I'm going to be honest and say I read literally nothing you wrote, because honestly we aren't qualified to tell you if you are disabled or not or if a service dog is right for you. I have written this [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/service_dogs/comments/18vc7r8/am_i_disabled_enough/) and also this [considerations that potential handlers should think about before acquiring a service dog](https://www.reddit.com/r/service_dogs/wiki/sdconsiderations/) that every potential handler should read and be honest to themselves when answering the questions. Additionally you do have to consider the bias of asking service dog handlers, of course the answers will predominantly say that "yes, a service dog can help people with your diagnosis" but the reality is that most people with any particular diagnosis don't choose to work a service dog for one of an infinite number of reasons as it is a minority of cases where a service dog is an appropriate choice for an individual.
Here is the metric for having a service dog
1. diagnosed with a disability
2. that a service animal can help with
then once you have an animal, it needs to
3. perform at least one task or alert that helps with your disability
So, you need to see a professional and find out what's actually wrong with you.
You need to talk to a therapist/doctor. Discuss with them whether they think it's a good fit.
To get a service dog at most schools, you'll need a letter from your doctor to live on campus or live off campus and need a letter for your landlord.
Also, a dog is a lot of work at an already stressful time of life. Think about how broke and tired most college students are and then add the hours and cost of your dog on top.
I think the most important aspect before getting a dog is working with a psychiatrist and trauma/ psychosis informed therapist, you are describing some pretty serious symptoms without a clear diagnosis going into a critical age. From there, hopefully once you are stabilized and have support, you can determine if and what dog would meet your needs best, and ESA or psy-SD.i am guessing there are cues and lead ups to certain behaviors that can be alerted to or interrupted, but do you have the spoons and capacity to train a SD with everything that is going on. You need to be honest with yourself, because what we say does not matter much.
If your animals offer you comfort just by existing, then they're ESAs. Contact your college to ask about their policy for ESAs, what documents they require, etc. You'll want to talk to their Disability Access office, and possibly the Housing office, as well. Most of the time you'll need a letter from your doctor that states that you're being treated by them for a disability and that an animal is part of that treatment. Talk to the doctors that are treating you for depression and anxiety, and they can likely help you with that.
This is probably going to be your best way to go right now, particularly since it sounds like you function pretty well so long as you can go home to your animals. Service dogs are expensive and take a long time to train (and while training, they're a full-time job). I encourage you to talk to your medical team about PTSD, as they're best suited to look into treatment options, whether that's meds, behavioral therapy, a service animal, or a combination of all of those.
ESA definitely sounds like the right option. Service dogs aren’t for everyone, and there are many instances where you’ll have to get used to not relying on your dog. There’s always life hiccups too, like my SD passing away shortly after completing her training, and my friends SD getting attacked at a mall.
If you are in the US ESA for housing is covered and this means they have to allow them in dorm just not in your classes. This is federal law so doesn’t matter if state doesn’t include it specifically. For them to be service dogs and allowed elsewhere they need to be trained for specific tasks which it doesn’t sound like yours is right now.
So at this time I wouldn't think you are a candidate for a service dog. Also without a diagnosis you'd be rejected from every reputable trainer and clearly you aren't in a position to train the dog yourself.
Please note that I said at this time. I actually no longer am a capable handler. I used to train dogs for service, had a service cat before the 2011 law change, and I have my disability for complex PTSD. I have other stuff but I'm not as disabled by those and could work still. My PTSD not so much. With a diagnosis comes treatment. With treatment comes an improvement in your symptoms. With coping skills you no longer have to push yourself until you break.
A service dog comes after a certain amount of treatment so you don't develop a dependency on the dog and get worse. It's very much what I think is happening with your pets. This doesn't mean in the future you won't be a candidate but can you handle being in a crowd with strangers approaching you? That will be everyday. A service animal also means you no longer have the presumption of ability. It effects how people will treat you both positively and negatively.
The good news is I can tell you that you are disabled by the basic definition from this post.
