I’ve been having a really rough few months. I’ve been hospitalized 4 times, I see my therapist, psychiatrist, dbt theraptist, and emder therapist every week. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. I will be getting a dog once I move in November, and it will be an emotional support animal at the very least. But I don’t know if I want/need to train a full blown service animal. I have been having a lot of issues dissociating and my mother is worried that I could end up in a bad situation because of it. I am also having a lot of trouble going to my college campus because it is extremely triggering for me. I’m alone a lot and that makes my symptoms much worse. My main therapist thinks it is a good idea because a lot of my symptoms seem to be getting worse, but I still have some apprehension.
On the one hand I think it could be helpful to calm me down and keep me grounded, but I also have a lot of concerns. I have been working a lot on not identifying myself purely on PTSD (because it feels like it has taken over so much of my life). I don’t want to just be “that girl with mental issues with the dog”. I also don’t know what to tell people. I’m less concerned about stangers asking questions, I’m more concerned with what to tell my grandparents, friends etc. since I have had a lot of problems in the past when I’ve told anyone I have PTSD and I know some people just aren’t going to understand. Also, at what point is a dog helpful and when is it a crutch to keep me from learning skills on my own?
I’m also concerned from a logistical stand point. What happens if I am hospitalized again? The places I’ve been are complete lock down facilities and there is not outside time. Will I have issues getting a job? In theory they aren’t allowed to discriminate based on a service dog, but I also know that isn’t always true in reality. I’d love to hear from anyone with experiance or thoughts about this. I know a service dog is a big commitment for both time and money and I don’t want to go into it lightly.
On the one hand I think it could be helpful to calm me down and keep me grounded, but I also have a lot of concerns. I have been working a lot on not identifying myself purely on PTSD (because it feels like it has taken over so much of my life). I don’t want to just be “that girl with mental issues with the dog”. I also don’t know what to tell people. I’m less concerned about stangers asking questions, I’m more concerned with what to tell my grandparents, friends etc. since I have had a lot of problems in the past when I’ve told anyone I have PTSD and I know some people just aren’t going to understand. Also, at what point is a dog helpful and when is it a crutch to keep me from learning skills on my own?
I’m also concerned from a logistical stand point. What happens if I am hospitalized again? The places I’ve been are complete lock down facilities and there is not outside time. Will I have issues getting a job? In theory they aren’t allowed to discriminate based on a service dog, but I also know that isn’t always true in reality. I’d love to hear from anyone with experiance or thoughts about this. I know a service dog is a big commitment for both time and money and I don’t want to go into it lightly.