The VA Sends Veterans but Not Funding to Local Nonprofits

I was working with Angie Sheer, founder of Equus Medendi (Latin for Horse Healing) Equine Therapy and Martin, an Iraqi war veteran. Martin, was the squad leader of patrol in Iraq with his unit when they hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and simultaneously attacked with small arms fire. Martin had lost 3 of his troops and was injured himself during the attack. He was in the Nevada Army National Guard and had a good job before his tour to Iraq. He has 5 children and is 100% disabled due to his back, & leg injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). He has lost his civilian job due to his injuries and struggles allot with his family. His temper has become a problem for everyone in his family because of his PTSD and TBI. His circle of friends has gotten smaller and he feels his world is closing in on him. Every time Martin and his family needed to go somewhere he struggled with the traffic and overpasses because of his triggers. When he hears loud noises he panics and struggles to come back to the present. While driving down the interstate he heard a loud noise in a construction zone and almost wrecked his car with his family in it, his story is not uncommon. There are thousands of veterans that suffer just like Martin.

There are allot of different treatments that help our veterans and their families, equine therapy is one of them. Anxiety is a huge issue among veterans who have seen combat. Because a horse is a flight animal and humans are carnivore’s horses have the ability to sense any anxiety in a person. The horse by nature picks up on the anxiety or nerviness in the clients and senses it as danger. The horse will not allow the clients to hide their anxiety, causing the veteran to learn how to control their anxiety. The horse is a 1200 pound lie detector, when someone says their anxiety is under control the horse will know if your lying and act accordingly. Once the clients have control of their anxiety the horses can begin to trust the veteran. One of the main goals is to build trust in the relationship between the horse and the clients to work together to reach more extensive goals. This is impossible if the anxiety is not under control.  

Because PTSD is an anxiety disorder horses are instrumental in the recovery of some clients. Many veterans lose their social and communication skills due to their PTSD and the horse helps the veteran re-build those lost skills. If the horse senses any anxiety or stress they will not come near the client, they must control their stress level and anxiety for the horse to “partner up” with them, or follow your lead to complete other tasks.   

It is imperative that each horse be a good match for the client’s. Like people every horse has their own personality. During the orientation process the clinician and the equine specialist discuss the client’s story with them and what they are looking for in the equine therapeutic process. After the initial meeting, the equine specialist and the clinician choose which horse is the best for that client.   

Equus Medendi has multiple horse owners that allow Angie to use their horses to work with veterans. Angie has eight horses to choose from. Two of the horses were abused retired race horses and have built in trust issues. Two are stubborn and the client must work to convince the horse to do what the client wants them to do. One horse struggles with boundaries and likes to be with the client and in their face, one is just a brat, one is a mustang born wild and broken as a colt, and one is an alpha female with attitude. Angie was trained by Monty Roberts AKA “the Horse whisperer” She was also trained in Eagala therapy making her good at what she does.

Since the founding of Equus Medendi they have seen several hundred veterans and family members. Of those 75 to 100 veterans have been sent by the VA. In many instances they are some of the toughest cases. Martin was one of those cases. He had been through several different programs the VA has offered.  At times, many clinicians have tough cases that show little if no improvement. When Martin was sent to the equine program he was struggling. When he had finished the equine program he had improved enough to give clinicians a starting point to complete his traditional therapy sessions. The problem is the VA sends Veterans to the equine program, but sends no resources or funds to support the program.

The funding for the services come from many sources, people donate to the program and apply for grants. Equus Medendi pride themselves in never having to charge a veteran for their services. The VA has been reluctant to fund the program even though research has proven equine therapy has proven effective. There are some VA’s that fund programs like equine, but each VA is different and some place their funds elsewhere. Many non-profits struggle to financially make ends meet with little to no monetary funds from the Government. Often the VA wants to utilize non-profits and not fund them, which is the case with Equus Medendi. Since the VA can’t see everyone it would make sense to fund outside sources who treat veterans, but why should they, folks like Angie do it for free. Please support your local veteran non-profits to help fill the cracks in the VA mental health system.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro. 

Veterans Need to Give Civilian Clinicians a Chance

One of the most important things I do as a clinician is to help veteran students in crisis at San Bernardino Valley College on average once a week. Billy is a 27 year old, 80% disabled Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran who came into the office and asked if he could talk to me. I have known him for quite a while and knew a little about his background but never saw him as a client or in distress. Once he sat down and the door was shut it was evident there was an issue. He was tearful and visibly shaken because he was struggling with issues at home. He feared his PTSD was setting a bad example for his children and pushing his wife away.

