<p>I got placed in a freshman dorm. I needed a single because of my service dogs, and that was where they had an open one. However, I'm 23, so I'm going to be older than everyone else.
Plus I'm worried that people will mess with my dogs.
I have really bad anxiety disorder/agoraphobia so I have trouble socializing. In fact, when I go somewhere new I usually don't socialize with anyone for a while, until I get settled. My cousin is an RA at a different school and said that because I have service dogs people are not going to leave me alone. Which is going to make my anxiety worse.
I move tomorrow, and I'm really freaking out.</p>
<p>Well, there are two different things in discussion here:</p>
<p>1) The university provided you with a single room, which are hard to come by, and even though it is in a freshman dorm, they went a long way to help you out. </p>
<p>2) The dogs are going to be the center of a lot of attention. When you have the time, perhaps you should politely explain to some of the people in the rooms next to you about how you would like to be treated and how to treat your dogs.</p>
<p>It was cool for them to get me a single. My only problem with the freshman dorm is that I’m going to be older than everyone, which just adds to the awkwardness. But maybe it won’t be too noticable, after all it’s not like I’ve got grey hair or something :P</p>
<p>About your second point, that won’t work. I can’t talk to people I don’t know, my anxiety gets bad and I shut down. Sometimes my anxiety gets so bad I can barely talk (which is why my best friend taught me and my mom ASL). </p>
<p>I’m moving in a day before everyone else (my school is really being wonderful about helping me!), so maybe I could put a little folder on my door with pamphlets about how to interact (or not interact) with the dogs? Would that be an okay idea? Or is it stupid? I don’t know.</p>
<p>^That sounds fine. I think it might be a good idea to contact your RA and suggest that he/she discuss your situation and the proper way for students to interact with service dogs at the first floor meeting. The RA won’t be able to discuss your situation unless you give permission to do so. Allowing the RA to address your concerns right from the start may help to foster a better understanding between you and your floormates. Educating your floormates about your condition should help them better understand how to interact between you and the service dogs.</p>
<p>twittermouse…are you attending a small private school or a big state school? the dynamics may be very different on your campus and you may be worrying for nothing.</p>
<p>I think Batllo has some really good advice. I think you’re going to be okay, and I think that people will want to play with your dogs, not cause them harm. People will like your non-human roommates, and people will like you. You’ll get used to the new environment.</p>
<p>We had a girl with a service dog in my dorm last year and nobody bothered her or the dog. I think it was pretty much understood he was working and was not to be bothered-- even though I am sure he attracted some stares because he was a great dane. I don’t think you will have any problems when it comes to this issue.</p>
<p>Being in the freshman dorm in general may suck, though. I had problems with it as a 20 year old. I felt like I was in high school all over again and surrounded by intolerably immature bratty little children. It was a pain in the ass. Hopefully your experience will be better.</p>
<p>Although I don’t know your background at all, I’ll try to offer advice different from what others have said. As a sufferer of Anxiety Disorder (albeit very mild in comparison), I know that situations get much better and more comfortable as time goes on. I walk away from every situation I was anxious about reflecting how dumb of me it was to worry so much, and I grow a little more with each experience. However, I still excessively worry to this day. Go into your housing situation with an open mind and an ability to learn from it, and you won’t be let down. I’m very impressed that you’re able to live on campus while being afflicted with this disorder. I know that was such a huge hurdle for me to overcome.</p>
<p>As for the issue with your service dogs, I really think that most people will get the clues that they aren’t to be played with, etc. I learned from a very early age not to bother service dogs. You may have a few issues with a very small number of people, but I think most people have the common sense not to bother them. I second telling the RA to share the bit about the service dogs with the floor. Having it out in the open will probably help you avoid MANY future problems.</p>
<p>You’ll be fine, don’t worry. If you’re not that sociable, that is just the way you are; worst case - I understand a closed door is the equivalent of a ‘do not disturb’ sign in those parts.</p>
<p>If you’re comfortable with it, you can always put up some kind of small sign that states that service dogs are on this floor and they’re not to really be played with. It might be good to warn people anyway because they might not know how to react.</p>
<p>Well, I’m moved in now. Like c571 said, I got myself overly worried about nothing. My bathroom-suitemate is the RA for the floor, so I doubt there will be any problems there. I’m at the very end of the hallway, and my room as a back door to go out, so I don’t have to worry so much about going through a crowded hallway.
I hate leaving the door to my room open, but there’s AC in the hallway and not in the rooms, so I have to. I can get very sick if I get overheated 
I love being out on my own, even if I spend most of my time scared silly. My mom never took well to my insomnia, now I can be up all night and no one cares.
I don’t know how I’ll adjust to all the noises though. It’s just me and the RA’s and staff in the building right now, but ever noise I hear I freak out. Ugh.</p>
<p>You will adjust to the noise, I think. Just from sleeping over at friends’ dorms periodically when I was a commuter I got used to the noise, I could sleep through just about anything in no time.</p>
<p>(P.S. I am a fellow insomniac. Why the hell else would I be awake right now. :P)</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone would be up now if they aren’t insomniacs 
My problem isn’t sleeping through noises, once I’m out I can sleep through anything (which is why the dogs scratch me to get me up in the morning). My problem is while I’m awake everytime I hear a noise I think it’s something horrible and will kill/hurt me. I’m really paranoid. I can tell the dogs to “check it out” and they’ll make sure nothing weird is up. But still. This will take a lot of getting used to.</p>
<p>It’s not so late in California.</p>
<p>Assuming you have had therapy, what would your therapist say about this problem? (you don’t need to post it here!)</p>
<p>Therapy/meds don’t work, hence I use dogs. 
Dogs are much better.</p>
<p>I am the same way when I am home alone at night-- even at school when my roommate was gone for the weekend, noises at night were kind of spooky. I am used to having a dog that I know will bark if anything is amiss. I think that is also something you will get used to. Maybe you could play some soft music to drown some of the sounds out? Or watch some tv? </p>
<p>Are your dorms filled yet? I also found that it was less spooky once there were tons of people around. I figured if anything was amiss, one of my neighbors would hear it as well, or would at least not still be laughing or chattering or whatever I could hear her doing. Not entirely unlike having a dog. :P</p>
<p>Almost all the “older” students who start college late that I know live off campus. This is the first time I’ve ever heard someone over 21 moving in the dorms.</p>
<p>Emaheevul07 - Now that the building is full it’s not creepy. I just assume it’s some neighbor making noise.</p>
<p>ThePrincessBride - Off-campus wouldn’t fit my needs or be affordable that’s why I chose the dorms. I know it’s unusual, but so far it’s working. :)</p>
<p>Then i am the 2nd one you heard of?</p>
<p>Age racist!! (:</p>