Living With Depression? Here’s How a Psychiatric Service Dog Can Help.

Have you heard of the term Depression? If not, let me tell you it is one of the most common and severe medical conditions that harm a person’s feelings, thoughts, and behavior. Thankfully, there are various treatments to deal with it. One of them is getting the assistance of a psychiatric service dog. Depression causes disappointment and loss of interest in activities that you enjoyed doing earlier. Also, your capacity to operate at work and home gets affected, due to which the chances of mental and emotional health illnesses increase.

In this post, we’ll talk about the benefits of psychiatric service dogs and how they could help someone diagnosed with Depression. We will also briefly discuss the factors you should consider if you want to acquire a psychiatric service dog as a part of your depression treatment. To find out all these terms, you have to continue reading!

What is a Psychiatric Service Dog?

A psychiatric service dog may look like a regular pet, but they’re not because they have received specific training to benefit a person with mental health. Also, these dogs have certain rights and protections that make them different from regular pets.

Benefits of Psychiatric Service Dogs for Depression

Depression might cause feelings of isolation, fatigue, and lack of interest that make your daily life difficult. Psychiatric service dogs can help you in making your everyday life easy by improving your overall mental health in the following ways:

Provides Responsibility, Structure, and Purpose

When you’re feeling low, dogs can help you get through the day and lift your spirits. Due to the fact that having an animal to care for might help you remember to do things, they can promote structure and responsibility. When you care for your dog, you can improve your mental health and self-esteem while expanding your sense of responsibility, structure, and purpose.

Encouraging Daily Exercise

According to studies, persons who own dogs are more physically active than those who don’t own a dog because they walk for at least 30 minutes longer each day. Anyone can improve their mental health through regular exercise. But those struggling with anxiety, ADHD, or Depression may find it particularly beneficial because physical activity increases blood flow and encourages the release of happy hormones in the brain, which is good for our mental health. Having a psychiatric service dog for mental health purposes could enable you to get outside and take in some fresh air while also improving your approach to life.

Lowering Stress And Anxiety

Having a psychiatric service dog around you can help you make happier and less alone. If you experience joy and camaraderie because of your dog’s presence, this can boost your confidence and lessen the symptoms of Depression and anxiety. Psychiatric service dogs who have been specifically trained can also help you during an anxiety attack by providing deep-pressure therapy or creating tactile stimulation so that you can feel safe.

Encouraging Relationships With Others

Wellness experts concur that dogs make great companions for humans. They typically make their owners more friendly when they take them on walks because they draw attention. Having a furry friend with you can make you feel less lonely and depressed. Research has also shown that dogs have similar emotional advantages as human pals. For instance, the friendship you’ll form with your dog may help you strengthen current relationships and forge new ones.

How Psychiatric Service Dogs Assist in Depression Treatment

It is well known that people who live with psychiatric service dogs get relief from symptoms of Depression and other psychiatric health issues. PSD interactions can be as simple as petting a dog, but they can also serve the following additional purposes. These are:

• They can protect their owners from strangers and keep them away from social engagement if they start feeling anxious
• They can help their owners by providing medication on time
• Providing food and water to assist the owner in taking their medications or to help them manage their daily routine
• They can provide you with support and comfort when exhibiting signs of distress
• If you need to speak with a professional and are in a crisis, PSDs can bring you a phone
• Locating assistance in an emergency if trained properly
• If you are exhibiting particular symptoms, they can gently touch you to bring you back to awareness

Getting a Psychiatric Service Dog For Mental Health Condition

The ADA defines that a person dealing with any mental or emotional health condition, such as Depression, bipolar disorder, phobias, anxiety, or PTSD, etc., can qualify for a psychiatric service dog. If you think your mental health condition is suitable for getting a psychiatric service dog, consult with a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) such as a psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, or any other doctor. They will discuss your mental health condition with you, and if they find it valid, they will write a PSD letter for you!

Many people look for online service providers because the time involved is significantly less than the traditional method of getting a psychiatric service dog. You can easily apply online and get evaluated by a licensed mental health professional without stepping out of your home.

The steps involved in getting a psychiatric service dog letter online are as follows:

Apply online
You have to fill out a small application form in which you have to mention your details, such as name, age, address, etc., along with your medical health details. After completing the form, you can submit it by clicking the “submit now” button.

Get evaluated by LMHP
Once your form is submitted, you’ve to wait until the licensed mental health professional of our team evaluates your form. If they find your condition genuine, they will approve your application for a PSD letter.

Get Your PSD Letter
We will immediately send your PSD letter to you via email after we get approval from the LMHP of our team. You can download your PSD letter from there to avail the benefits of the PSD laws and rights.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Fair Housing Act protects PSDs and their owners from discrimination. So if you want to live with your PSD on any property of your choice or travel along your PSD, you can because now you have a PSD Letter!

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

If you’re dealing with Depression and think that a psychiatric service dog might help you manage your symptoms of Depression and enhance your daily life by performing tasks, don’t hesitate to get a psychiatric service dog for yourself.