Billy was a proud, angry, scared, and venerable young man. It took allot for him to visit me in the center where everyone could see him come in and sit down. Since I am well known to the veteran’s at the college he felt safe to discuss his issues with me. He appeared to be at the end of the rope and needed someone to talk to. Billy is not willing to use the services at the Veterans Administration or the Veterans Center because he don’t trust them. He is paying for a private clinician so ethically I could not continue to see him, my job at that moment was to stabilize the crisis and send him to his private clinician.

Billy was unsure what set off the most recent event. He felt he was a failure because he had no job and his PTSD appeared to be controlling his life. He had been unemployed since he got out and was scared to apply for jobs fearing rejection. As we discussed his situation we got into a deep conversation about what was going on with him. At this point I was just another veteran trying to help him through the crisis not his clinician. I completed a quick suicide assessment on him and found him to not be suicidal. He started telling me some of his stories from deployments and some of the things he had seen and done. I was aware that he was seeing a private psychologist so I had to tread lightly and be sure not to undermine anything his private clinician was doing. I discussed with him the ethical situation of seeing two clinicians and why I could not see him on a continual basis. I asked if he had discussed the issues he disclosed with me to his private clinician. He hadn’t; he didn’t feel the civilian clinician would understand. I advised him that the civilian clinician was perfectly capable of helping him, but he could not put him back together without all of the pieces. I encouraged him to talk to his clinician the same way he talked to me. He agreed to try.

The following week Billy told me that he had taken my advice and was doing allot better. He opened up to his clinician and it appeared to help. Billy told his clinician about our conversation; his clinician told him that he needed to thank me for the advice to open up. Billy is not alone. Many veterans feel they cannot tell civilian clinician things they can tell a veteran. The reality is they can, not all clinicians are a good fit for an individual, finding the right therapist is the key. Civilian clinicians are capable of working with veterans, they just need to know the whole story.  Civilian clinician see PTSD frequently, 7.7 million Americans have non-combat PTSD, and the odds of a clinician already treating someone with PTSD is high. The bottom line, it is important for veterans to open up to your civilian clinician and not leave out parts of your puzzle. They can help you more than you know. Billy is doing great now, he is still going to counseling and now has a job. He is still married and helping raise their children, this is a success story that we all like to hear. Sometimes all it takes is someone who is willing to sit with them, listen to their thoughts, and talk to them with empathy.  

Recognizing Suicide

Talking to a veteran, family member, or friend about their suicidal thoughts is extremely difficult but necessary. Many times all it takes to prevent a suicide attempt is to ask! You can't make a person suicidal by asking the question and showing that you care. In fact, giving a suicidal person the opportunity to discuss their feelings can provide relief they need and may prevent a suicide attempt.

Common suicide risk factors include:

• History of trauma or abuse

• Recent loss or stressful life event

• Terminal illness or chronic pain

• Social isolation and loneliness

• Alcoholism or drug abuse

• Mental illness

• Previous suicide attempts

• Family history of suicide

Ways to start a conversation about suicide:

• I have been feeling concerned about you lately.

• Recently, I have noticed some differences in you and wondered how you are doing.

• I wanted to check in with you because you haven’t seemed yourself lately.

Questions you can ask:

• When did you begin feeling like this?

• Did something happen that made you start feeling this way?

• How can I best support you right now?

• Have you thought about getting help?

What you can say that helps:

• You are not alone in this. I’m here for you.

• You may not believe it now, but the way you’re feeling will change.

• I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care about you and want to help.

• When you want to give up, tell yourself you will hold off for just one more day, hour, minute—whatever you can manage.

 For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

The Cost of Doing the Right Thing

Francisco is a Marine veteran client that I work with. He had two tours in Iraq and struggles to deal with what happened. Francisco was in-voluntary extended after his 4 years in the corps because he was supposed to be a part of the “surge”. His last tour he had a fellow marine from his unit die in his arms on his first tour and now he had to go on another one. Francisco lives with the feeling that his fellow Marine took his last breath while he was holding him. Francisco continues to feel that last breath leaves the Marine before he died. That incident effects his decisions to this day. One of the reasons he made the decision to do what he thought was right the rest of his time in the Marines, and that decision cost him.

