Well I was aware of psychiatirc service dogs way before this happened to me because I trained them along with other service dogs. I don't really know if there is a specific school that trains them mostly they are handler trained under the guidance of a PRO. I was inspired to do something to help myself instead of sitting around feeling sorry for myself and useless, so I with the help of my husband and a few freinds in my Dog Training Circle did more research about how a dog could assist me because of the issues I have with the medication. The theory is that the dog will alert you to episodes of panic, and keep you in a better state of reality. They also can take you out of a situation, remind you to take meds, snap you out of a panic attack by staying close to you and also keep people at a distance, go get help by barking and alerting someone to assist you AND can be taught to hit Speed dial to call 911 on your home phone or on an emergency phone that you carry with you. The other part of the theory is if you focus on the dog and not on all the things that stem an attack of fear and endangerment, you will be able to work through the attacks. I own a Border Collie who is being trained by me to assist me. I was just curious if anyone else had a dog that they use for this purpose. My therapist and Neuro Psychiatrist very much support my use of a dog, very new to them also but I am finding that with time maybe I can get off all the meds. This dog will also offer me the skill of getting in between me and people so that I am not accidently bumped because that sometimes will bring on the RSD pain.

Ann