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itsme230191
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Thanks it's nice to meet you all! :)
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I'm Not Sure If I Have Ptsd Or Just Bad Anxiety - Advice Please?
- Post starter itsme230191
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itsme230191
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Thanks for the welcome and kind words and the hug :)
Yeah it was a frightening experience. I suppose everybody would react differently. I froze for a while then got in the middle of it.
I was angry at the time and felt like attacking the people too lol, we have a similar inner crazy
I know the mugging was bad, but I have been through a lot else in my younger years that I don't want to go into but I suppose over time all of that must drive you to breaking point.
I'm not sure I'll ever get over it either but I would like to be able to feel safe walking my dog, or safer. And to sleep without nightmares would be wonderful! I'll just have to keep at it :)
I have an appointment with the doctor later in the week to request therapy. Hopefully by the time I turn 26 next year I'll have made progress lol
Thanks again :)
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- #16
itsme230191
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thanks I will do
Whyteferret
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It really doesn't matter in some ways. The experince is bothering you and interfering with your life. It was a frightening experience.
Find a therapist and talk it over, especially since you have anxiety to begin with.
Studies suggest the earlier you deal with something traumatic, the better chance you have of recovering from it.
Hope things are well
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- #18
itsme230191
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Yes I suppose you're right. Well, hopefully things will improve then :)
Take Care x
Maybe part of feeling safe again while walking your dog is to have some sort of protection with you.
Pepper spray (whatever is legal where you are), a pair of large thick gloves with you, maybe wear sturdy boots/shoes (steel toes can be useful) and a plan for handling another attack. And don't forget to aim your phone (if you have one) to take pictures of all the smirkers. Being prepared in that kind of practical way might help some of the fear.
There will still be the irrational fear to work on, you can do that with good therapy. Stick to it until you feel like it's the right therapist and right sort of therapy for you. You will make progress!
Pepper spray (whatever is legal where you are), a pair of large thick gloves with you, maybe wear sturdy boots/shoes (steel toes can be useful) and a plan for handling another attack. And don't forget to aim your phone (if you have one) to take pictures of all the smirkers. Being prepared in that kind of practical way might help some of the fear.
There will still be the irrational fear to work on, you can do that with good therapy. Stick to it until you feel like it's the right therapist and right sort of therapy for you. You will make progress!
@Vixie1991
I can relate to you being home alone with your dog for that week.
After my son was injured I spent the week in the hospital with him, two hours from home. I was there by myself most of the time (my husband came every other morning, he had to work). I didn't sleep much, eat much and just had to be "on" even though I was in shock myself.
I think that part of it worked to set the trauma more deeply, contributing to the outcome of PTSD. I have many traumatic memories from that week that have come back since I've been in therapy. The times that didn't feel traumatic were the times when someone was with me.
I can relate to you being home alone with your dog for that week.
After my son was injured I spent the week in the hospital with him, two hours from home. I was there by myself most of the time (my husband came every other morning, he had to work). I didn't sleep much, eat much and just had to be "on" even though I was in shock myself.
I think that part of it worked to set the trauma more deeply, contributing to the outcome of PTSD. I have many traumatic memories from that week that have come back since I've been in therapy. The times that didn't feel traumatic were the times when someone was with me.
I'm so sorry this happened to you and your dog. You are not the first person who has been traumatized by animal attacks. I agree it is worthy of looking into whatever stress disorder you may have.
What seems to have made this event even worse was the apathy or deliberateness of the other humans, making this seem even more horrific and that would contribute to the trauma, I think.
The relative helplessness of one dog to a more aggressive bread is definitely another stress factor. I really think that some breeds should be deliberately extinguished from the canine gene pool. Just my opinion because some were deliberately breed as killing machines disguised as cute pets, which is Frankensteinian and just plain sick to me.
I realize that any dog can be abnormal for its breed, just as human predators may look like the rest of us, but I am hearing regularly about these kinds of attacks and whole communities where I live have breed restrictions.
It was cruel and unthinking of humans to breed a domesticated animal as a weapon to begin with. I feel sorry for those vicious breeds because they can't help being aggressive; it's their DNA and in many cases human owners, too, training them to be even more aggressive. It could be circular logic. It's precisely the lowlife gangs that pursue owning the breeds that are reputed to be deadliest. So it's a combined problem.
With good socialization and training, some of the guard dogs can be good guard dogs, but they should never be walked around other dogs, with or without a lead, and they pose risks to house guests, etc. until they see them as part of the family or pack. Still not a fan of aggressive breads.
What seems to have made this event even worse was the apathy or deliberateness of the other humans, making this seem even more horrific and that would contribute to the trauma, I think.
The relative helplessness of one dog to a more aggressive bread is definitely another stress factor. I really think that some breeds should be deliberately extinguished from the canine gene pool. Just my opinion because some were deliberately breed as killing machines disguised as cute pets, which is Frankensteinian and just plain sick to me.
I realize that any dog can be abnormal for its breed, just as human predators may look like the rest of us, but I am hearing regularly about these kinds of attacks and whole communities where I live have breed restrictions.
It was cruel and unthinking of humans to breed a domesticated animal as a weapon to begin with. I feel sorry for those vicious breeds because they can't help being aggressive; it's their DNA and in many cases human owners, too, training them to be even more aggressive. It could be circular logic. It's precisely the lowlife gangs that pursue owning the breeds that are reputed to be deadliest. So it's a combined problem.
With good socialization and training, some of the guard dogs can be good guard dogs, but they should never be walked around other dogs, with or without a lead, and they pose risks to house guests, etc. until they see them as part of the family or pack. Still not a fan of aggressive breads.
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- #22
itsme230191
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Thanks for your reply :)
Yes, I know what you mean about being prepared for another attack, and that possibly easing my nerves. I have read up on some techniques to break up a fight should one happen again (hopefully not!) so I do feel slightly more informed on what to do in that situation. I just hope I never have to go through anything like that again :)
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- #23
itsme230191
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Yes I agree completely.
I am sorry to hear about your son, I hope he is doing better now, and you and your husband, too. :)
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- #24
itsme230191
New Here
Thanks for your reply :)
I have not really heard much about people being traumatized by animal attacks - so it is refreshing to hear that I am not alone in feeling this way. A lot of my family have told me to "get a grip" and get over it already, but I don't feel like they understand how it has affected me. I'm glad I found this place, it really helps!
I completely agree about certain breeds being aggressive by nature. In a way, I feel like they have been bred for those qualities and therefore it can never really be their fault if they attack. To them, it's just their nature and their owners should have had them under more control (a muzzle, a lead etc). That being said, I do believe a lot of aggressive dogs have been mistreated by their owners, and therefore react badly to either other animals or people because of their upbringing. I truly believe some dogs get a bad rep just because of their breed - when sometimes it can be simply whether they have had a decent upbringing or not that determines whether they are aggressive or not. For instance, I have a german shepherd puppy, she is only seven months old but big for her age. She's not a bad bone in her body, but I've had people already judge her on her looks, tell me she looks mean and aggressive etc. I know she's not, but some people think of german shepherd's that way.
In a way, I feel sorry for the dog that attacked my own. I imagine it must have had a terrible life to be brought up by such nasty people, made so aggressive and (presumably) made to fight other dogs for their entertainment. People like that don't deserve animals.
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