What he was concerned about the most is his inability to not make lance corporal. He separated from the Marines as a corporal. This is very demeaning to him, especially the reason why he did not make rank. You see, Francisco made the mistake of standing up for an inferior marine why he was beaten by his Sargent. His Sargent was beating a fellow Marine in the next rack while he was trying to sleep. Francisco continually tried to stop the Sargent from beating the Marine. He was told to stay out of it. After the sergeant was done beating the Marine he proceeded to treat the marine by doing CPR. The Marine was beaten so bad he had stopped breathing. He then filed a complaint and the sergeant was reprimanded. After that incident Francisco was always having to look over his back. He was ostracized as being a trouble maker and a rat. He was treated with little respect by his peers in the corps. After he had decided to leave the Marine Corps he was offered a promotion, which he refused. After being treated the way he was for saving his fellow Marine he decided he would get out. He feels he is being looked down upon by fellow veteran Marines for doing the right thing.

Francisco continues to struggle by questioning his choice to do what he felt was right. He has seen many that have done questionable things and have gotten away with them, and even becoming better off than they were. He feels doing what was right has cost him many times in his life and he consistently asks me why he should keep doing what was right because it has not helped him, it has only hurt him. It is a difficult task to convince someone that doing the right thing is what is best even if it cost them. He tried to do what the Marines told him to do, he followed the written code to the letter, and the problem was he did not follow the unwritten code of not telling on others when he sees hazing of another Marine.

Another issue that Francisco deals with is what other Marines say about him behind his back. He has told several people this story since he got out and they have looked down upon him as if he was still in. What Francisco needs to learn is he owns his story that he does not have to tell everyone about his situation. Francisco is an honest person who feels bad about holding back anything from his time in the Marines. He has lived his life being the honest person, he feels like it has backfired. Unfortunately, his case is not the only one I've heard. It is difficult to make these decisions and he made it. Francisco did the right thing but paid the price of doing it.

From a clinical standpoint it is difficult for young man to deal with this type of burden. In his mind the choice he made will affect him for the rest of his life. Many men and women in the military are brave enough to stand up for what they feel is right. There are those that stand up for what they believe is right knowing there will be consequences to their actions. Some accept that responsibility and move forward. Others struggle with their decision and consistently wonder if they made the right one. Many things the Marine struggles with when he gets out in society often does not do the right thing. Even though all military branches are taught integrity loyalty commitment not all people follow that code. Doing what's right can often lead to struggles. Many civilians do not make ethical decisions and that bothers those who do. Those who do the right thing start to question whether they're doing the right thing by sticking to their morals. This type of stuff happens and some pay the consequences. My opinion is we should all stand up for what is right even though it costs us. If everyone used this code the military, civilians, and society would all be a better place.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Home Front Pilots were Trailblazers

Micky was among a large contingent of WWII test pilot for the Army Air Corps needed for various duties at home. They flew freshly completed and repaired aircraft from the factory giving them “shakedown flights” to ensure they were safe for pilots overseas fighting the war. They trained Air Corps cadets to fly, they also developed advanced attack tactics to be used in war because little was known about air power and how it could be effective on the battlefield. Each type and model of aircraft were different, their strengths and weaknesses needed to be exposed and these elite pilots completed that task. They also had one of the most dangerous jobs in the Army Air Corps, they flew aircraft towing targets for cadets and trainees to shoot live rounds at. The cadet pilots and trainee gunners had little to no experience flying their aircraft let alone shooting at a moving target. Less dangerous jobs included flying aircraft to locations throughout the United States for the lend/lease program for our allies to pick up during the war. These pilots were not militarized, they were not allowed to be a part of the militarized Air Corps. They were looked down upon by many higher ups and war pilots because they were civil service employees and not soldiers.

These pilots did not have a glamorous job, but were as important as those fighting the war. They were required to pay their own way to the bases they worked from, including their training sites. When they were killed they were not given the military burial. Their families were responsible for the cost of the burial if they died during their service and fellow pilots were known to take up a collection to have their bodies delivered to their families. Their coffins were not allowed to be draped with the American Flag, although some unofficially were done by family and friends. These pilots were an elite group of flyers that served their country with distinction. They did this duty because they wanted to fly and be a part of the success of the war effort.

