Taylor's Psychiatric Service Dog
Donation protected
Hi everyone, my name is Taylor and I’m 19 years old. Making this page is something that is extremely difficult for me. I hate asking people for money, especially because this is a part of my life that I don’t really feel comfortable broadcasting. Those of you who know me know that I have struggled with my mental health for many years. I was 13 when I first got diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and anxiety. During my freshman year of high school I had to be hospitalized because I was extremely suicidal. Throughout high school my mental health went up and down frequently. There were a few times where I came close to dropping out because I was in such a bad place. At one point I had to switch to a home and hospital program because my anxiety was so bad I couldn’t leave my house.
As many of you may know, close to a year ago now I moved to Florida to attend Full Sail University. I’ve been doing well academically, I have over a 3.0 and I’ve been learning a lot, but my mental health has once again taken a turn for the worst. My anxiety makes it difficult for me to go out anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s school, to the grocery store, or even to a friends place. I constantly have an overwhelming fear that something bad is about to happen. It feels as if I have a million pound weight on my chest at all times and I can’t breathe. My service dog would be trained to retrieve my medicine during a panic attack, provide deep pressure for me during a panic attack, to react to my alarm going off in the morning to help get me up and out of bed, provide an excuse to leave an upsetting situation if I start feeling anxious, it would do body blocking in public and keep in contact with me so I get less overwhelmed, and it would force petting in situations where it can tell I’m getting overwhelmed and need a distraction. I’ve been working with numerous different mental health professionals who all believe this is something that will be extremely beneficial to me and my life. The organization that I’m hoping to be working with takes rescue dogs and turns them into service dogs. This isn’t about getting a pet, this is about getting a service animal who can help me get my life back. They have a dog that they believe is the perfect fit for me and will allow me to skip the waiting list, but in order to make it happen I have to get the financials together as quickly as possible.
I realize that this is a lot, but even the smallest amount helps and I will be forever grateful.
As many of you may know, close to a year ago now I moved to Florida to attend Full Sail University. I’ve been doing well academically, I have over a 3.0 and I’ve been learning a lot, but my mental health has once again taken a turn for the worst. My anxiety makes it difficult for me to go out anywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s school, to the grocery store, or even to a friends place. I constantly have an overwhelming fear that something bad is about to happen. It feels as if I have a million pound weight on my chest at all times and I can’t breathe. My service dog would be trained to retrieve my medicine during a panic attack, provide deep pressure for me during a panic attack, to react to my alarm going off in the morning to help get me up and out of bed, provide an excuse to leave an upsetting situation if I start feeling anxious, it would do body blocking in public and keep in contact with me so I get less overwhelmed, and it would force petting in situations where it can tell I’m getting overwhelmed and need a distraction. I’ve been working with numerous different mental health professionals who all believe this is something that will be extremely beneficial to me and my life. The organization that I’m hoping to be working with takes rescue dogs and turns them into service dogs. This isn’t about getting a pet, this is about getting a service animal who can help me get my life back. They have a dog that they believe is the perfect fit for me and will allow me to skip the waiting list, but in order to make it happen I have to get the financials together as quickly as possible.
I realize that this is a lot, but even the smallest amount helps and I will be forever grateful.
Organizer
Taylor Witles
Organizer
Winter Park, FL
