Thursday, 17 March 2016
Thursday, 10 March 2016
We love our Momma!!!
There is nothing like the love and devotion of the Boerboel - this is how I start every morning with 3 boerboele sleeping next to me or laying on me.
Sunday, 6 March 2016
PTSD and the Boerboel
The Boerboel breed can help human trafficking survivors heal of PTSD
Many human trafficking survivors have been traumatised by their experiences. While the majority struggle with their experiences, most will not go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that develops as a result of a traumatic experience and involves symptoms of vigilance (i.e., being extra alert and aware of surroundings); numbness (i.e., having difficulty feeling emotions), and re-experiencing (i.e., flashbacks and nightmares).
There are evidence-based treatments for PTSD that work. These include behavioural therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy or exposure therapy and medication therapies. Treatments have demonstrated success, yet there is no cure for PTSD. Many individuals in treatment work through their symptoms so that they are no longer severely impacted by them. Yet, symptoms sometimes flare up again in the future.
Much of my work deals with individuals who have had difficulty accessing treatment and working with the institutions designed to help them. Some of the difficulties are self-imposed (For i.e., it can be hard to admit that you are struggling and need help. It can be even harder to admit that someone who was never human trafficked could help with symptoms developed in human trafficking situations.) Some of the difficulties accessing care are about the system.
For years, animals have been used with great benefit in the treatment of the aged and the terminally ill. Now Animal Assisted Therapy is benefitting sufferers of PTSD. Nevertheless, the healing process for PTSD has continued to be prolonged and lonely. This explains why doctors are enthusiastic about the positive results they are seeing with the relatively new treatment of PTSD through animal- assisted therapy.
Pets reduce stress, reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system and promote exercise. Now to that list can be added - help PTSD patients to reduce their symptoms.
As a survivor of human trafficking myself, I'm starting to hear a new theme .... the South African Boerboel .....
Here are some reasons why the Boerboel might help individuals with PTSD.
A Boerboel is vigilant
Anyone who has ever had a nightmare knows that a Boerboel in the room provides information. They immediately let you know if you are really in immediate danger or if you have just had a nightmare. This extra layer of vigilance mimics the buddy system. You are not alone. You can ease your mind searching for data in the environment because you know the Boerboel is doing it for you.
A Boerboel is protective
Someone is there to have your back.A Boerboel responds well to authoritative relationships
Many human trafficking survivors return from their traumatic experiences and have difficulty functioning in their relationships. They are used to giving and getting orders. This usually doesn't work well in the typical South African home. A Boerboel love it!
A Boerboel loves unconditionally
Many human trafficking survivors return from their traumatic experiences and have difficulty adjusting to their community. Sometimes they realise that the skills they learned and used weren't transferable or respected in their community. This can be devastating. A Boerboel does not play any of these games. A Boerboel just love.
A Boerboel helps relearn trust
Trust is a big issue in PTSD. It can be very difficult to feel safe in the world after certain experiences, and being able to trust the immediate environment can take some time. A Boerboel help heals by being trustworthy.
A Boerboel helps to remember feelings of love
The world can look pretty convoluted after human trafficking. I spoke to a human trafficking survivor recently who bought a puppy. She did not want the puppy sleeping on her bed so she bought her puppy an expensive puppy bed. She was thrilled to introduce the bed to her new puppy and was outraged when the puppy ate it. She yelled at the puppy and disciplined him. She then told me that she sat down feeling miserable about yelling at the puppy and her puppy eating the bed. Her puppy came up beside her and licked her face. She turned and looked at the puppy and said, "What are you licking me for? I am mad at you!" The puppy wagged his tail and licked her again. And she felt love.
A Boerboel requires attention
They are dependent upon someone for their food, for their grooming, and, often, for their exercise. For the human trafficking survivors troubled by recurring thoughts of a traumatising experience, it is helpful to have an animal near at hand which requires the focus to be shifted away from self and toward them and their needs.
A Boerboel is a wonderfully accepting creature
Unlike humans, a Boerboel is not at all prejudiced toward differences among people. Relationally speaking, the Boerboel neither notices nor cares if the human has been handicapped or is in some way impaired. The use of prostheses, wheelchairs, or crutches holds no attached meaning for a Boerboel.
For the PTSD patient, a Boerboel is the ever-affectionate friend determined to give and receive comfort and attention. In the case of a Boerboel, they are the warm body that curls up beside you when life, or your past, threatens to overwhelm you.
The results of Animal Assisted Therapy in the treatment of PTSD patients has seen significant results. In one study of the effect of dogs with patients, psychologists noted an 82% reduction in symptoms. One particular case noted that interacting with the dog for as little as one week, enabled a patient to decrease the amount of anxiety and sleep medications by half.
Please visit our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/freetraumacounselling and read more how you can help with Free Trauma Counselling Sessions for victims and survivors of rape, abuse and voice. Lets make a difference!
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