. Military-Civilian: Hot Jobs, Events, and Helpful Information for Veterans Seeking Civilian Careers: Veterans Are Choosing Service Dogs as an Alternative for Dealing With PTSD

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Veterans Are Choosing Service Dogs as an Alternative for Dealing With PTSD















Veterans Are Choosing Service Dogs as an Alternative for Dealing With PTSD

Our military men and women bring home more than memories when they return from deployment.  The injuries they’ve sustained - both physical and psychological - can stay with them for a lifetime.  Being injured themselves or witnessing others injured or dying, can have lasting effects on returning veterans. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is “is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault.” The symptoms of PTSD, which can surface immediately or take years to appear, include sleeplessness, recurring nightmares or memories, anger, fear, feeling numb, loss of interest in life, and suicidal thoughts. There are many ways to treat these symptoms, but one option promises no negative side effects - the use of service dogs.

What is a Service Dog?
A service dog is one that is trained to specifically perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric, or intellectual disability.  Service dogs meant specifically for PTSD therapy, provide many benefits to their veteran companions.  These dogs provide emotional support, unconditional love, and a partner that has the veteran’s back.  Panic attacks, flashbacks, depression, and stress subside.  Many vets get better sleep knowing their dog is standing watch through the night for them. 

Service dogs can also improve quality of life by assisting disabled vets with daily needs.  They can turn on lights, retrieve, drop items, alert to danger, and get help in an emergency.
Taking an active role in training and giving the dog positive feedback can help the veteran have purpose and goals.  They see that they are having a positive impact and receiving unconditional love from the dog in return.  The dog can also be the veteran’s reason to move around, get some exercise, or leave the house.

Bonding with the dogs has been found to have positive biological effects elevating levels of oxytocin, which helps overcome paranoia, improves trust, and other important social abilities to alleviate some PTSD symptoms.  When the dogs help vets feel safe and protected, anxiety levels, feelings of depression, drug use, violence, and suicidal thoughts decrease.
Service dogs can also reduce medical and psychiatric costs when used as an alternative to drug therapy.  Reducing bills will reduce stress on the veteran and their family. 

How Dogs Can Have a Positive Impact on Life

Veterans with PTSD tend to isolate themselves internally, externally, or sometimes both.  They keep others outside their wall as a defense mechanism and to feel safe.  Service dogs force interaction and help break down that barrier, by encouraging conversation and taking the focus off the veteran.  By engaging with the dog, veterans can learn to also reconnect with family and friends.  In fact, even just boarding dogs without electing to get a service dog can help with this for similar reasons.

Dogs offer 24/7 unconditional love.  When veterans return to civilian life adjustment can be frustrating, as the skills that they have learned and used in their military profession are not working well for a career back home.  The service dog will show them respect regardless of who they are or what job they do, offering constant love and support.

Service dogs can also foster a feeling of trust and safety in veterans.  Going through traumatic experiences overseas make it difficult for veterans to trust their environment and harbor a feeling of safety.  Living with a service dog can promote a routine, rid the veteran of the need for hypervigilance, and offer a sense of trustworthiness.

Relationships are sometimes difficult after departing the military because veterans are accustomed to giving and receiving orders.  Since dogs are very responsive to authority, they make excellent companions to veterans.  And while taking care of the dog’s needs, the veteran can also learn to recognize and respond to the emotions of others.

Service Dogs are also protective.  They can assist the veteran by watching their back at the atm, store, or other public place.  They can provide security and calm without judgement.  The dog will offer support whether you’ve had a bad day, or just need some company. 

Not surprisingly, The relationship between veterans and their dogs is also life-enhancing for the dog as well.  Many dogs being trained as service dogs for vets are shelter dogs, who have also had a rough past.  Training as a service dog gives the dog purpose, love, and a secure home.  Both the veteran and the dog gain a companion, and a reprieve from isolation, on the road to a better future.

Check out the Department of Veteran’s Affairs for information on the VA’s service dog program here.

Here are several programs that can help if you are a vet or know one who could benefit from a service dog:
TenderLovingCanines.org

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