Service Dog for Grey: A Path to Healing

Hello, my name is Grey, and I need help.

I am a person living with multiple mental illnesses. I have been formally diagnosed with C-PTSD, Bipolar II, Borderline Personality Disorder, Autism, ADHD, and Panic Disorder. I started showing symptoms of my mental illnesses as a toddler, and began taking medication at the age of 5. These struggles impact every facet of my daily life. While I do everything possible to help myself, including therapy, medication, and self-care, there are plenty of days I can’t get out of bed. Every day is a new hurdle to overcome, whether it be self-harming behaviors, disassociating, or even being unable to recognize my manic symptoms. I’m no stranger to the psychiatric unit in hospitals, and have also gone through rehab at multiple points in my life. I rely on others heavily for support. This makes my independence shaky at best.

For 15 years now, I have been waiting patiently for my turn to get a service dog. Having a service dog would open up a whole new world for me. From leaving the house alone to visiting unfamiliar places. These dogs are trained to interrupt nightmares and self-harm behaviors. They can detect and abate panic attacks before they start.

My time of waiting is over. Solstice Service Dogs has chosen me to receive one of their service dog prospect puppies. To say I’m elated would be putting it lightly. While they are working with me on costs, service dogs, even the puppy prospects, don’t come cheap. I am in need of $3500 to cover the cost of my service dog. This is already discounted from anywhere between $7-10K.

This has been incredibly difficult to write. There is still so much shame attached to mental illness, and being vulnerable like this is scary. I know I have to be brave for myself and my future. If you can help in any way, you’d give me a new lease on life.

Thank you

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