desiderata310
VIP Member
Ok, first, I'll admit, I never thought I would be someone who would qualify for a service dog and so part of me is just trying to figure out how to process that part of the information.
I had a really HORRIBLE session on Monday that was honestly made slightly better because my therapist brought his dog along with him. It was a last minute decision because his dog had gotten loose and he didn't have time to take him home and make our session. I'm sure it helped that the last time I had met him I had warmed to him nicely. I was having trouble staying present in session but the dog coming to me and bumping against me and wanting to be petted helped ... a lot. While I was in a really bad place and scared of my therapist I was able to use the dog being there to help convince myself that the dog would protect me. Yeah, never mind that the dog belonged to HIM. It worked.
Today, my therapist asked if it would be ok to bring him again next week. YES! He said he thinks he is going to begin bringing his dog when he has sessions with me for that very purpose (he had noted the difference) Then he suggested AGAIN that I might want to try to get a service dog.
So for the first time, I am actually seriously considering this. There's a lot to consider.
I work in an environment where some days a dog might be in danger with the work we occasionally do.
They are expensive. I am not sure how in the world I would ever afford one!
A dog would be a badge that would tell everyone that I have a condition that requires monitoring by a service dog (not something I am thrilled with but then again I think a lot of people already know I have some sort of problem.)
HOUSING. Where I live NO ONE wants to take you if you have an animal. I was talking to a potential landlord today and trying to finalize things so I could possibly rent his house (much closer to work) starting next month. When I mentioned that I was looking into this he actually became quite angry and told me that he was not ok with a dog. (yes I called it a service animal) I decided to bow out of the property. If he's going to get angry with me just ASKING, the idea of actually having to cross that bridge and dealing with him when and if the time came to get a dog sounds painful.
It will draw serious attention to my problems with my family. So far, I've been able to more or less hide this from my mom who was, in her own way, an abuser. I'm not ready to cross this bridge and tell her I am in therapy.
I kind of thrilled at the idea of a companion who could help keep me focused, present, and safe but the prospect is daunting. I don't even know where to start with this.
Help?
I had a really HORRIBLE session on Monday that was honestly made slightly better because my therapist brought his dog along with him. It was a last minute decision because his dog had gotten loose and he didn't have time to take him home and make our session. I'm sure it helped that the last time I had met him I had warmed to him nicely. I was having trouble staying present in session but the dog coming to me and bumping against me and wanting to be petted helped ... a lot. While I was in a really bad place and scared of my therapist I was able to use the dog being there to help convince myself that the dog would protect me. Yeah, never mind that the dog belonged to HIM. It worked.
Today, my therapist asked if it would be ok to bring him again next week. YES! He said he thinks he is going to begin bringing his dog when he has sessions with me for that very purpose (he had noted the difference) Then he suggested AGAIN that I might want to try to get a service dog.
So for the first time, I am actually seriously considering this. There's a lot to consider.
I work in an environment where some days a dog might be in danger with the work we occasionally do.
They are expensive. I am not sure how in the world I would ever afford one!
A dog would be a badge that would tell everyone that I have a condition that requires monitoring by a service dog (not something I am thrilled with but then again I think a lot of people already know I have some sort of problem.)
HOUSING. Where I live NO ONE wants to take you if you have an animal. I was talking to a potential landlord today and trying to finalize things so I could possibly rent his house (much closer to work) starting next month. When I mentioned that I was looking into this he actually became quite angry and told me that he was not ok with a dog. (yes I called it a service animal) I decided to bow out of the property. If he's going to get angry with me just ASKING, the idea of actually having to cross that bridge and dealing with him when and if the time came to get a dog sounds painful.
It will draw serious attention to my problems with my family. So far, I've been able to more or less hide this from my mom who was, in her own way, an abuser. I'm not ready to cross this bridge and tell her I am in therapy.
I kind of thrilled at the idea of a companion who could help keep me focused, present, and safe but the prospect is daunting. I don't even know where to start with this.
Help?