Each of these pilots had a license. They were trained to be “Army Pilots”. Their training paralled the training of aviation cadets even though they were not trained for combat roles or to fly in formation. Even though they developed and tested attack angles and tactics, they did receive extensive instructions to maneuver the aircrafts and recover from just about any scenario. These pilots flew every aircraft imaginable even testing rocket propelled aircraft. The only difference between these pilots and other pilots was they were female. Micky was Mildred D. Tuttle-Axton, a female Civil Service pilot during WWII. During WWII over 25,000 women applied to be US pilots and only 1,830 were accepted with 1,074 continued on to be trained as Women’s Air force Service Pilots (WASP). Thirty eight female pilots lost their lives while doing their part for the war effort.

During WWII every American felt the pinch of the war. Everyone knew someone in the war. Every family felt the loss of a family member, friend or acquaintance. During WWII over 16.1 million men served in the armed forces. An estimated 276,000 females preformed non-combat roles with another 74,000 nurses. During the war there were food rations, gas rations, copper drives, steel drives and anything to help the war effort. During this time the industrial complex of the United States was at full capacity, everyone had a part to play including pilots at home. Where there were male test pilots, the women pilots freed men up to fly into battle.   

These women were not accepted during WWII. Women did not belong in the military unless they were nurses. Many men scoffed at women joining the Army or doing “men’s jobs”. It appeared our society was not ready for women to serve, but necessity prevailed and women finally became a part of the American WWII military war machine. Women have always joined the fight, many dressed as men during the US Civil war to serve their country, but to many men the military was no place for a woman. With the history of women being successful in the military it is hard to see why women in “battle” is such a controversial topic, they have always been there. Even with the backing of men such as General Eisenhower, Fleet Admiral Nimitz, and Air Corps General “Hap” Arnold backing the female WWII pilots our society still struggles with this to this day. Things are changing, a study in 2011 showed females represent 14% of the active duty force and 20% of new recruits. They also represent 5.5% of the veteran population.

It was not until November of 1977 that these female pilots were given veterans status. In May of 1979 the US Air Force issued its first honorable discharges for WASP pilots serving during WWII. The female Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guard, and Marines that serve today owe a great deal of admiration and respect of their foremothers. They were the original SHEROS that served our country with honor. As one WWII WASP stated, the aircraft does not notice the sex of the pilot, it notices good and bad pilots. I bet a rifle feels the same way, it knows a good shot from a bad one!

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

PTSD an Ongoing Challenge for Veterans

Luis is a 100 % disabled Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veteran with 2 combat tours. He joined the Army when he was 18 years old. He was sent to Iraq during his second year in the Army and served his 4 years before separating. He missed the military family and comradery so he joined the Army National Guard looking for what he was missing. While in the National Guard he was sent for a second tour to Iraq. During his second tour, he was injured in a firefight and received a purple heart for his physical wounds and diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). After Luis healed from his physical wounds he was medically separated from the National Guard and attempted to return to his civilian life. Once Luis returned to his civilian life he discovered that his life had drastically changed. Luis avoided crowds, public areas, and even found a temper he or his family did not know he had. Luis struggled to return to work because of his PTSD and soon lost his job because of his PTSD symptoms, mainly his temper. Because of the loss of his job Luis was in a constant battle with his family because he had to move in with them. Luis is presently going to college using his post 9-11 benefits hoping to gain skills where his disability will not be a problem. He has been struggling to keep his life together while feeling inadequate because of the loss of his job and being a 27 years old living with his parents.  He keeps asking himself if he can ever escape the fear of violence of his nightmares. The answer is yes, but it will take a lot of work and the ability to be vulnerable. Luis is trying to better his life but he has a long road ahead.  

We can usually see the physical injuries of our troops, what we can’t see is the hidden wounds. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has always been around and is a growing concern. Those that experience combat have a 3 fold increase in being diagnosed with PTSD. Some believe it is a normal reaction to a horrific event, some say it is only a disorder for the purpose of medical insurance billing. Unfortunately, PTSD exist and those who suffer from it have to work through their issues such as anger, nightmares, hyper- vigilance, disengagement from life, and some even commit suicide. Post-Traumatic Stress is not limited to veterans. Rape victims, car accidents, natural disasters, gang violence, and mass shootings also can cause PTSD. Not everyone who has been injured or witnessed a horrific event will get PTSD, however we are all one car accident, violent incident, or natural disaster away from getting PTSD ourselves under the right circumstances.

