AAT for Post Trauma Stress
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AAT for Post Trauma Stress |
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Therapy dog Goldie at the program
Therapy dog Onit at the program
Team Animal Angels at the program
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Animal Angels Therapy dog team help Mumbaikars heal 26/11 is a date India will never forget. Our Mumbai police, firemen and commandos braved the odds to let us live another day. Mumbai is not new to terror attacks or blasts and everyone always talks about the "Mumbai Spirit" of how people go to work the very next day. But this time it was too much. Every day we see people who were rescued from the places taking about the horrifying incidences. Not just them, also the people staying around that area, media personals, bystanders are affected. It is very easy for us to quote the "Mumbai Spirit" where we go back to work the next day, but it is very difficult to overcome the deep trauma within that does not show outside. Post traumatic stress can set in soon after or even gradually , after an extremely traumatic situation. Many people find it difficult to cope up with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and many simply fail to realize that they are suffering from PTSD. After trauma, extreme fear, helplessness, or anxiety are normal short-term reactions that generally dissipate over time, as individuals cope and adjust. A comforting hug from a dog is one way of letting out your pent up stress. This is called Animal Assisted Therapy. Animals are unconditional and their touch is soothing. Most of the time people in trauma or in a state of shock don't want to talk as they re experience the trauma. With animals you do not need to talk. Even if you hug the therapy dog, it provides you immense comfort and reassurance. It also helps in catharsis or venting out of emotions. A person may cry on hugging the dog as it releases the emotions locked up inside. An animal will not judge you for what you do or say, hence providing a very open environment to express oneself.
Two years back we got a chance to introduce AAT for post traumatic stress after the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts at a program called Raahat Ka Ehsaas, organized by Bombay Psychiatric Society. Articles: Related links: American Red Cross - Therapy dogs lift spirits at Ground Zero Therapy Dog Nikie who worked at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks |
