A Service Dog for Rachel

I’m a nineteen-year-old college student, and I have bipolar II disorder, debilitating anxiety, and I’m autistic.

I have been psych inpatient five times and had five suicide attempts since the time I was thirteen. I have been in therapy since I was eight or nine, and I have been working with a psychiatrist since I was thirteen, hoping to find the right combination of medications. I still struggle with self-harm sometimes.

As a college student, I am passionate about my major in fashion design. It’s been my dream since my first year of art camp when I was twelve, but my anxiety and panic attacks often make it hard for me to get to school and stay in class. My depressive episodes can keep me in bed, and my mania can make it unsafe for me to go places without support.

A service dog could anticipate some of my needs and respond to them before it gets to a point where I just can’t function. Some tasks that could help me are grounding me with deep pressure, circling me or lying in front of me so people don’t get too close, and reminding me to take meds. A service dog could sense an oncoming anxiety attack, alert and distract me, and bring me my anxiety medications. A service dog could also interrupt me when I’m trying to hurt myself and take me to a safe person or out of an overwhelming place if I start to have a panic attack or go into sensory overload.

I have thought about how a service dog would benefit me for years, and I’m so excited that I’m finally at a point in my life where that’s realistic. Having a service dog will be life-changing  for me.

Please donate now to make a difference!

Please Note: Diggity Dogs Service Dogs Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization.  All donations are tax-deductible and non-refundable.  A receipt is automatically sent to every donor upon submitting a donation. All donations are subject to a 2.9% fee from Paypal which is deducted from your donation total.