Anxiety is a very common mental disorder that affects a large percentage of Americans. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 40 million American adults have an anxiety disorder – and unfortunately, many go undiagnosed and untreated.
Anxiety can take a toll on a person’s quality of life, causing them to miss out on daily activities that most people take for granted. Some of the most common symptoms of anxiety include extreme worry, fear, nervousness, and restlessness. People with anxiety will often avoid public places or events, including social interactions with others.
Some of the treatments of anxiety include psychotherapy, medications, supplements like CBD. You may be already familiar with these treatments’ information, but there is also another option available for those suffering from anxiety.
Some people are getting service dogs for anxiety with success, and the treatment is becoming increasingly popular in the mental health community. There are specific things to consider before deciding if a service dog for anxiety is right for you.
What are service dogs?
Service dogs are specially trained to help people with disabilities. Service dogs perform tasks their owner cannot do for themselves, such as detecting when blood sugar levels are low or alerting someone with diabetes if their blood sugar is too high. These amazing animals also guide the blind, pull wheelchairs, retrieve objects, provide physical support to their owner in a medical crisis, and more.
When it comes to mental disabilities, service dogs are also able to assist with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, panic disorders, hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and disassociation.
Common tasks a service dog can do for mental disabilities
A service dog can remind their owner if they have an upcoming appointment or help them remember to take their medication. Service dogs can be trained to recognize the symptoms of an oncoming panic attack or anxiety episode and help comfort their owner through it with gentle nudges, licks, and snuggles. A service dog might also wake up their owner if they are having a nightmare or flashback.
How to get a service dog
Unfortunately, there are no official programs to train service dogs for mental disabilities. However, some organizations do help train psychiatric service dogs. These organizations screen prospective applicants, go through a two-year training program with the dog and owner, provide all of the supplies for free, offer lifetime support after training is complete, make sure both halves of the team are equally committed to the partnership before making it official, and follow up with both partners regularly.
The cost
Purchasing or adopting a dog, training it to become a service dog, and providing for the animal’s needs can cost more than $25,000. However, there are organizations that provide psychiatric service dogs free of charge after going through their two-year program. These programs also cover any additional expenses in order to make the partnership official.
The breeds
Because each owner has different needs and lifestyles, no one can predict which breed of dog would be best for treating their symptoms. However, many people do recommend retrievers since they are already naturally inclined to help people, are very patient and gentle, and have a calm demeanor.
Conclusion
If you have been diagnosed with a mental disorder, getting a service dog for your anxiety can bring many benefits. Many organizations help provide psychiatric service dogs at no cost to the owner, and there are also options for people who wish to purchase or adopt their own service dog.
Make sure you do your research before making any decisions about getting a service dog for your anxiety.