It is estimated that 30 to 35% of OEF/OIF veterans are suffering from PTSD. That percentage is expected to increase. Studies have shown the more combat tours one has increases the chance of PTSD manifesting. Presently 2 in 10 soldiers on their first or second combat deployment showed signs of mental illness. That rate increases to 3 in 10 for those on a third or fourth deployment. Because of the short duration of Desert Storm only 12% of veterans suffer from PTSD and time will tell if that number increases. Vietnam veterans have shown that PTSD can create problems as time passes. It is expected that PTSD diagnosis will gradually grow as Desert Storm and OEF/OIF veterans grow older.

Presently 30% of Vietnam veterans have PTSD. Major life events such as retirement or death of a loved one often trigger personal reassessment and forgotten memories. With the average age of Vietnam Veterans being 67 an increase in PTSD diagnosis is expected. Vietnam veterans returned home to a harsh reception and limited mental health options, they did not seek help due to the stigma of their war and mental health. Recent veterans have opened up a new way to look at mental health as Vietnam veterans are starting to retire. Those that suppressed PTSD for 40+ years while delving into their work are now seeking help because they are home all day where family members see their pain and grief. Veterans are often able to hide many of their symptoms because they had been focused on their work. Now they are retiring and the genie is out of the bottle. This kind of delayed trauma isn’t unusual for those that understand PTSD and how it manifests itself.

Present day Desert Storm and OEF / OIF veterans owe a gratitude to the Vietnam era veterans. A direct correlation can be drawn from the work Vietnam Veterans did in the 1970’s to a push for a PTSD diagnosis. Vietnam Veterans are the reason the VA has been focused on the PTSD issue. Thanks to the Vietnam veterans the hundreds of thousands of veterans that are having flashbacks, nightmares, and other debilitating mental health issues are getting the help they need. History is showing that PTSD diagnosis will increase as time goes on as veterans continue to retire. This is evidenced by the influx of Vietnam era veterans seeking help for PTSD. Keep track of the veterans you love and get them the help they need and deserve.   

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro. 

Veterans Spouses Need to Tell Their Stories

So often the spouses of veterans struggle to keep their lives together because of problems their veteran faces. These spouses deal with their veterans needs with little to no fanfare or appreciation. These spouses forgo their needs to tend to the needs of the veteran. Anyone who has been in the military understands that they are different. Those who live with veterans know that veterans have quirks others don’t have. No one who goes in the military comes out the same. These differences carry forward with the veteran after their service is completed and passes down to the families which can be a good or bad depending on the situation.

Living with veterans daily can be difficult, veterans can be stubborn. A veteran's needs can be different from civilians. Whether it's being on time, awareness of their surroundings, and being aware of where they are sitting in a restaurant can become a problem. Veterans do not like to sit with their back to the door so they can be aware of their surroundings. This can appear odd if you don’t know why they insist on sitting with their backs to the wall. Sitting in the middle of a crowded room is uncomfortable for veterans, they feel too vulnerable.

Some spouses are dealing with veterans who have mental and physical disabilities that become a part of their lives. These disabilities can lead to a hard and frustrating life for the whole family. Some spouses struggle to make tough decisions concerning the commitment to their relationships. For so many spouses it would be easier to walk away and not have to deal with the issues the military brought into their lives. Many veteran spouses stay in their relationships to their detriment because of loyalty, love, and living out the “for better or worse commitment” they made when they married.

Spouses who live with a veteran who has a physical disability struggle as they both age. Often the physical disabilities create a problem for the spouse because of their inability to physically do what is needed concerning the physical ailments of the veteran. The mental health aspect of veterans can linger for years and be torturous for a life time for spouses. Seeing your loved one struggle with mental health issues and not having the ability to help causes its own stress and frustration. Spouses struggle to understand why their loved ones are acting the way they do because of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or a multitude of other mental health issues brought on by military service. Some spouses must deal with both the physical and mental aspects of their veteran’s issues, when spouses reach out for help, usually to the VA, they hit a huge frustrating bureaucracy.   

