How pets helps with traumatic events

Written by: Marcello Martins

Email: itsmarcelomartins@gmail.com

Sometimes, life tends to surprise us: either with magical moments that are good to remember or with moments that leaves us shaken and terrified. Most of the time, when we go through traumatic experiences we manage to overcome these little nightmares but, sometimes, not even time can erase what was built with such intensity inside our head and we start to relive these difficult moments in our minds, and this extreme reliving of the anxiety and fear of the event may be the cause of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

It’s natural for our bodies to trigger the fight-or-flight response in a moment of danger or fear. This is the way we stay safe. However, when a person suffers from PTSD they may experience nightmares, flashbacks of the event and negative/scary thoughts that come “out of nowhere”, these people will often go to any length to avoid the things that remind them of the situation which could greatly impact the quality of their life.

For those who still don't know, Post-Traumatic Stress is a psychological problem without a cure characterized by a set of physical, psychological and emotional signs and symptoms as a result of the individual being a victim or witness of violent acts or traumatic situations who, in general, posed a threat to their lives or the lives of others. However, when he remembers the fact, he relives the episode, as if it were happening at that moment and with the same feeling of pain and suffering that the stressor caused, being a stressor for the mental health of those who have this type of disorder.

But you may ask: what can my pet do with those sad elegies that surround my head?

We all know that speaking in a general way, pets are very loving and devoted creatures whose essence has made people fall in love with them for centuries. The therapeutic value of our relationship with our pets, particularly dogs, is increasingly recognized by researchers and, as we mentioned in previous articles, pets are more than just cute companions. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), animals can have a profound effect on their owners, helping to alleviate stress and anxiety, for example.

But not just that, they can be crucial for improving our mental health and help us to overcome Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), can you believe that?

According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, recovering from PTSD is a process and animals can help them with that, especially when we are in the presence of a service dog or an emotional support animal. We all know that pets are good companions and will not judge or criticize the person with PTSD, besides help relieve stress and bring out those “feel-good” endorphins, help engage the person in the “love” emotion making them feel less detached and provide a need to get out of the house to spend time outdoors and meet new people.

Furthermore, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog is one that has been trained to help someone with an emotional or physical disability that impacts one or more major life activities. So, if you have been diagnosed with PTSD, you and your certifiably trained service dog may be protected under this act.

Dogs with a degree in PTSD service receive comprehensive training by specialists who are familiar with the many obstacles posed by this disorder, for example: therapy dogs are trained to calm someone having an anxiety or panic attack, help ensure that their partners are taking medication, alert her owner to sounds that may go unnoticed in the event of a panic attack, help prevent future issues like substance abuse and they give PTSD sufferers the confidence to live their lives more independently.

There are many organizations with a passion for partnering people suffering from PTSD with a companion dog to help accommodate their needs nowadays, like the New Horizons Service Dogs, for example.

PTSD can be a devastating diagnosis, but because we have acquired a better understanding of its underlying causes and symptoms over the last several years, there are more options than ever on how to treat it. Thanks to the wonderful research on dogs aiding PTSD patients, a new world of possibilities has opened to those wishing to live a more well-rounded, independent life.

Last but not least, an emotional support animal may be able to help alleviate some of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, so if you are suffering from PTSD you may find an emotional support animal is a good addition to the therapy program your doctor or mental health professional has put in place for you, but let’s remember that our sweet pets can help us deal with some parts of living with PTSD but they are not a substitute for effective PTSD treatment, and it’s essential medical support always.