Friends, if you didn't know, I'm an autistic adult who also lives with a severe anxiety disorder and PTSD. It is impossible to tell just by speaking with me online. In fact, being online makes it easier for me to communicate with people. Using the screen as my shield, I'm able to work through my social anxieties and interact with the public in ways I never could before. It has truly been incredible. Online, I have time to organize my thoughts and present them in a more articulate way.

In-person communication has always been my deepest struggle, with my disabilities even leading to bouts of "selective mutism," where I am unable to speak verbally at all.  I honestly say that it's not very selective. As I've gotten older, things have gotten so much harder.  I stay inside and hardly ever leave my home because of my anxiety. I have been suffering from severe depression and thoughts of self-harm for a few years now. I've had my meds changed often to no avail. When I do leave my house, it is always with my husband as he is my biggest support. He helps speak for me when I can't. He manages to handle all my needs, and he is amazing. But it is a hard job, and I want to alleviate this for him in any way I can. Being able to live more independently would be priceless to me.

Under the advice of my doctor, therapist, and other members of my care team, this sweet miniature schnauzer puppy was selected to be trained as my personal psychiatric service dog. The trainer we are hoping to work with has drawn up a plan for her education, and will see to it that she learns to complete tasks and therapeutic maneuvers that can help me function more easily on my own and lead a more independent life.

As self-harm is an issue I have struggled with in the past, one key component of her training will be teaching her to recognize dissociative states and intervene to prevent any self-harming behaviors. I do get very over stimulated, and unfortunately, the risk of self-harm is still an issue for me. I feel like this puppy could potentially save my life one day. Having the extra peace of mind that there is someone else looking out for me could also help alleviate some of the pressure that I know my husband must be feeling.

Other tasks that she will learn to assist with are medication reminders, interrupting anxiety-based behaviors such as repetitive scratching/picking, and providing a vital source of emotional support during public outings. There is honestly even so much more that this dog could help me with it.  I'm tired of feeling like I'm trapped, and this would be a huge blessing for me.

She will require a rigorous 3 to 6 month training program in order to learn the things she needs to know to be a full service dog. Our trainer has generously offered to also include my dachshund, Icky, and provide him with some basic training to help him as the new pup integrates into our family as part of our plan. Already having such anxiety, it is terrifying to have to ask for help — but if there is anyone out there who may be willing to contribute to make this happen, our family would be most appreciative. The training is unfortunately not covered by insurance.

I will put all the information down below, and I'm happy to answer any questions. Please be kind and scroll on if you are only here to leave a nasty comment. I have been going through enough lately as it is, and I'm just trying to stay mentally and emotionally afloat. Thank you so much. 

Thank you, Alyson (Pixel & Sophie's cat mom), for helping me write up this explanation.