Hello. My name is Haley and I recently just got diagnosed with complex PTSD after about a year of suffering. My therapist recommended a service dog for me since I have difficulty leaving my home or doing anything by myself. I’m looking into it, but someone told me that it’s a stupid idea because PTSD goes away, and that it would be a waste of money and time to get a dog for something that doesn’t last forever. Anybody here have a service dog? How has it helped you? Does PTSD ever go away?
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Service dog; good idea?
- Post starter Haleyt23
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LuckiLee
VIP Member
My veteran and I are looking to get one now. We baby-sat a dog recently and had a wonderful experience. Helped with anxiety, isolation, depression and the best part is J didn't have nightmares while the dog was here.
Whoever told you PTSD goes away was wrong. Don't listen to them about mental health issues anymore. It becomes manageable. There is no cure.
Listen to your therapist.
Whoever told you PTSD goes away was wrong. Don't listen to them about mental health issues anymore. It becomes manageable. There is no cure.
Listen to your therapist.
Friday
Sponsor
Dogs don't last forever, either. 5-10 years working life, at most.
PTSD is lifelong, but for most people the symptoms do get moderated down to either nothing or next to nothing (that's the whole point of trauma therapy) over time; although relapses also happen. Stress, stressors, loss of a coping mechanism, or new trauma can very easily kick someone who is asymptomatic back to being symptomatic, again. I'm an example of that. Each time has taken me 5+ years to get my life back. So, just using your friends -faulty- logic? If my personal symptom arc = the length of a service dogs working life... How is that a bad idea?
PTSD is lifelong, but for most people the symptoms do get moderated down to either nothing or next to nothing (that's the whole point of trauma therapy) over time; although relapses also happen. Stress, stressors, loss of a coping mechanism, or new trauma can very easily kick someone who is asymptomatic back to being symptomatic, again. I'm an example of that. Each time has taken me 5+ years to get my life back. So, just using your friends -faulty- logic? If my personal symptom arc = the length of a service dogs working life... How is that a bad idea?
EveHarrington
VIP Member
Well at least you know who NOT to listen to anymore when it comes to ptsd! (That ignorant “friend”.)
Welcome!
Welcome!
Justmehere
Sponsor
A few questions to consider: is your therapist a trauma therapist trained in one or more trauma technique? Does she have a organization in mind that she recommends getting an already trained dog from? Or is she suggesting you train your own? Do you have experience training dogs? Have you ever owned a dog before? Do you have the financial resources to pay for care and upkeep?
I have a service dog. I have pretty strong feelings about the matter so take this all with a grain of salt, and consider as many viewpoints as you can, and really do your own homework about what will fit you in regards to the possibilty of getting and using a service dog.
For me, it’s been very helpful and life changing to have a service dog. Let me be frank, I’d probably be dead without my dog. She’s given me an ability to recover much better than I think anyone expected.
That being said, I would only recommend it as an option if last resort when all other options have been absolutely exhausted, including multiple types of trauma therapy and even intensive outpatient treatment programs and etc. Additionally, there are other animal based options to explore before getting a service dog. Sometimes it’s more than enough to have a pet dog or an emotional support animal that helps lower stress levels for part of the day, and one can avoid the lifestyle changes and headaches that come with being a part of a service dog team. It’s usually suggested to expect it to be a 10 year commitment, sometimes longer, for the life of the dog. 5-7 of those being solid service dog years, the rest caring for a retired service dog (and retired service dogs usually have separation anxiety issues to manage at a level unique to service dogs.)
The fact that one person (who doesn’t sound like a professional) calling it a “stupid idea” would throw you off from what a professional is recommending it makes me hesitant to quickly recommend it for you. (But listen to your therapist most of all.)
With a service dog, one has to be able to navigate humans saying a lot of stupid sh*t and ignoring it. Three times in the past two days someone had said to me, “you don’t look like you need a dog, what’s wrong with you?” or they have asked me how they could fake they have a service dog too, assuming I don’t have a legit need for one. It’s super annoying to deal with such comments when just trying to buy milk. (Like come on people...)
One has to be able to hold boundaries with public access issues and people trying to pet or whistle or play with the dog, and asking really invasive questions and being jerks when you say back “my disability is private medical info I don’t share publicly.”
