Sometimes I'm a bit slow.
For example, I've become used to seeing dogs at Peer Support trainings. However, I just assumed that any dogs wearing service vests most likely were helping their owners live with other disabilities.
Yesterday my ignorance on this count was remedied through the good auspices of the Psychiatric Service Dog Society, which I found while bouncing from article to article doing research for this blog.
Thinking about it, it would seem to be common sense that dogs could be a tremendous help to people living with symptoms of both PTSD and other psychiatric conditions, if only through their gift of unconditional love for their owners.
But it's more than that. Psychiatric Service dogs can be trained to help us wake up when we oversleep, for example, or remind us to take our meds. And what could be more soothing to those of us with social anxiety than the protecting, loving presence of our dog with us in a public place?
If there's even a chance that a Psychiatric Service Dog would be helpful to you or someone you know, or you're even just curious, check the site out. It is well-researched and full of information to quench your curiosity, help you make a decision about getting a service dog and/or help you get started.
There is valuable information for clinicians as well, including research into the therapeutic benefits of Psychiatric Service Dogs.
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I use a psychiatric service dog and there is no better treatment. I have less anxiety attacks when I am with him. I don't have to worry about finding the car. I don't have as much depression, though it's still there. All of my symptoms are lessened. When I try to go someplace without him though I feel like I am missing an arm. It's like part of me is gone. You really learn to depend on your service dog.
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