Many questions...

[HopelessHeartsMarie]

Hi, I'm trying to figure out if a ESA will help me.
I have Asperger's Syndrome (AS) and I have been diagnosed with some other disorders as well.
I recently have been having emotional break downs and panic attacks for no reason, little reason, or school/life related things.  This seems to have started in March and gotten worse during the beginning of this month due to thinking about my degree I do or don't want now.
I'm studing to be a graphic design artist and started having a panic attack during one of my classes, but held it together till I got back to my apt. where I broke down later that night.
I just had a panic attack the other night making me stay up till 4am before I could fall asleep.
I live in a no pet zone apt. with two roommates that I'm close to. 
One of my roommates just told me recently that I have been acting unlike myself and that this could be a good idea for me to do.  Both her and her boyfriend agree and so does my room roommate who is a dear friend of mine.
I've been wanting a dog for a while and thought it might help with my emotions and help me destress. (I was roomed last semester with some people that totally stressed me out so bad that I had emotional attacks and couldn't wait to go home.  It was so bad that my body went out of wack and wasn't functioning normally.)  After I moved out of that apt and into another with the two now roommates it took over 3 months to get back to normal for my body and to destress from everything that had happened.
I brought up the idea of a ESA and saying I wanted to get a dog and they automatically said no and wouldn't talk to me any further on the subject last night.  I'm going to try again, but I don't know if I can get them to understand that this may help me.  They are wanting me to get off at least one of my meds, but everytime I begin to stress out and freak over it and go straight back on it. 
Does anyone have any advice for me and knowledge if a ESA is right for me?
BTW the dog I want is a Chihuahua if that makes any difference at all and I am considered disabled due to my AS at this time.

[state_of_nowhere]

I brought up the idea of a ESA and saying I wanted to get a dog and they automatically said no and wouldn't talk to me any further on the subject last night.

Who said this? The roommates or your parents?

In order to have an ESA in no-pet housing, you must meet the legal definition of disabled and you must request a "reasonable accommodation" to keep the dog. Typically, this involves providing documentation from a healthcare professional that the animal is required to mitigate your disability in some way.

ESAs are not permitted to accompany you into places where pets are not allowed - it is a pet and nothing more.

Having a dog is huge responsibility and if you're in college and living with roommates, you need to take this into consideration as well. Your roommates may not want a dog in the apartment.

I noticed you said the increased anxiety/panic began last month. Have you spoken with any of your healthcare professionals about this? Are you in therapy? Personally, I would rule out medical causes of your panic (side effects from medication, etc) before getting a dog.

[Shidash]

Only a judge can tell you if you fall under the definition of disabled or not, but asking your doctor will get you a good estimate and your doctor must prescribe an ESA to you. No one on an online forum can say. Many people on here, including me, have some form of autism. But autism is a spectrum disorder and many people are not disabled by it.

As for an emotional support animal, do you know that dogs calm you down? Have you had a dog before? If the answer is yes to both of these, then chances are good that an ESA may be good for you. If you answered no to one of these, then I would suggest spending more time around dogs to see if they can calm you down and if you actually want a dog. Perhaps you can help a friend walk and train their dog.

Another thing is training. As long as you are not looking for a service dog (which makes this process a lot more complicated) and just an ESA, you do not need to worry too much about training. However, I would suggest learning a bit about basic dog training before you get a dog. After you get a dog, you should take your dog to basic obedience classes and perhaps try to pass the canine good citizen (CGC) test. Having a decently trained pet may make your landlord, neighbors, and roommates more accepting of you having an ESA.

Also, please see the ESA FAQ page- http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content/faq/59 and the ESA page- http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/256

[HopelessHeartsMarie]

A judge did deem me disabled at this time.
Its my parents that don't want me to have a dog.
I haven't had any changes in my meds for over I don't remember how long.
My roommates are fine with the idea of a dog.  It would be small so it wouldn't be big one and it wouldn't cause problems I don't think.

[Kirsten]

I guess question one is whether you are over 18.  If over 18, your parents don't have a legal say in what you do.  The next question of course is whether you are dependent on them for support.  If you are, you may have to either figure out a way to convince them or make a choice about which is more important:  their support or the ESA.