Disability, a noun. A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movement, senses, or activities.
That last one applies. The other two can depending on the expression of your conditions.
To hopefully help you with deciding to get help because you will not survive college without it or have a quality of life:
My PTSD before treatment was round the clock and never stopped. I actually went to prison as a teenager because I put someone in a coma because I couldn't tell my best friend wasn't a threat. They almost died. I got help because the adults since I went to adult jail fought for me. I experienced true care from women who had on purpose for fun killed people. It's very strange but it was the first genuine care I had experienced.
I got put into a program instead of finishing a traditional sentence and started building coping skills. I continued therapy when I got out. No one expected me to be capable of having a life. Turns out I needed to leave the unsafe environment I was in, get a therapist I chose, and then stop working. Last but sucks because I really enjoyed my various careers but it doesn't work with my brain. I need to take at least July, October, November, December, January, February, and sometimes March or even April off to maintain. Not great for employment. So I am on SSI because I didn't work a legal job long enough.
Without help I would be dead. That is not a hypothetical. I no longer live with depression. My baseline is happy. I am content even during PTSD windows though I struggle during triggers and flashbacks because I am human. I however recover faster. My PTSD is just so bad that I don't get a whole year to myself but having any time where I am just a person existing vs a person in crisis is amazing and it makes coping easier.
Please value yourself enough to get help. You can actually experience life without that constant fear. It doesn't have to be this hard all the time. You may not even have PTSD. It might be something else even more treatable. Last Monday in the periodic assessment of my mental health I found myself losing a diagnosis. I no longer have agoraphobia. Doesn't mean I can go get a dog now but I cannot walk them reliably so that's not something reasonable. If you cannot meet the needs of the dog even on the bad days you're a bad candidate no matter what you're disabled by
I went through a lot of the same in my college transition and while being social and existing in a community was great and actually helped tons- it didn’t replace a good therapist and going part time as I pushed myself so hard I made myself very very sick.
Best recommendation? Take a part time schedule (under 12 credits), meet with a therapist or doctor weekly if you can and figure out a formal schedule as college goes on that works for you before you get a SD-if you do and I’m not telling you here if you’re disabled enough.
Though genuinely now re reading the dissociation chunk, I’d actually have some serious talks with family and yourself if college and a service dog is the right choice for you at all. If it’s as bad as you’re saying, college really shouldn’t be on the ticket as much as getting better should be. I had wandering fugue dissociation after a brief psychotic disorder showed up years back from stress and it happened twice and I literally had to stop school for a whole semester. Coming from that experience here I REALLY don’t recommend going to school while that’s a major issue. You could forget whole chunks of class- that you are paying for, it’s a waste of money. I had a LOT of help during this time from (a lot. I therapist hopped 6 times) therapists and getting myself on stable meds from an in patient stay. In those times I was dissociated in that fugue- not like i remember- but I don’t know if I’d be able to handle a service dog at all. I don’t know how I was. And that makes me question a lot. I’m not sure of the direct route that you’d experience- but this one was my personal experience so I thought I’d share. If your gp doctors aren’t treating it you need to seek a specialist.
You said your state does not have protections for ESAs and I think you may have gotten some misinformation. ESAs are covered under federal Fair Housing laws, and university housing is subject to the Fair Housing Act. A state may not negate that.
However, ESAs do not get you public accommodations under the ADA in most places. I think there are a very few state or local laws that allow it, though I could not tell you where.
I hope you're able to find a good solution!
Does your college have accessibility services? Start by looking at the website and see if ESAs are mentioned/available. If so, then there’s probably some forms for you, your doctor, and roommate (unless you have accommodations for a single, which may be a good idea) to fill out.
You can also talk to your doctor and ask them if they think you would benefit from a service dog.
I can’t honestly answer one way or another because I don’t know you. Your doctor can help direct you.
Don’t be afraid to ask for accommodations. They exist to help you attend school.