I’ve had people actually throw dog treats at me walking down the street twice now, thinking it was so fun... I had a flashback both times, not knowing what I was being randomly pelted with, and ducked for cover. Thank goodness I had my service dog there to help with people being assh*les about service dogs. Ugh!
Then there was the loose dog that attacked my SD and me... which probably would have never have happened if I didn’t have a service dog with me most of the time. My dog’s life was thankfully saved by her vest, but we both ended up injured.
I have had dates say they like me a lot until they learned on the third date oh by the way, that PTSD I mentioned I have... I have a service dog that I actually have with me 80 percent of the time... that I’m going to bring on our next date... and then they drop dating me because I’m not the person they thought I was (thy are ok with PTSD and a pet dog but not a service dog??) and I get to experience humans being stupid a whole other way. And no, I don’t want to date anyone that would see a service dog as a dealbreaker, but it still hurts a lot. It freaking sucks that the tool that helps me be brave enough to navigate humans again is also a barrier... or maybe a tool to get rid of the jerks faster? I don’t know.
Don’t get me wrong, having a service dog has been extremely helpful for me. I love my dog, would take a bullet for her, and I’d totally get a service dog again if I had to do it all over.
I wish I didn’t have to use a service dog at all. I wish she could just be my pet. It’s been really hard. It’s been a tool with drawbacks. I know several other PTSD service dog users in my town and some days... oh geez. It is hard to not hate humans because of how stupid they are about service dogs. Just two days ago, a guy grabbed my dog by the vest and pulled her three feet to him to play with her. What the hell even? Cue massive panic attack. Get your damn hands off my dog. I have several 4 inch “do not pet” and “do not distract” signs on my dogs vest.... people just are still so foolish sometimes.
My dog gets me out the door and to places I could not go without one so easily... but it’s at a cost. That’s the reality of the service dog life.
Then there are the moments with people with allergies who tell me they can’t be in a public space because I’m there with a service dog. That’s happened twice in the past two months alone. I have yet to figure out how to handle that one, expect to offer to sit across the room or go at another time. That didn’t solve it for them. Ugh. Ok. Not sure what to do then...
I do live a life where I go everywhere with my service dog. Boats, planes, trains, cars, cabs, work, school, stores, volunteering... and I have less symptoms with her by my side. I feel safer. Sometimes I am safer. She gets me up and moving first thing.
I’ve also become really good at saying no and setting boundaries with strangers many times a day, which has helped me get a lot better with boundaries overall. So that’s a positive.
PTSD is not considered curable, but the majority of people who have PTSD do experience remission. It’s only a subset of sufferers that will have lifelong constant symptoms. In my opinion, a year into symptoms and just getting a diagnosis now is too early to tell if that will be the case for you or not.
A service dog may be just the tool you need to have a fuller life, it may be just what you need to get out the door, which is very much what my dog did for me, and still does for me... but I’d suggest doing your homework extensively so you are ready for what you will be taking on.
I have a service dog. I have pretty strong feelings about the matter so take this all with a grain of salt, and consider as many viewpoints as you can, and really do your own homework about what will fit you in regards to the possibilty of getting and using a service dog.
For me, it’s been very helpful and life changing to have a service dog. Let me be frank, I’d probably be dead without my dog. She’s given me an ability to recover much better than I think anyone expected.
That being said, I would only recommend it as an option if last resort when all other options have been absolutely exhausted, including multiple types of trauma therapy and even intensive outpatient treatment programs and etc. Additionally, there are other animal based options to explore before getting a service dog. Sometimes it’s more than enough to have a pet dog or an emotional support animal that helps lower stress levels for part of the day, and one can avoid the lifestyle changes and headaches that come with being a part of a service dog team. It’s usually suggested to expect it to be a 10 year commitment, sometimes longer, for the life of the dog. 5-7 of those being solid service dog years, the rest caring for a retired service dog (and retired service dogs usually have separation anxiety issues to manage at a level unique to service dogs.)
The fact that one person (who doesn’t sound like a professional) calling it a “stupid idea” would throw you off from what a professional is recommending it makes me hesitant to quickly recommend it for you. (But listen to your therapist most of all.)
