Ada, ptsd, and service dogs

[circe47]

Actually, people CAN hide PTSD very, very well. I hid it for about 47 years. That's how long it took for the amnestic walls of denial to come down and show me exactly how severe my symptoms have been and still are. One of the criteria for DDNOS is severe dissociation. Rather than use C-PTSD, the mental health community has decided to call the extreme end of the (C)PTSD continuum to be DDNOS.

Because of extreme physical and mental bullying, I learned to dissociate. Because of other extreme forms of abuse and neglect, I learned to dissociate. Because of my ability to dissociate, I wasn't able to graduate high school. This didn't stop me. By the time I had a breakdown in 2011, I had also managed to raise a son single handedly, live in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. I worked in the Financial District of said city earning a salary that most people have to get a degree to be paid. Did I forget to mention that in addition to denying my childhood abuse for almost 47, I spent 20 of those 47 living with violent men, drinking and using opiates, and generally living a highly dysfunctional adult PRIVATE life? In spite of all of this drama, as people like to call it, I appeared to be your average, normal, friendly person outside the horrors of home life.

Inside of all of this, I was and still am a hurting, sad, angry little girl. I hid my PTSD very, very well.

 

[JustBe]

@joeylittle

I may have misunderstood you but my Service Dog is not a pet. She is a highly trained (yes, by me), highly intuitive medical aide who is by my side 24/7 365.
She thinks for herself and will keep me safe, even to the point of disobedience if she knows I am in danger and not thinking clearly.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. My SD saves my life every day. Without her I would still be heavily medicated and housebound.

 

[joeylittle]

@JustBe, I'm not directing my observation at anyone in particular at all - it's a general opinion I hold. I think, for example, that @desiderata310 might get just as much benefit and support from bringing a well-trained dog into her life, regardless of whether the dog was a true service dog; but her therapist went right from watching her interaction with his (pet) dog to recommending that she get a service animal.

And @desiderata310 - I really do think that your experience with your therapist's dog is totally valid. You are clearly drawing comfort and support from that animal. Maybe the question for you is, do you want access to a great dog, or a dog that is trained to accompany you into every situation, even where pet dogs are not allowed?

I can only speak for myself - I wish I had a dog, because I think they are awesome creatures and I love them, and would get great comfort and companionship from a dog. I would be OK just getting my multiple daily animal experiences at home - my symptoms are manageable enough for me to basically blunder through the world or, at the worst, call in sick or take a leave. So I know I don't medically require a full-time companion.

Just thinking out loud.

 

[Friday]

IDK why everyone gets so political with the incessant need to say "everyone with PTSD suffers the same" when that's complete horse hockey. The PC crap on this forum blows my mind sometimes!

Honestly, the "we all suffer the same" argument is sickening because that can be extrapolated to mean that all of those with PTSD should suck it up and get on with our lives because we are no different than those without PTSD!

So yeah, Friday, maybe you should suck it up b/c you're no different than those without PTSD!

Never said everyone suffers the same. In fact, I very clearly said the exact opposite. Twice. In both posts.

@Solara Symptoms differ. People's jobs and families differ.

&

Again, symptoms differ, and expressions differ. So do crutches, outlets, coping mechanisms. 2 people can be having a moderate to severe panic attack. One person is running around screaming, one person is sitting stalk still staring at infinity. Both are having a panic attack. The person whose symptoms are more annoying to other people isn't the only person who needs help.

What's wrong with ADMITTING that some people suffer more and some people suffer less? I've been through psychosis. I know that hell. It is over. Do I sit here and say that I am suffering as much as someone who deals with psychosis day in and day out? Nope, I don't, because I know its not that bad.

The problem is when it becomes a pissing contest. When it ceases to be "will this help this person" and starts comparing who suffers more and less. Using the same logic, you should never have been hospitalized for psychosis... Because people suffer psychosis for years longer, and far worse than you, and are never hospitalized. It's bad logic. You absolutely rated the best & most appropriate treatment available to you, because you suffered psychosis at all. What other people choose not to do, or do not have available to them, shouldn't determine your course of treatment. Your own symptoms should determine your course of treatment. Just as people rate service dogs (or therapy or meds) only by virtue of their own symptoms. Not in comparison with anyone else's.

 

[desiderata310]

For the sake of clarification to everyone, I really never meant to turn any of this into a pissing contest with anyone about how "bad" my PTSD is.

I struggle with feeling like a deserve help.

The last two days have been very rough trigger wise and I've had flashbacks and cut and I am very suicidal.

 

[Friday]

@desiderata310 You didn't. You were always pretty clear about looking at available options to best treat your own symptoms.

That was me & solara having a disagreement about micro/macro on your thread, for which I apologize. I think we were both trying to ease your distress in opposite ways, and ran into each other in the process.

Strongly suggest you ring your therapist if you're feeling suicidal. You can make it through this, even if you don't want to right now.

 

[desiderata310]

*sigh* I mentioned it. He knows I'm fighting through it and that I've been cutting.
He checked in on me this evening.