Dealing with the VA is one of the most frustrating things any veteran or their spouse can deal with. I would say dealing with the VA is more frustrating for spouses because they don't have a lot of say on how their veteran is treated. Often regulations set by congress limit the amount of help the VA can give spouses. When it comes to mental health issues, especially PTSD, a spouse has little say in treatment. If a spouse of a veteran with PTSD goes to the VA and says, “you diagnosed my husband with PTSD and I need help, can you help me?”, the VA will tell them “no” unless the veteran is receiving treatment for PTSD themselves. It is well known veterans won't seek treatment because of the stigma and the perception the VA will just throw drugs at them and not deal with their issues. By the veteran not getting help with their PTSD it places their spouse in a tough situation. So often spouses feel they can’t stay in the relationship for their own sanity and they can’t go because they love and are committed to their relationship. What society needs to know is these spouses are taking on their burden by tending to these disabled veterans at no cost to society and a huge cost to their physical and mental wellbeing. Funding to provide spouses help for caring of disabled veterans should be a cost of war. That's why spouses need to speak up and tell their stories so they can get the help they deserve.

Spouses are the unseen heroes of the veteran community. Veterans spouses save the federal government billions of dollars by providing services that the VA and society should be paying for. Our society expects these spouses to be the good soldier and keep doing what they're doing even if it is hindrance to their health. These spouses need to start telling their stories so society can see what they're giving to the country. Without their voice, they’re taken for granted by society, the VA, and family members. I encourage spouses to speak up and tell their stories so they can get their just due and be labeled the heroes that they are.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com for tips on how to navigate the VA system and make your VA experience healthier and less frustrating. Like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

For local mental health counseling for spouses you can call

Victor Community Support Services

(Military Family Program)

222 East Main St

Barstow, Ca. 92311

(760) 255-1496

 www.victor.org

Christian Counseling Services (CCS)

(Military Family Program)

205 E. State Street

Redlands, CA 92373

909-793-1078

www.ccs-cares.org

Service Animals are Being Misused

My wife and I were in the grocery store a while ago. There was a veteran with a service dog, his dog approached us before the veteran approached. As we talked we discussed his dog and how he felt his dog had saved his life by helping him navigate naturally in society. We discussed his dog and our background serving veterans. He informed us of what we already suspected, he had PTSD. What we discovered was that the dog was securing the perimeter for the veteran to make him feel safe. The dog was obviously working because he would walk up to people and look back at the veteran and continue to evaluate the possibility of threats, it was amazing to see the dog work.

As we were standing in the checkout line, the veteran came to the checkout. The manager came to the veteran and told him he could not have the dog in the grocery store. The manager told the veteran the dog was scaring people because he was walking up to them and checking them out. The store manager was adamant but the veteran prevailed because the manager did not know the law concerning service dogs, and most people don’t because the law is so ambivalent. The Federal law states: “When it is obvious what a service animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff (or members of the public) may only ask two questions: (1) Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require documentation, require special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task”. To us it was obvious, but we have spent time around service animals.  

I am seeing more and more service animals than I used to. It used to be you didn’t see many around unless they were seeing eye dogs for the blind. There appears to be an increase in the use of service dogs and not all appear to be legitimate uses. With the increase of the use of service animal’s there has been an increase in complaints about them, whether it is on a plane, in a hotel, or at a restaurant. Often the employee or customer at the location doesn’t know or understand the rules concerning service animals. After researching the topic, I can see why there’s a lot of confusion. This confusion allows some people to misuse service animals to abuse the Americans with Disabilities Act in their favor.

Per the ADA “A service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability”. These animals are not pets. Service animals are highly trained and very expensive. The laws surrounding service animals appear to be vague, making attaining a registration and a service animal kit with a vest very easy. The federal government does not offer any official registration for service animals, therefore those who sell these items, usually on-line, are not vetted, allowing the owner of animals to be deceptive. This hurts anyone who needs a service animal by making people skeptical about whether the person needs the animal or not. This is a problem for all disabled Americans, especially veterans with non-visible wounds such as PTSD. 

I can tell if a service animal is a true service animal by the way it behaves. A service animal will not bark unless there is an issue. They are trained to urinate and defecate on demand. They will not become agitated at sitting in a room with all kinds of people and noises for hours. Service animals have extremely even temperaments and may take 20 months or more to be trained. They also can cost up to $18,000 or more depending on their training. A true service animal will be well behaved, are safe to be around other animals, people and even children.  Understand that the animal is on duty and working when they have their vest on.  Therefore, they should not be petted or distracted from their job. An animal that is aggressive in any way is not a true service animal and is a “fake” service animal.   

