Dogs; The PTSD Lifesavers Believe it or not, dogs are way more helpful than people give them credit for. They may be good companions, but people do not understand that dogs can help with more than they think. For example, they can give comfort to their owners if they had a bad day, or if they are scared. Therefore, bonding and interacting with dogs can help individuals overcome PTSD.
Overcoming PTSD is hard, unless a dog is by their side. Chris Colin explains the effects of bonding with dogs when he says, “Researchers are accumulating evidence that bonding with dogs has biological effects, such as elevated levels of the hormone oxytocin. “Oxytocin improves trust, the ability to interpret facial expressions, the overcoming of paranoia and
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ndividuals feel protected when she says, “A good PTSD service dog carries out her duties to defend you in a nonviolent and nonthreatening way, so you will constantly be reminded that there is a special somebody who always has your best interests at heart.” (Kledzik, 2015). In this case, this is important because PTSD victims need to know that someone is there to help, so they can be able to feel safe. Knowing that a dog is there to protect the individual, this will prove that fear is unnecessary. This impacts the individuals positively because if they went through a traumatic experience, they probably don 't feel safe, or they are afraid, this trustworthy and protective companion can help ease their …show more content…
They would do anything to protect them, and to make them feel safe; so we should give them more credit for what they do. Don’t take dogs for granted, because they would never do that to you. If you know anyone with PTSD, think about what a dog can do to help them, and how much more safe they would feel.
Works Cited
Colin, Chris. "How Dogs Can Help Veterans Overcome PTSD." Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution, 01 July 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2017.
Kledzik, Kristina. "How Service and Therapy Dogs Are Helping PTSD Victims." Rover.com. Rover.com, 01 Feb. 2017. Web. 10 Apr.
Horizon NJ Health 210 Silvia St Ewing Township, NJ 08628 October 17, 2017 T’Azjsha Hart 432 Manheim Avenue Bridgeton, New Jersey 08302 Re: Kevin Hall OMNIA: Plan A 00-9550 Dear Horizon NJ Health, I am writing on behalf of my patient, Kevin Hall to document the medical necessity of a well-trained Service Dog for the needed support of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This letter provides information of patient’s diagnoses and enforces why a service dog would provide Kevin Hall with efficient support.
Chris Colin a writer for the Smithsonian Magazine wrote an article about Robert Soliz, a man suffering with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Robert suffered from fear, anxiety and depression. He lacked emotion and couldn’t show his children affection. Robert joined a program Paws for Purple Hearts, which he worked with a dog to become more gentle with others. He learned how to give commands and communicate in a less aggressive manner.
On Tuesday October 27, Dr. Brittany Hall gave a talk on PTSD affecting military veteran and active duty soldiers. During active duty soldiers are exposed to a lot of unforeseen events. Veterans and active duty soldiers are serving to protect the country from allies, and place there lives on the line everyday for citizens to continue to have freedom. The aftermath of returning from combat is the devastating blow for a lot of soldiers. Soldiers returning home from combat are not being able to separate civilian world from warzone usually struggle form PTSD.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops from a traumatic experience months or even years after the event itself, causing many hard-to-identify symptoms. As our knowledge of PTSD has expanded, we have learned that it can be induced from any traumatizing experience a person might encounter, however many cases of PTSD are discovered in people after returning home from war. Due to the psychological nature of this condition and the absolute lack of physical anomalies associated with it, there has been a shortage of adequate healing procedures in place for PTSD over the years. In spite of this, some veterans have found outlets to cope, for better or worse, with their newfound psychological abnormalities. Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried
When soldiers with PTSD come back from war they might receive different treatment from others, they might be treated like a feral dog perhaps. This might be because they act different, this might include hyper-vigilance, lots of anxiety, stress, nervousness, and lots of hesitation with talking to new people. Several people talk about their past experiences and how it affects them today. “Any incopentance Bear encounters in civilian life arouses the same feelings of fear, rage, and grief.” (Shay, para. 25).
Millions of people in the USA alone suffer from PTSD. From car accidents, domestic violence,assault, war, and seeing a loved one or best friend die; PTSD has a wide variety of victims. Based on various research concerning Vietnam war veterans and the novel “The Things They Carried”by Tim O’Brien, war has physical, psychological, and emotional effects on Vietnam War veterans. The physical trauma soldiers endured ruined their lives and any chance of a normal life at home, if they were still alive.
PTSD is a major topic in today's society and it has been since the beginning of combat. The veterans have been in combat for many years constantly fighting. There are bombs going off, constant gunfire, and such dramatic events. In today's society while at combat people experience unimaginable things right in front of their eyes. And this can cause some permanent damage to that person.
PTSD is defined as “an anxiety disorder that is triggered by an event such as violence, a car accident, a natural disaster, and more” (Goldberg). Many soldiers experience this disease as they return from the war zone and have been, up until recently, brushed aside with an illness known as “shell-shock,"
Over the centuries of war we have found new ways to help veterans deal with this condition or live with this condition. Things that can help veterans with this condition are service dogs, certain prescribed medications, or counseling along with other options. “ A nationwide system of community based centers, known as Vet Centers or readjustment counseling Service Vet Centers, provides counseling for psychological war trauma,” (Veteran Affairs Department 2001 page n.p.). In these centers veterans can seek help from professionals and can get answers to their problems. They can get counseling and meet with groups of other veterans that are going through the same thing.
PTSD goes far beyond what we original understood it to be as the men came home from active duty. .It does not just effect the military but reaches into lives of civilian people too. This is a debilitating condition that affects several people’s mental health. Today one can have PTSD if they have witness violent events, abused, raped or some catastrophic event that has changed their mental health. This disorder victimizes its host throwing flashbacks polarizing them in fear, and often no warnings when it is going to attack.
They can help people with balance issues from falling or help by cushioning their fall, Help a blind person cross the road, help someone with PTSD to finally get out of the house, Help someone with dementia or mental illness to take their medicine, and many more heroic behaviors. Any dog can become a service animal if they go through training. Any breed of dog can become a service animal too. All types of dogs are eligible to become services dogs, each potentially providing a different type of service. Service dog laws do not include dog breed restrictions or weight discrimination (“Service Dog Requirements”, 2017).
It may come and go over the years too. The significant impact of PTSD on the lives of veterans afflicted gives doctors a greater understanding of this illness. With knowledge about PTSD, returning veterans can seek the early diagnosis and treatment they need, giving them a chance to recover. Many veterans have spoken and stressed that the PTSD will never go away, even with treatment, group therapy, counseling, or medication. Awareness and understanding can also help and support the families.
Animal lovers all over the world can attest to how good it feels to interact with their pets. People of all ages, shapes, religions, and disabilities confirm to the stress relieving and mood boosting benefits of having a pet. According to The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) Foundation, there is substantial evidence backing the research that the feeling one encompasses when interacting with a pet can be established in a therapeutic method called animal therapy. Utilizing pets as a form of therapy is advancing as a successful coping method of treating a variety of medical conditions and disabilities.
Like Terry Erikson’s dad in Stop the Sun, people who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder need support and assistance from others. PTSD is a serious issue with not only veterans of war and war combat, but also everyday citizens in America, for even traumatic events like car accidents and local crime can change a person’s life forever. PTSD can present itself in many different ways. Some may include depression, bad dreams, and frightening thoughts. Any symptoms can be diminished or even cured from medication or
Dogs have long been known to make great companions. I have heard from many people who own a dog that a dog is capable of boosting your mood and your health. But is it true? I didn’t know if it was all true until my sister surprised us with two tiny dogs. After having our dogs for several months I noticed it does change our lives in many ways.