Some examples of how PSD can help:

-Interrupting episodes such as crying, dissociation, flashbacks, and nightmares

-Interrupting harmful actions, such as scratching, picking, and self-harm

-Providing pressure and tactile stimulation to calm

-Grounding and orienting the handler during panic attacks

-Lying on the handler during psychotic episodes

-Applying gentle pressure with teeth or nuzzling to disrupt psychiatric episodes

-Interrupting repetitive behaviors

-Helping the handler maintain a stable routine, like reminding to take medications

-Preventing the handler from oversleeping

-Provide physical attention and affection, helping ease anxiety and sadness.

-Alleviate claustrophobia and agoraphobia by acting as a buffer between handler and other humans.

-Help maintain balance and prevent falls.

-Recognize when handler need to be removed from an environment due to overstimulation.

* Generalized anxiety disorder

* Panic disorder

* Social anxiety disorder

* Separation anxiety disorder

* Depression

* Bipolar disorder

* Substance abuse disorder

* Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

* Schizophrenia

* Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

To be an official PSD, your dog must be trained to perform specific tasks to aid your mental health disorder, but that doesn't mean you need professional training or certification. As long as the animal is necessary to your mental health and can intervene in specific situations, your PSD is protected. No other document is technically required.

A PSD can be trained by anyone, including yourself, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and ADA. The DOT Transport Form asks who was responsible for training your service dog and passengers are allowed to list themselves as the trainer.

Psychiatric service dogs need to meet two (2) different standards of training to be classified as service animals.

1) TRAINED TO ASSIST WITH A MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITY (explained above)

2) BEHAVE WELL IN PUBLIC

All service dogs need to behave well in public. The standard is pretty subjective but, generally, service dogs must not show signs of stress, be aggressive in any way, climb on other people, or chase other animals.

For travel, the DOT now requires passengers with service dogs to fill out and sign a form that certifies that your service dog is trained, and will behave appropriately. Service dogs must be able to keep their composure at the airport, for the duration of a flight, and in other public settings.

They must be able to control their bodily functions while in the gate area and for the entire flight.

If a dog can't meet those standards, or it its behavior shows that it hasn't been properly trained, the airline can refuse to permit it in the flight cabin and can treat the service dog as a pet by charging a pet fee and requiring your dog to be transported in a pet carrier, possibly in the cargo hold.