Will it be a benefit to you?  If you enjoy the company of pets then probably yes.  Various studies have shown that for people who enjoy pets, interacting with them can lower blood pressure and raise dopamine which improve health and sense of well-being.  The question you have to ask is whether that benefit will outweigh any stress caused by dealing with your parents and landlord over it.

You mentioned living in "no pets" housing.  Here's some information on how to deal with that:  http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/256

[hopesclan]

Just because a dog is small doesn't mean they wont cause problems or have behavioral issues.  Training is still very important.  So is socialization.

[state_of_nowhere]

I haven't had any changes in my meds for over I don't remember how long.

Side effects and complications from medication can occur at day 1 or day 1,000. Never rule out a medical cause without actually ruling out a medical cause.

[Roxie]

Are you legally an adult in your state? 18 usually, but some states carry minor in effect until the end of the 18th year - and one turns 19.

Why can't you decide for yourself what you want and need? And not involve your parents? If you approve, why are you wanting parental approval? You've got your friends' approval!

Any dog/pup of any breed or mix or size can be a huge problem!  You have to socialize them, train them, walk and feed them, entertain them, clean up after them, arrange care for them when you aren't going to be home. Just like having a kid. Even if you're sick, broke, tired, over-scheduled, or just don't feel like it: you have to care for the dog.

Have you also been talking to your therapist or psychologist? Have you been getting med checks?

Roxie

[HopelessHeartsMarie]

I just turned 21 in March. 
I don't rely on my parents for money.  I get SSI do to being disabled.
I'm thinking of messaging one of both doctors of my doctors at the mental health clinic about if it be a good idea to get a emotional support animal such as a dog.

[robbertbobbert]

Why can't you decide for yourself what you want and need? And not involve your parents? If you approve, why are you wanting parental approval? You've got your friends' approval!

This person is over 18, but you have to remember that even if you're an adult parents can still be an extremely important consideration. Yes, I'm over 18, but if my parents hadn't agreed to a dog I wouldn't have gotten one. If they'd said I couldn't have my dog in their house I would have nowhere to go over holidays or the summer. I don't have the resources to live on my own during those times and attempting to do so would make my life more stressful than living without a dog.

[Kirsten]

There is more than one kind of support.  Just as you can get emotional support from a pet, you can also get it from your parents (in addition to financial support, etc.).  I would hope your parents would be accepting if you went through with it, as parents generally are even when they think their child is making a terrible mistake.  My family, and particularly my mother, thought me getting a dog of any kind, much less a service dog, was a terrible idea.  She was embarrassed to be seen with me and my dog.  Eventually she got over it. 

[HopelessHeartsMarie]

Really? Wow. 
My mom is now making it sound like its the amount of money is the reason why we can't get me a dog.
She says I don't have enough.  But I think we're going to talk about it tomorrow, but I don't know for sure yet.

[Kirsten]

It's time to work out a budget:

http://www.pawfriendly.com/community/dog-adoption-costs
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2106&aid=1543
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/06/peteconomics.asp?viewed=1
http://www2.aspca.org/flash/petcarecosts/petcarecosts.swf

[Roxie]

I probably sound like a naggy squeaky wheel when I always ask why don't y'all just decide for your selves what you want, when you want it, and doing what you want to do disincluding parental approval.

I never had parents. I don't really have a clue about dealing with them or understand why some people seem unable to function without parental approval or consent.

I was orphaned at 7, my 67-70 yr old grandparents took me in. I started making household family decisions around 13 or 14 and was responsible for 100% of all driving, shopping, appointments and everything by the age of 14.   I was forced into extreme independence very early.

Also, I passed that independence on to my kids (cuz that is what I knew and had experienced)  .... having them be 100% responsible for themselves by 16 or 17.  But I was always there if they needed me - something I never had.

So, kindly excuse my not getting it, and sometimes being abrupt about people leaning on parental approval .

Roxie

[HopelessHeartsMarie]

Thanks this helps me out alot.
I just hope things get worked out and I get things figured out.