According to stats, roughly 7-8% of the U.S. population suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and a large percentage of these people are veterans who were left to cope with life after serving in the military. Even though the situation can seem hopeless, it is possible to find comfort within our favorite support creatures: dogs.
PTSD is a disorder that is developed as a result of one witnessing or participating in a traumatic event. When one is suffering from this disorder, they will struggle to cope with everyday life following the trauma, and this not only means that they are unable to return to a normal life, but it is also likely to cause suicidal thoughts, and at times, actions.
Veterans that served in the combat for the military are most likely to suffer PTSD considering that they find the battlefield as a seriously traumatic experience. In terms of stats, the number of veterans with PTSD differs by the era when one served. For instances, as much as 20% of veterans who served in Operation Iraq Freedom, suffered from PTSD. Suicide cases are also common among the veterans, considering that they were reported at a rate of 6000 per year between 2008 and 2016.
In most cases, veterans who suffer from PTSD are left without adequate support that they need to cope with the situation. However, when such veterans take a PTSD service dog, it will help them cope with the symptoms or depression and anxiety. A PTSD service dog has specialized training to ensure that it can help you deal with the life-altering effects of PTSD.
Dogs are known for offering unconditional love to humans, but they even hold more considerable benefit for veterans experiencing PTSD. Most veterans have struggled to deal with the psychological effects of PTSD, even when they have the support of family or friends. Dogs usually offer unconditional love, considering that they can feel pain of humans and even offer unwavering, unselfish support, and this will help veterans cope with the struggles they face in life after serving in combat.
The decision to take a PTSD service dog will work to ensure that a veteran can handle the emotional trauma that they experience, and this will help you reduce the cost of medication and psychiatric care. Not only do the dogs provide unconditional love, but they are trained to help veterans with some functions such as taking medication and conquering emotional events. A PTSD service dog will deliver first-responder support for the veterans, and this helps them to rely less on medical experts.
Finding a PTSD service dog also works to lower suicide risks and mental breakdowns. Most veterans face dark emotions that are likely to lead to multiple mental breakdowns considering that they are more likely to divorce or separate after deployment, and this means that they will lack the support they need. A PTSD service dog will give support to the veteran, and this helps them to maintain healthy relationships and also live a normal life.