1) Retrieving anything and everything he's told- this assists me when I am very lethargic due to depression, also to get the phone if I should be unable to move to get it myself.
2) Lap task (pictured above) for support and comfort when I start to become panicked or moderately distressed due to some event.Or to break/stall disassociation when other methods have not worked. Allows me to focus on him and assists me to calm myself down which I otherwise can have great difficulty doing by myself.
3) Hand mouthing task to stabilize me, de-stress, focus me and break dissassociation which allows me to handle more stress and related problems that would keep me from going out into public.
4) Assists with laundry - Pulling clothes out of dryer to assist with depression related tiredness and lethargy
5) Assits with laundry- picking items up and placing them in washer to assist with depression related tiredness and lethargy
6) Helps pick up house to assist with depression related tiredness and lethargy
7) Backpacking to deter loss from memory problems and for security.
8) Shuts doors to assist with depression related tiredness and lethargy of a mom of 3 (kids are born in barns).
9) Assisting with anxiety and panic in the car by maintaining a certian position close to me within easy touching distance and using the hand mouthing task when needed to stabilize me.
10) Turning off lights via wall switch to assist with lethargy or weakness due to various factors or to mitigate sudden panic and fear in the night, to deal with paranoia of an intruder upon coming home at night from being out.
11) Kissing task to stabilize and de-stress me.
12) Assistance maintainng balance during periods of dizziness and loss of balance due to medication- especially helpful on stairs.
13) Assistance during a panic attack by persistantly nudging me and licking my face vigorously.
14) Pushes button for automatic door to assist when hands full, also to conserve energy during depression.
15) Alert to door and people near property to assist with hypervigilance, paranoia and when I am out of reality.
16) Alert several hours in advance of a decline in my mental functioning and state that I do not notice which will later cause problems, allowing me to medicate in advance to lessen the impact which allows me to continue functioning.
17) Bracing to assist to rise when weak or not feeling good because of panic attacks, depression or medication effects.
18) Carrying items for me for quite a distance- not specifically disability related for me- just convenient..
19) Trained to not willingly let me out of his sight without purposeful and strong command from me to do so.
20) Reminds me to feed him, the other animals and myself- I will go through phases where I am too depressed to care about eating or too scattered and distracted to eat.
21) Finds our vehicle in a crowded parking lot as I get lost and forget where my vehicle is which sets off a panic response.
22) Blocking me from contact or intrusion of personal space from behind by moving behind me and quietly using his imposing mass to keep people from getting too close and causing a panic response.
23) Several different tricks (ie- rolling over, sitting up and begging, waving) that serve to distract me and focus me when I am having difficulty.
24) Checking on me upon going to bed and waking
25) Locating me immediately if I suddenly disappear (ie- when he's outside taking care of business)
26) Assistance keeping an eye on my young children and warning me of concerning situations- this is an assist when I am only half in reality and allows me to better care for my kids.
27) Serving as a grounding force during mania to deter potentially dangerous behaviors
28) Bugging me to go run errands and see to business when I need to but don't feel like it and have mentioned the need to do so within hearing of him thus partially mitigating avoidance behaviors.
29) Leading me to familiar places he knows we are going to or should be going to ( ie- my college class) when I may be partially disassociated or very lethargic. All I have to do is hold on and follow even if my brain is elsewhere.
30) Deter "bad guys" with a trained intimidating (ears perked at the person with steady gaze )look and standing at alert.
31) Opens the refrigirator using a pull device on the door handle (prelude to retrieving a drink for me for taking medication or to soothe side effects) learned in 1 lesson.
Last updated: 2/16/02