June 27th is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day in the US.
According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs Center for PTSD, 6% of civilians and 7% of veterans will experience PTSD at some point in their lifetime.
I have been diagnosed with PTSD and have suffered with it throughout my adult life; many rape survivors and victims of narcissistic abuse do. I can attest to having experienced each of those symtoms, especially reliving events. In my case, I don't have memories in the usual sense. Instead they rise up from my subconscious or from body memories, like one night a kid gathering carts at the grocery store walked up to me and tried to help me unload my cart and I freaked out. It came out of the blue and while now I know it was because it was dark and he didn't accept no when I said no, at the time all I knew was a high school kid making little more than minimum wage got to experience me in meltdown mode.
Many of us would benefit from a service or support animal, and organizations like Paws of War train dogs to provide those services to those who need them, often without charge. There are also for-profit trainers who charge quite hefty fees, but it's warranted based on the amount of training required. The demand for service dogs far outweighs the supply of trained dogs, so there's a mish-mash of dogs with different levels of training, out there, including some with no training at all.
The things service dogs can be trained to do to help someone with PTSD is simply amazing. The American Psychiatric Association's list includes positioning themselves in front of their person to create space, watching for others coming up behind their person, calming and even interrupting anxiety, And waking their person from a nightmare. They can alleviate the stress of social situations just by their presence. Then there's having a loving creature around all the time.
Photo provided by Paws of War
I say dogs because the Americans With Disabilities Act recognizes dogs as service animals and they must be allowed entry in all public places. Miniature horses are also considered service animals but they can be denied entry in some places. Other types of animals may provide emotional support, but they can't accompany you into public places under ADA. Though a service dog can't be denied entry, the owner can be required to remove the dog from the premises if the dog is not under control or not housebroken.
My thoughts are that service dogs make great therapists, especially for people who've been conditioned to believe that reaching out for help is a sign of weakness. I mean, who's going to say anything bad about having a dog around?
One last thing: if you see a service dog out in public, leave the dog alone. They're working, not socializing. Don't approach or pet the dog, and don't let your kids do it. If you don't follow those rules, you may get told off, and not necessarily by the owner. I'll definitely speak up if I see you doing that. By breaking the dog's concentration, you put their person at risk. Remember, sugar, not everything in the world is here for your amusement. You can check out other tips for approaching service dogs at Guide Dogs of America.
As for my fellow sufferers from PTSD, I understand, and I accept you as is. You are always welcome in this space.
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