A service dog helps combat the daily symptoms of PTSD. Service dogs are trained to pick up stress signals and intervene with the owner to shift the focus back to a positive environment. A companion offers those suffering from PTSD a new outlook on life and sets up responsibilities that make daily activities easier to accomplish.
How a PTSD Service Dog Can Help
A service dog will help improve the quality of life and the extent of daily activities for someone suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. The pains of PTSD can restrict someone from going outside or doing the daily activities that are necessary to live a healthy and active life.
PTSD Service Dog Training
The training process that Operation Overwatch service dogs go through prepares them to pick up on the acute signals that someone suffering from PTSD gives. We will give them experience dealing with different scenarios of someone having a flashback or going through the severe anxiety attack.
Not every serviceman and servicewomen reacts the same to a dog intervening. That is why we will have therapists will work with you or your loved one individually to identify the best way for a dog to mitigate.
PTSD Symptoms
Flashbacks
Flashbacks can happen when sound, smell or sight causes someone to relive a traumatic experience. A person suffering from a flashback may only give off small physical signs like disassociation or a shift in eye focus. It may be hard for people to notice these signs, but dogs are able to pick up on the subtle shifts in focus. A service dog is trained to intervene when a person is suffering from a flashback to direct the attention back to a positive environment.
A service dog will need to be trained on what method it should use to intervene with the individual suffering from a flashback. Dogs can jump, bark, wine, nudge, or have other physical interjections that can shift focus, but depending on the individual these actions may not be the best fit. That is why at Operations Overwatch we continue the training process with you to make sure that your service dog has the right skills and practices to positively interject themselves during a flashback.
Fear
Remembering a traumatic experience can leave people suffering from PTSD to go into states of fear and delusion when doing daily activities. Someone suffering from PTSD could be misled by their natural instinct leaving them to fear daily activities and environments that are otherwise safe places. resulting in a fear of going outdoors or being near people.
The bond made between a service dog and their owner is crucial and allows someone with PTSD to trust the instincts of their dog. A dog offers safety and security in environments that someone could fear like supermarkets, subways, amusement parks, and shopping centers. Your service dog will always be by your side for assistance and support and will make daily activities easier for you.
Anxiety
Post Traumatic stress disorder can cause people to go into states of extreme anxiety when thinking about going outside. Past traumatic memories can have a negative impact on someone’s ability to rationalize daily activities and chores like going outside of the house or getting out of bed.
A service dog will give you a new and positive perspective on some daily tasks. Taking care of a dog adds new daily activities to your schedule that are fun and rewarding.
We Can Help
A service dog can help, contact Operation Overwatch today for a commitment-free consultation.