Page 818 - Total War on PTSD

actually seeing and experiencing in the world. I just wish I had a way to let every Veteran know about this program.
I have a PTSD diagnosis and my spouse is my caregiver. I think that, with the proper education, rather than making PTSD a 'label', like saying Veterans with PTSD are crazy, allows the general public to better understand what those of us with such a diagnosis are going through. I don't think of it is a weakness at all. I do, however, see it as an obstacle that needs to be addressed because it hinders my ability to function in society. I don't necessarily like to live under the umbrella of the label itself but I still don't consider it to be a weakness. It takes a lot of courage for somebody to admit that they have a problem and that they need help. Just seeking help is a courageous act in itself.
I have two dogs named Harley and Gaea. They are ages nine and three respectively. I have had Harley ever since he was born in 2010 and Gaea since she was eight weeks old in 2015. Harley looks mean but he is a sweetheart. The approach with Harley was to get him to understand the hierarchy of the household...I am Alpha and he was to follow me. I also had to make sure that I met his needs when it came to exercise, discipline, food and love...in that order. This was so that he could trust that anybody that I brought around me would be trustworthy and so that he was going to be as docile as possible. On the flip side, in 2010 I was living in an apartment, just me and Harley, and was gone through kind of a hard time. I couldn't just give up on things or just open the door and let Harley go out by himself. I had to put on the leash and walk him, feed him, etc. So, my having to do these things...it was eventually beneficial to me. In that aspect we had a bond. I was meeting his needs of exercise, the outdoors and leadership while he was
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