I'm going to be honest and say I read literally nothing you wrote, because honestly we aren't qualified to tell you if you are disabled or not or if a service dog is right for you. I have written this [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/service_dogs/comments/18vc7r8/am_i_disabled_enough/) and also this [considerations that potential handlers should think about before acquiring a service dog](https://www.reddit.com/r/service_dogs/wiki/sdconsiderations/) that every potential handler should read and be honest to themselves when answering the questions. Additionally you do have to consider the bias of asking service dog handlers, of course the answers will predominantly say that "yes, a service dog can help people with your diagnosis" but the reality is that most people with any particular diagnosis don't choose to work a service dog for one of an infinite number of reasons as it is a minority of cases where a service dog is an appropriate choice for an individual.
Here is the metric for having a service dog 1. diagnosed with a disability 2. that a service animal can help with then once you have an animal, it needs to 3. perform at least one task or alert that helps with your disability So, you need to see a professional and find out what's actually wrong with you.
You need to talk to a therapist/doctor. Discuss with them whether they think it's a good fit. To get a service dog at most schools, you'll need a letter from your doctor to live on campus or live off campus and need a letter for your landlord. Also, a dog is a lot of work at an already stressful time of life. Think about how broke and tired most college students are and then add the hours and cost of your dog on top.
I think the most important aspect before getting a dog is working with a psychiatrist and trauma/ psychosis informed therapist, you are describing some pretty serious symptoms without a clear diagnosis going into a critical age. From there, hopefully once you are stabilized and have support, you can determine if and what dog would meet your needs best, and ESA or psy-SD.i am guessing there are cues and lead ups to certain behaviors that can be alerted to or interrupted, but do you have the spoons and capacity to train a SD with everything that is going on. You need to be honest with yourself, because what we say does not matter much.
If your animals offer you comfort just by existing, then they're ESAs. Contact your college to ask about their policy for ESAs, what documents they require, etc. You'll want to talk to their Disability Access office, and possibly the Housing office, as well. Most of the time you'll need a letter from your doctor that states that you're being treated by them for a disability and that an animal is part of that treatment. Talk to the doctors that are treating you for depression and anxiety, and they can likely help you with that. This is probably going to be your best way to go right now, particularly since it sounds like you function pretty well so long as you can go home to your animals. Service dogs are expensive and take a long time to train (and while training, they're a full-time job). I encourage you to talk to your medical team about PTSD, as they're best suited to look into treatment options, whether that's meds, behavioral therapy, a service animal, or a combination of all of those.
ESA definitely sounds like the right option. Service dogs aren’t for everyone, and there are many instances where you’ll have to get used to not relying on your dog. There’s always life hiccups too, like my SD passing away shortly after completing her training, and my friends SD getting attacked at a mall.
If you are in the US ESA for housing is covered and this means they have to allow them in dorm just not in your classes. This is federal law so doesn’t matter if state doesn’t include it specifically. For them to be service dogs and allowed elsewhere they need to be trained for specific tasks which it doesn’t sound like yours is right now.
