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My name is Tina and I suffer with complex trauma and an eating disorder. I am asking for your financial support to help cover the costs of purchasing, training as well as the associated costs of maintaining a highly trained Service Dog and companion. Any little bit would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.
I have recently been matched with a 6-month old Service Dog in training, and her name is Shadow. I have began the bonding and training process with her and MSAR's Certified Master Trainer, George Leonard. George and his team will be investing approximately 17,000+ hours of specialized training into Shadow, so that she can provide me with the help I so desperately need. Shadow will be with me at all times to help keep my anxiety and panic levels down when I have to leave the safety of my home, as well as situations surrounding food and meal times. She will wake me from nightmares, help to bring me back to the present when I disassociate and many other things. Having Shadow during the times that I'm on my own is really important. She will keep me calm, safe and secure. Most of all, she will provide me with HOPE, and a quality of life that I currently don't have.
Telling you my story is quite uncomfortable, as there are very few people in my life that I've shared my struggles with. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2006, and Anorexia Nervosa in 2013. I have recently been re-diagnosed with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) which is caused by prolonged or sustained exposure to emotional trauma(s) and/or abuse, rather than a single event. Both of my conditions are due to traumatic events that have occurred in my life. The C-PTSD causes extreme anxiety and panic, and I'm unable to leave my house most days, especially when I'm alone. I have nightmares which make it very hard to sleep and next to impossible when I'm on my own. This leaves me extremely sleep deprived and anxious most of the time. I have flashbacks that cause me to disassociate for brief periods of time, which then leave me feeling extremely anxious, panic ridden and scared. Having C-PTSD makes me feel very lonely, isolated and hopeless. There is no straightforward cure for C-PTSD, and treatment is a complicated process. Shadow will be an integral part of my path toward recovery. She gives me HOPE. The treatment I've been receiving for my eating disorder will be greatly enhanced with Shadow's help as well. I want to learn how to live with C-PTSD, and to have a fulfilling life.
Having an eating disorder brings with it a lot of shame, guilt and embarrassment. It's a very misunderstood disease, and carries with it the societal stigma of vanity. I can tell you that no one chooses to have Anorexia. It's a brutal, deadly and unforgiving disease. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I've been very fortunate to be receiving amazing in-patient treatment, however it has placed a huge financial burden on me and my family. The Government will not fund non-hospital treatment, nor will Private Insurance Companies. Canada is unfortunately way behind in mental health treatment, particularly for eating disorders. Additionally, having a dual diagnosis of C-PTSD and Anorexia Nervosa has made my recovery from my eating disorder much more difficult and slow. It's virtually impossible to work on recovery from my eating disorder, when most days I'm afraid and unable to leave my house. Once again, Shadow will play a huge role in this aspect of my recovery as well.
I hope that by sharing my story with you, I can get the help I need. I am so very grateful for the love and constant support of my husband, family and friends, and I'm determined to keep fighting. I will never quit.
Never Give Up Hope – We Are Not Alone
I have recently been matched with a 6-month old Service Dog in training, and her name is Shadow. I have began the bonding and training process with her and MSAR's Certified Master Trainer, George Leonard. George and his team will be investing approximately 17,000+ hours of specialized training into Shadow, so that she can provide me with the help I so desperately need. Shadow will be with me at all times to help keep my anxiety and panic levels down when I have to leave the safety of my home, as well as situations surrounding food and meal times. She will wake me from nightmares, help to bring me back to the present when I disassociate and many other things. Having Shadow during the times that I'm on my own is really important. She will keep me calm, safe and secure. Most of all, she will provide me with HOPE, and a quality of life that I currently don't have.
Telling you my story is quite uncomfortable, as there are very few people in my life that I've shared my struggles with. I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2006, and Anorexia Nervosa in 2013. I have recently been re-diagnosed with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) which is caused by prolonged or sustained exposure to emotional trauma(s) and/or abuse, rather than a single event. Both of my conditions are due to traumatic events that have occurred in my life. The C-PTSD causes extreme anxiety and panic, and I'm unable to leave my house most days, especially when I'm alone. I have nightmares which make it very hard to sleep and next to impossible when I'm on my own. This leaves me extremely sleep deprived and anxious most of the time. I have flashbacks that cause me to disassociate for brief periods of time, which then leave me feeling extremely anxious, panic ridden and scared. Having C-PTSD makes me feel very lonely, isolated and hopeless. There is no straightforward cure for C-PTSD, and treatment is a complicated process. Shadow will be an integral part of my path toward recovery. She gives me HOPE. The treatment I've been receiving for my eating disorder will be greatly enhanced with Shadow's help as well. I want to learn how to live with C-PTSD, and to have a fulfilling life.
Having an eating disorder brings with it a lot of shame, guilt and embarrassment. It's a very misunderstood disease, and carries with it the societal stigma of vanity. I can tell you that no one chooses to have Anorexia. It's a brutal, deadly and unforgiving disease. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I've been very fortunate to be receiving amazing in-patient treatment, however it has placed a huge financial burden on me and my family. The Government will not fund non-hospital treatment, nor will Private Insurance Companies. Canada is unfortunately way behind in mental health treatment, particularly for eating disorders. Additionally, having a dual diagnosis of C-PTSD and Anorexia Nervosa has made my recovery from my eating disorder much more difficult and slow. It's virtually impossible to work on recovery from my eating disorder, when most days I'm afraid and unable to leave my house. Once again, Shadow will play a huge role in this aspect of my recovery as well.
I hope that by sharing my story with you, I can get the help I need. I am so very grateful for the love and constant support of my husband, family and friends, and I'm determined to keep fighting. I will never quit.
Never Give Up Hope – We Are Not Alone