Willow's PTSD Service Dog
Donation protected
I chose the picture of me laughing with a friend for a specific reason. That’s the person that I want to be, and the person that I have to fight to be.
My name is Willow Tufts and for the past 6 years I have been suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is a disorder that changes the way you think, operate, and act. And I have to fight every day for it to not change who I am completely.
The PTSD resulted from trauma when I was 13. And I didn't realize it then, but what I had suffered was not normal in any way, and would leave me in a position where I am unable to properly function in life as an adult.
Now that I am 20 years old, and on my Junior year of college the fight to maintain the happy and social person that God created me to be is becoming almost impossible. Over the past 6 years it seems like the PTSD has only gotten worse as I have worked though medications and other techniques of coping. While working 2 jobs to put myself through school is something that I know in my nature I can do, it is starting to become a task that my mind can't handle. And doing the things that I love, like leading Worship and singing, have become tedious and too much to handle. One of my jobs is in the most social area of my campus. But loud or unexpected noises make me flinch and set me on edge, spiraling me in to uncontrollable fear that I try my best to hide.
As a Social Work major, my only goal in life is to help others who have gone through things like I have. To teach people that it is ok to be broken and hurting. And that an obstacle is just an obstacle, not an end. But also as a Social Work major, many of my trigger words are said in class, and I am forced to leave as I fall into a panic or anxiety attack.
I so desperately wish that I could just get over this. That it would go away, or at the very least, be able to manage it.
But about a month ago, my psychiatrist recommended to me the idea of getting a PTSD Service Dog. At first, the idea of getting a dog to help with my PTSD just sounded like an excuse to get a dog that I could take anywhere. But my Psychiatrist encouraged me to just do some research. So I did. I have spent the last month doing extensive research on the benefits and drawbacks of owning a PTSD service dog. And the benefits are astounding. They can do all things normal dogs can do like:
-Help bring out feelings of love.
-Are good companions.
-Take orders well when trained.
-Are fun and can help reduce stress.
-Are a good reason to get out of the house, spend time outdoors, and meet new people.
And not only can a PTSD service dog do those things, but they can:
-Do things that are different from natural dog behavior
-Do things that the handler (dog owner) cannot do because of a disability
-Learn to work with the new handler in ways that help manage the owner's disability
For me, that sounds too good to be true. A dog that could help me get out of bed when the world is a little too heavy for me to handle, and could nudge me out of panic and anxiety attacks. Just these 2 things alone could bring an amazing level of normalcy to my life that I desperately need. Being able to get out of bed and go to work or class, and staying even if a triggering situation occurs is my dream.
So here is what I am asking for: The cost of a PTSD service dog is the obstacle. They are $3,500.00 minimum. And as a college student working 2 jobs, I don’t have that on hand sadly, and I am asking for help. I would never ask if this wasn’t something that would change my life dramatically for the better.
And also as a broke college student I absolutely understand if you can’t contribute. But I do ask that you share this so that I may get some sort of normalcy back into my life. And thank you so very much for reading and sharing. I love you all!
My name is Willow Tufts and for the past 6 years I have been suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is a disorder that changes the way you think, operate, and act. And I have to fight every day for it to not change who I am completely.
The PTSD resulted from trauma when I was 13. And I didn't realize it then, but what I had suffered was not normal in any way, and would leave me in a position where I am unable to properly function in life as an adult.
Now that I am 20 years old, and on my Junior year of college the fight to maintain the happy and social person that God created me to be is becoming almost impossible. Over the past 6 years it seems like the PTSD has only gotten worse as I have worked though medications and other techniques of coping. While working 2 jobs to put myself through school is something that I know in my nature I can do, it is starting to become a task that my mind can't handle. And doing the things that I love, like leading Worship and singing, have become tedious and too much to handle. One of my jobs is in the most social area of my campus. But loud or unexpected noises make me flinch and set me on edge, spiraling me in to uncontrollable fear that I try my best to hide.
As a Social Work major, my only goal in life is to help others who have gone through things like I have. To teach people that it is ok to be broken and hurting. And that an obstacle is just an obstacle, not an end. But also as a Social Work major, many of my trigger words are said in class, and I am forced to leave as I fall into a panic or anxiety attack.
I so desperately wish that I could just get over this. That it would go away, or at the very least, be able to manage it.
But about a month ago, my psychiatrist recommended to me the idea of getting a PTSD Service Dog. At first, the idea of getting a dog to help with my PTSD just sounded like an excuse to get a dog that I could take anywhere. But my Psychiatrist encouraged me to just do some research. So I did. I have spent the last month doing extensive research on the benefits and drawbacks of owning a PTSD service dog. And the benefits are astounding. They can do all things normal dogs can do like:
-Help bring out feelings of love.
-Are good companions.
-Take orders well when trained.
-Are fun and can help reduce stress.
-Are a good reason to get out of the house, spend time outdoors, and meet new people.
And not only can a PTSD service dog do those things, but they can:
-Do things that are different from natural dog behavior
-Do things that the handler (dog owner) cannot do because of a disability
-Learn to work with the new handler in ways that help manage the owner's disability
For me, that sounds too good to be true. A dog that could help me get out of bed when the world is a little too heavy for me to handle, and could nudge me out of panic and anxiety attacks. Just these 2 things alone could bring an amazing level of normalcy to my life that I desperately need. Being able to get out of bed and go to work or class, and staying even if a triggering situation occurs is my dream.
So here is what I am asking for: The cost of a PTSD service dog is the obstacle. They are $3,500.00 minimum. And as a college student working 2 jobs, I don’t have that on hand sadly, and I am asking for help. I would never ask if this wasn’t something that would change my life dramatically for the better.
And also as a broke college student I absolutely understand if you can’t contribute. But I do ask that you share this so that I may get some sort of normalcy back into my life. And thank you so very much for reading and sharing. I love you all!
Organizer
Willow Tufts
Organizer
Allendale, MI