After all the research for this column I have discovered rules are in place for service animals, but for businesses it is a minefield to legally challenge someone if you believe they are misusing the service animal laws. The ambiguity of the laws hurts everyone who really needs their service dog. It is against the law for someone with a service animal to be denied services at restaurants, movie theatres, stores, and aircraft. Often people fake service animal’s credentials so their dog does not have to fly in the cargo hold while traveling. The Air Carrier Access Act requires airlines to allow service animals and emotional support animals to accompany their owners in the cabin of the aircraft. Individuals who are traveling with emotional support animal or psychiatric service animals may need to provide specific documentation to have the animal travel with them. Where this appears to be unlawful because the law stating no questions or documentation can be asked for, it is suggested that service dog owners should call ahead to check airline requirements before bringing their animal to the airport. This can save aggravation or the headache of a scene with the airline. Even though there are a lot of people abusing the system, it is best if you have documentation for a legitimate service dog to alleviate questions by those who do not know the law concerning service animals.  Clearer and more explicit laws would protect both the person who needs a service animal and businesses who have to navigate the laws and protect their establishment and public from “fake” service animals.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.

Is Self-employment a Key to Surviving PTSD?

Most veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) continue to work and have productive lives, but some suffer from work environments, surrounded by their triggers. These triggers severely limit their employment possibilities. Whether it’s crowds, loud noises, or certain people, some veterans struggle to have a career after their military service. PTSD is something many spouses, children, employers, and families do not understand. It might be in the best interest of the veterans and their families to consider having their own business allowing them to control their environment, thus controlling their PTSD symptoms.  

While working with veterans I noticed how often Vietnam veterans decided to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses. It was obvious to me that veterans with PTSD became self-employed because they needed to control their environment. Often PTSD symptoms cause stress to the veteran so they opted to not enter a 9 to 5 job and become self-employed. One veteran noted that he struggled being around other people because of his triggers and was in his best interest to be in control his environment and provide a good life for himself and his family.

All types of businesses can allow veterans to control their work area or environment if their self-employed. These veterans who decide to be self-employed have everything it takes to become successful. In the military, everyone's trained to have discipline, leadership skills, and how to make do with what they have. These skills can work well owning your own business. Veterans have a habit of making things happen when others feel they can't. I remember the old saying we had in the military “I have done so much with so little for so long I can now do anything with absolutely nothing”. In theatre and at home making do with what you have is a way of life and a skill that works when you are your own boss. This can give military veterans an upper hand when it comes to creating their own business.

One of the biggest keys to becoming your own boss when you have PTSD is the ability to hire people to do the tasks your PTSD prevents you from doing. If crowds bother you, you can hire someone to do your marketing. If you don't like going to events needed for your business, you can hire someone to do that also. If you struggle with customer service you can hire someone to do customer service. If you feel like you need to be in control of your environment you can set up your business to be PTSD friendly for you creating a safe environment you can function successfully in. There are so many benefits to having your own business and being in control of your environment, particularly when you suffer from PTSD.

One of the things I see growth for veterans is in online business. There are so many opportunities on-line where a veteran can work from home and control their environment. This gives them the freedom to control everything they need to be successful, most importantly their surroundings. Where the newer generation of veteran has an upper hand on the Vietnam era veterans is the ability to utilize computers. Most older veterans are not computer savvy enough to create an on-line business. Most of today's veterans have been raised with a computer and know the ins and outs of how to utilize social media to market their business to help their business thrive.

I challenge veterans who suffer from PTSD to start their own business if they are struggling to find or maintain a job. Being self-employed is a way for the veteran and their family to use all the skills they have learned during their time in the military to become successful. By utilizing the perseverance and can-do attitude taught in the military you can become a successful entrepreneur. By owning your own business, you can control your life and triggers that surround your PTSD. Don't let people say you can't do something because of your PTSD. If nothing else prove them wrong and become successful in your own endeavors. If you need you can utilize some of the government agencies who offer loans and grants for veterans to start their businesses. Put yourself out there and become the person you've always wanted to be by becoming your own boss. Don’t let PTSD control your life, use it as a catalyst to own your own business.

For questions or comments, I can be reached at afterdutyvets@gmail.com or visit our website at marriedtoptsdpro.com and like us on Facebook at Married to PTSD Pro.