Page 958 - Total War on PTSD

contribute to my PTSD and anxiety. My other physical injuries came from my tour of airborne operations/Jumpmaster duties for 10 years at Ft. Bragg, NC; military physical conditioning, and repetitive wearing of combat gear over 29 years.
Lizzy, My English Black Labrador and my Service Dog, I got from Semper K9 Assistance Dogs in Woodbridge, VA, and I have had her since May of 2017. Blade, my Shitzu, I got from someone I served with in South Carolina. Blade is just a little ball of anxiety but that's part of his breed. He's also my sidekick. Lizzy started her training with Semper K9 when she was only eight weeks old. She was trained for 12 months while living with her "K9 Coach," and, with the help of the owner, she learned all of the basic tasks and proper social behaviors. Once Lizzy was identified to become my Service a Dog, tasks were added to her training that were tailored specifically to my needs.
Lizzy is trained to assist with both my physical issues and my PTSD. She has learned my particular triggers/behaviors after we were placed with each other. She came already trained to stay by my side, no matter where I go, and was simply a very sensitive and intelligent dog. When I am triggered by something, be it noises, crowds, someone brushing up against me, she will distract me with her nose nudges, leaning up against me, or placing her head in my lap. Distraction for me is one of the better methods to take my focus away from the triggers. There are times that something triggers my anxiety or PTSD and I'm not even aware, but she can sense a change in my mood or my movements, and immediately begins to comfort me.
While Service Dogs aren't trained to be proactive (the owner of Semper K9 told me a story of a dog in training where this didn't work well), Lizzy has learned my special dislikes, and I think she is being reactive to me, in a positive way. I do NOT like being too close to people; I like my space. When someone invades that space, I tend to take a step back. Lizzy will usually move to
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