Living as a Service Dog Handler
Having PTSD and Anxiety and so many more different mental illnesses has brought a whole different aspect to life itself. Living with mental illnesses isn't as easy as some medical commercials make it out to be. Sometimes you're up for hours at night crying because of an attack you just had after a nightmare, or even pacing your bedroom at night trying to remain calm. Another example is attending a church service of somewhere you are supposed to be safe and can't stay because your anxiety is through the roof.
There are many different types of PTSD or Anxiety attacks known to man. There are many different medications, therapies, and group therapies as well. The one thing that allows me to feel normal in my everyday life is my Service Dog (SD) Soka.
Soka is a 5-year-old German Shepherd Lab Mix. She lived a very miserable life before she was in my life. Her life was either 24/7 in the Arizona weather or 18 hours in a dog crate with no human interaction from anyone. We brought her home in October of 2019, and ever since then, she has been in training for my PTSD and Anxiety.
Having her by my side every day is like having a guardian angel. Her ability to block, use DPT and even just comforting me when I have an episode is why I am training her for the job. Now many of you reading this might be asking where am I going to get her trained, well under the American Disabilities Act (ADA) I as an owner it is my right to train my dog myself for a personal bond and to allow her to be specific to me and my needs.
Soka has brought so much love and companionship into my life that I have been able to receive more independent decisions. She provides me a sense of I am safe no matter what may happen in the world or even in my life she is there for me when I need someone the most. She will always be my best friend. I wouldn't change anything to replace her and I never will.
There are many different types of PTSD or Anxiety attacks known to man. There are many different medications, therapies, and group therapies as well. The one thing that allows me to feel normal in my everyday life is my Service Dog (SD) Soka.
Soka is a 5-year-old German Shepherd Lab Mix. She lived a very miserable life before she was in my life. Her life was either 24/7 in the Arizona weather or 18 hours in a dog crate with no human interaction from anyone. We brought her home in October of 2019, and ever since then, she has been in training for my PTSD and Anxiety.
Having her by my side every day is like having a guardian angel. Her ability to block, use DPT and even just comforting me when I have an episode is why I am training her for the job. Now many of you reading this might be asking where am I going to get her trained, well under the American Disabilities Act (ADA) I as an owner it is my right to train my dog myself for a personal bond and to allow her to be specific to me and my needs.
Soka has brought so much love and companionship into my life that I have been able to receive more independent decisions. She provides me a sense of I am safe no matter what may happen in the world or even in my life she is there for me when I need someone the most. She will always be my best friend. I wouldn't change anything to replace her and I never will.
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