Service dogs can provide a wide range of support for people with PTSD. This condition impacts portions of the brain that regulate emotions and fear responses. It is characterized by high anxiety, panic attacks, brittle emotions, debilitating triggers, and re-experiencing traumatic events through flashbacks and/or night terrors. It is common in veterans and first responders but can be experienced by anyone who has suffered through a traumatic event or series of traumatic events. Symptoms of PTSD frequently lead to isolation and serious depression.
Service dogs are trained to provide specific skills for those with PTSD. They can redirect people from triggers, anxiety, flashbacks and wake them from impending night terrors.
How are Service Dogs Trained to Help with PTSD?
Guardian Angels’ service dogs are trained using scent samples from the recipient, allowing them to detect the chemical changes in the recipient’s body prior to them having an anxiety attack or other type of PTSD-related event. They are trained to perform a variety of tasks based on the scents that help to mitigate the challenges the recipient is facing. For example, we teach them to recognize an event such as a nightmare, waking the recipient before it can escalate, allowing the recipient to wake up from the nightmare, and then resume sleeping. They are highly attuned to the chemical changes in their recipient and alert them before it results in a PTSD episode of any kind. The physical presence of a service dog can also serve as an effective deterrent against anxiety-inducing triggers, such as large crowds, by performing tasks such as shielding, where the dog uses its body to create a non-aggressive barrier between the recipient and other people.
In addition to providing physical and mental support, having a service dog by their side encourages newfound confidence that is often hard to find. The unconditional, nonjudgmental love and acceptance a service dog provides can also help their recipient feel more confident as they integrate back into society, which is a crucial step in dealing with their disability. With this new normal, the recipient may even repair estranged relationships and build new connections with others.
Service dogs can play an essential role in helping those suffering from PTSD live more fulfilling lives. From alerting to impending episodes to helping ground and redirect their recipient during an occurrence, these animals can be a powerful resource for those affected by PTSD. With the right training and understanding, service dogs can be an invaluable management tool to anyone struggling with the effects of this condition.
Want to Learn More About Service Dogs?
At Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, we provide veterans, first responders, and some civilians with service dogs who can help mitigate the challenges of PTSD, allowing them to re-enter society and reconnect with their loved ones. To learn more about our mission, visit our website today!
Mrs. Borden’s expertise and accomplishments are acknowledged by numerous national awards from various industries and agencies including the 2018 Corporate Pet Industry Woman of the Year and multiple awards for her organization’s work in mental health and suicide prevention.
She is frequently requested as a Keynote Speaker, and as an Industry Consultant to teach service dog laws to judicial systems, attorneys, and businesses, and to assist in service dog bills in multiple states that were passed into law. In 2020, she started an Institute for Higher Learning and the Borden Veterinary Hospital. Additionally, she has written and teaches college-accredited/VA-approved apprenticeship courses on dog training and service dog training.
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