With a service dog, one has to be able to navigate humans saying a lot of stupid sh*t and ignoring it. Three times in the past two days someone had said to me, “you don’t look like you need a dog, what’s wrong with you?” or they have asked me how they could fake they have a service dog too, assuming I don’t have a legit need for one. It’s super annoying to deal with such comments when just trying to buy milk. (Like come on people...)
One has to be able to hold boundaries with public access issues and people trying to pet or whistle or play with the dog, and asking really invasive questions and being jerks when you say back “my disability is private medical info I don’t share publicly.”
I’ve had people actually throw dog treats at me walking down the street twice now, thinking it was so fun... I had a flashback both times, not knowing what I was being randomly pelted with, and ducked for cover. Thank goodness I had my service dog there to help with people being assh*les about service dogs. Ugh!
Then there was the loose dog that attacked my SD and me... which probably would have never have happened if I didn’t have a service dog with me most of the time. My dog’s life was thankfully saved by her vest, but we both ended up injured.
I have had dates say they like me a lot until they learned on the third date oh by the way, that PTSD I mentioned I have... I have a service dog that I actually have with me 80 percent of the time... that I’m going to bring on our next date... and then they drop dating me because I’m not the person they thought I was (thy are ok with PTSD and a pet dog but not a service dog??) and I get to experience humans being stupid a whole other way. And no, I don’t want to date anyone that would see a service dog as a dealbreaker, but it still hurts a lot. It freaking sucks that the tool that helps me be brave enough to navigate humans again is also a barrier... or maybe a tool to get rid of the jerks faster? I don’t know.
Don’t get me wrong, having a service dog has been extremely helpful for me. I love my dog, would take a bullet for her, and I’d totally get a service dog again if I had to do it all over.
I wish I didn’t have to use a service dog at all. I wish she could just be my pet. It’s been really hard. It’s been a tool with drawbacks. I know several other PTSD service dog users in my town and some days... oh geez. It is hard to not hate humans because of how stupid they are about service dogs. Just two days ago, a guy grabbed my dog by the vest and pulled her three feet to him to play with her. What the hell even? Cue massive panic attack. Get your damn hands off my dog. I have several 4 inch “do not pet” and “do not distract” signs on my dogs vest.... people just are still so foolish sometimes.
My dog gets me out the door and to places I could not go without one so easily... but it’s at a cost. That’s the reality of the service dog life.
Then there are the moments with people with allergies who tell me they can’t be in a public space because I’m there with a service dog. That’s happened twice in the past two months alone. I have yet to figure out how to handle that one, expect to offer to sit across the room or go at another time. That didn’t solve it for them. Ugh. Ok. Not sure what to do then...
I do live a life where I go everywhere with my service dog. Boats, planes, trains, cars, cabs, work, school, stores, volunteering... and I have less symptoms with her by my side. I feel safer. Sometimes I am safer. She gets me up and moving first thing.
I’ve also become really good at saying no and setting boundaries with strangers many times a day, which has helped me get a lot better with boundaries overall. So that’s a positive.
PTSD is not considered curable, but the majority of people who have PTSD do experience remission. It’s only a subset of sufferers that will have lifelong constant symptoms. In my opinion, a year into symptoms and just getting a diagnosis now is too early to tell if that will be the case for you or not.
A service dog may be just the tool you need to have a fuller life, it may be just what you need to get out the door, which is very much what my dog did for me, and still does for me... but I’d suggest doing your homework extensively so you are ready for what you will be taking on.
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I too have a service dog. I agree with what justmehere has posted. I love my service dog and he has saved my life on several occasions...but he requires a lot of work. you have to continue training. You will have more attention drawn to you in public (a very unwelcome thing for most with PTSD), lots of people are ignorant and invade your boundaries. It takes extra time to go anywhere to vest up your dog, make sure their needs have been met...you can't just leave them in the car...they go with you. You have to be committed with time and money.
I do not think a service dog is a first line treatment option and would look into other things first.
I do not think a service dog is a first line treatment option and would look into other things first.
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Freida
VIP Member
Agreed agreed and agreed!
I worry about this because I KNOW my reaction is going to be violent and someone is gonna end up in jail. Hopefully not me!
ADA wins --- they have to move. Not you. You say --- my service dog trumps your allergies. (in a much more pleasant manner because you are a way better human than me! LOL)
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