“Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed, it means the damage no longer controls us.”
Acquiring the right tools to manage the triggers and mitigate the symptoms is the key to a better quality of life for those suffering from post traumatic stress.
PTSD is primarily treated with psychotherapy, if it is treated at all. However, an emerging field for the treatment of PTSD is animal therapy. Animal therapy includes service animals that are specifically trained to accompany their human companion into all public places, therapy animals who visit individuals in nursing homes and hospitals and pets who are part of a human family.
Research on the effects of pet owning and animal interaction indicates positive health results. Interacting with animals is correlated with improved mood, lower blood pressure, a drop in the stress hormone cortisol, increases in the positive-mood hormone serotonin and positive lifestyle changes, such as an increase in exercise, responsibility and socializing. These same results can be seen with veteran. Further, when animals are specifically trained to interact with veterans with PTSD, the results are amplified.
Research has revealed thus far that animals, specifically dogs, who are specially trained to aid veterans in everyday life can have a significant positive effect. These dogs can sense the changes in human moods and physical chemistry and therefore react to anxiety attacks, overwhelming stress and anger episodes. These dogs are trained to lead their veterans out of a crowd, wake them up from nightmares, provide stability if the veteran is dizzy and provide comfort during distress.
While living with a service dog can benefit those suffering from PTSD, there are downsides as well. PTSD qualifies as an invisible disorder, meaning that the effects of the condition are not immediately identified visually. This means that some veterans experience discrimination when they are accompanied by a service dog, because business owners and other members of the public may doubt that the veteran is truly disabled. Also, there is an added cost of financially supporting a dog with food and veterinarian bills. However, all veterans interviewed so far say that the benefits outweigh the costs. *One veteran reported that having his dog with him was often better than the medication the VA gave him.
Results from interviews and research indicate that these dogs represent lifelines for veterans with PTSD. They provide a nonjudgmental outlet for telling war stories and secrets and in many cases can serve as a replacement or supplement for psychological medications.
