Hi!
My name is Lydia, I'm 30 and I was diagnosed with PTSD in my early twenties.
When I was young, about 7 or 8, I think, my mom got married and we moved to Colorado, my step father, at the time, started testing the waters with me. He slowly began taking things further and starting to switch between gift giving and threats, afterwards. I was so scared, i stayed quiet and suffered in silence.
This was not the last of the sexual assault in my life, unfortunately.
I struggle to sleep because of night terrors, sometimes even sleepwalking. I have panic attacks, I'm afraid of crowds, strangers and even leaving my house for long, being touched is difficult sometimes and i disassociate.
Years later I started to show all these symptoms of PTSD. I've been in therapy and been medicated for many years as well.
A few years ago my psychiatrist told me I needed a service dog and i panicked....
I didn't know how I was ever going to afford that. I thought I could train my currant dog and even started to, working with him for the last few years, but after a while it became clear that he just wouldn't qualify, sadly.
I have started doing more research, looking into more training programs and found one that can help that comes with a lower price tag.
The program I'm looking to go with at this point, will help me get the right dog and wants me to be part of the training the whole way. This helps the dog and I bond, ensuring the dog can read me even better.
Asking for help is hard and was not my first choice.....but if you can, I would be forever greatful.