So at this time I wouldn't think you are a candidate for a service dog. Also without a diagnosis you'd be rejected from every reputable trainer and clearly you aren't in a position to train the dog yourself. Please note that I said at this time. I actually no longer am a capable handler. I used to train dogs for service, had a service cat before the 2011 law change, and I have my disability for complex PTSD. I have other stuff but I'm not as disabled by those and could work still. My PTSD not so much. With a diagnosis comes treatment. With treatment comes an improvement in your symptoms. With coping skills you no longer have to push yourself until you break. A service dog comes after a certain amount of treatment so you don't develop a dependency on the dog and get worse. It's very much what I think is happening with your pets. This doesn't mean in the future you won't be a candidate but can you handle being in a crowd with strangers approaching you? That will be everyday. A service animal also means you no longer have the presumption of ability. It effects how people will treat you both positively and negatively. The good news is I can tell you that you are disabled by the basic definition from this post. Disability, a noun. A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movement, senses, or activities. That last one applies. The other two can depending on the expression of your conditions. To hopefully help you with deciding to get help because you will not survive college without it or have a quality of life: My PTSD before treatment was round the clock and never stopped. I actually went to prison as a teenager because I put someone in a coma because I couldn't tell my best friend wasn't a threat. They almost died. I got help because the adults since I went to adult jail fought for me. I experienced true care from women who had on purpose for fun killed people. It's very strange but it was the first genuine care I had experienced. I got put into a program instead of finishing a traditional sentence and started building coping skills. I continued therapy when I got out. No one expected me to be capable of having a life. Turns out I needed to leave the unsafe environment I was in, get a therapist I chose, and then stop working. Last but sucks because I really enjoyed my various careers but it doesn't work with my brain. I need to take at least July, October, November, December, January, February, and sometimes March or even April off to maintain. Not great for employment. So I am on SSI because I didn't work a legal job long enough. Without help I would be dead. That is not a hypothetical. I no longer live with depression. My baseline is happy. I am content even during PTSD windows though I struggle during triggers and flashbacks because I am human. I however recover faster. My PTSD is just so bad that I don't get a whole year to myself but having any time where I am just a person existing vs a person in crisis is amazing and it makes coping easier. Please value yourself enough to get help. You can actually experience life without that constant fear. It doesn't have to be this hard all the time. You may not even have PTSD. It might be something else even more treatable. Last Monday in the periodic assessment of my mental health I found myself losing a diagnosis. I no longer have agoraphobia. Doesn't mean I can go get a dog now but I cannot walk them reliably so that's not something reasonable. If you cannot meet the needs of the dog even on the bad days you're a bad candidate no matter what you're disabled by
Just wondering if there isn't a school closer to home so you commute? You sound like you would truly benefit from staying close.
I went through a lot of the same in my college transition and while being social and existing in a community was great and actually helped tons- it didn’t replace a good therapist and going part time as I pushed myself so hard I made myself very very sick. Best recommendation? Take a part time schedule (under 12 credits), meet with a therapist or doctor weekly if you can and figure out a formal schedule as college goes on that works for you before you get a SD-if you do and I’m not telling you here if you’re disabled enough. Though genuinely now re reading the dissociation chunk, I’d actually have some serious talks with family and yourself if college and a service dog is the right choice for you at all. If it’s as bad as you’re saying, college really shouldn’t be on the ticket as much as getting better should be. I had wandering fugue dissociation after a brief psychotic disorder showed up years back from stress and it happened twice and I literally had to stop school for a whole semester. Coming from that experience here I REALLY don’t recommend going to school while that’s a major issue. You could forget whole chunks of class- that you are paying for, it’s a waste of money. I had a LOT of help during this time from (a lot. I therapist hopped 6 times) therapists and getting myself on stable meds from an in patient stay. In those times I was dissociated in that fugue- not like i remember- but I don’t know if I’d be able to handle a service dog at all. I don’t know how I was. And that makes me question a lot. I’m not sure of the direct route that you’d experience- but this one was my personal experience so I thought I’d share. If your gp doctors aren’t treating it you need to seek a specialist.
You said your state does not have protections for ESAs and I think you may have gotten some misinformation. ESAs are covered under federal Fair Housing laws, and university housing is subject to the Fair Housing Act. A state may not negate that. However, ESAs do not get you public accommodations under the ADA in most places. I think there are a very few state or local laws that allow it, though I could not tell you where. I hope you're able to find a good solution!
Does your college have accessibility services? Start by looking at the website and see if ESAs are mentioned/available. If so, then there’s probably some forms for you, your doctor, and roommate (unless you have accommodations for a single, which may be a good idea) to fill out. You can also talk to your doctor and ask them if they think you would benefit from a service dog. I can’t honestly answer one way or another because I don’t know you. Your doctor can help direct you. Don’t be afraid to ask for accommodations. They exist to help you attend school.