea of you needing a service dog. You may have to approach her several times before making any positive headway with her. You just need to stay positive and keep trying! 

We’re rooting for you!

Chelsea