3 ways in which dogs can ease symptoms of PTSD
There’s a reason dogs are considered a man’s best friend.
Not only are they our favourite fuzzy companions who trot alongside our daily routines, but it has also been proved that dogs significantly improve our mental health. When it comes to the more difficult periods of our lives, the strong bond shared between doggo and human can reap huge benefits.
And never is that more important than during spells of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Approximately 1 out of 10 people experience PTSD at some point in their life and there are many treatments that have been designed to mitigate its effects. Therapy dogs have also proved to be invaluable companions during such challenging times.
Here are just a few ways in which a therapy dog can aid the recovery process of PTSD.
Help with anxiety and disrupt anxiety behaviours
Some dogs are trained to recognise the symptoms of anxiety and perform actions that disrupt these behaviours. Such dogs are called psychiatric service dogs and they can really help individuals suffering with acute anxiety.
If they spot signs of anxiety, they are trained to comfort and console the induvial with playful nudging, pawing or licking so that the individual is forced to react to the dog instead, thereby distracting them from their anxiety. Such dogs act as a buffer between the individual and their learned anxiety behaviours and reduce anxiety whenever they are in public spaces.
Interrupt night terrors
Night terrors are one of the most intrusive and disturbing symptoms of PTSD. A service dog is trained to recognise when their owner is experiencing a night terror and interrupts it by nudging, licking of lying on the owner’s chest. Some can even turn the lights on in order to force the individual awake.
Whilst your dog watches over you whilst you sleep, make sure they are comfortable in your bedroom with a cosy, spacious dog bed, placing it carefully to ensure that your dog can comfortably keep an eye on you.
Help with dissociation
Dissociation is a symptom that include chronic flashbacks, causing a feeling of dissociation with oneself and reality. When an individual is in a dissociative state, a guide dog can help the individual to a safe space or even find a specific person who can help calm them down.
Trained dogs can even bring individuals back to reality by touching them or applying pressure to force them into the present.
