Page 982 - Total War on PTSD
P. 982

I contribute that change to Sam. He watches out for me. If it's determined that the dogs truly help, like most of us Veterans already know, then the VA would have to provide the dogs, provide healthcare for the dogs, etc. It all boils down to money. Money I have ended up spending on Sam and Maggie so that could have the help I needed when I needed it. The VA doesn't want to spend it. I was lucky because I worked for the Postal Service. I had federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield. They retired me. I took everything the Postal Service had and went over to the VA, and that's when the VA made their determination and gave me my benefits/retirement...and I am 100% disabled with the VA. I got to keep my federal health care. I don't go to the VA. Me and those people just don't get along. The Psychiatrist I am seeing in Birmingham, he is one of the best doctors in his field in the area. If he tells me the sun is going to rise tomorrow and it's going to be blue, I will be looking for a blue sun.
Even with Maggie, and she's kind of hyper...Shepherds usually have a little more 'juice' than the rest of them...but even with her being hyper, when I come in on days when I don't feel good, she will get up and lay on my chest. I think she just knows. All these animals help in their own way. We have the horses and a 150-pound pot-bellied pig named Rosebud that runs around here.
They all have been here for me...this is all therapy...every bit of it. Sam actually raised Rosebud. When she was a baby, if Sam laid on the floor, or on the ground outside then Rosebud would be sure to lay as close as she could to him. Maggie and Rosebud are best buddies because they will take turns chasing each other until Rosebud gets tired and lays down, and then Maggie will come over and lick Rosebud in the face. They've all been therapy for me, they really have. Like I said, the biggest thing for me with the PTSD is learning what causes it, learning your symptoms, and learning your triggers. Once you know all that, you can deal with your issues because you know what's going on and how to deal with it the best you can.
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