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It's a service dog, but its a trigger

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It's a service dog, but its a trigger

Postby minotauros » Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:56 pm

There is a dog at the shelter, it looks just like the pitbull that attacked me. It's hard to deal with. I haven't said anything to anyone at the shelter yet. Though I'm on edge. The lady has it because she has epilepsy, its a service dog, and it appears well behaved. Though I'm having trouble trying to keep the thought of it nipping at me and attacking me out of my head.

I don't know what to do. Because there is nothing they really can do, the dog isn't misbehaving, am I to just suffer? It's frustrating and wearing me down. I now have to sit against the wall, as if I don't, I have to stand. I need to have my eyes on the dog at all times. It's hard. It's a trigger for me.

I don't know how to deal with it. The pit bull I dealt with was skinny and maltreated by its owner, this one is not. So its not the dog that is the problem, I keep telling myself this. Though its causing me anxiety nonetheless.
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Re: It's a service dog, but its a trigger

Postby WiseMonkey » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:12 am

I gather from your post that you work at that shelter, is it correct? Can you ask the staff to let you work in some other room so you wouldn't have to see this pitbull every day? Tell them that it's temporary until the dog gets adopted. I don't know if this is possible as I don't know the shelter's set up. I've heard this kind of PTSD responds well to EMDR.
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Re: It's a service dog, but its a trigger

Postby minotauros » Fri Feb 01, 2013 3:10 pm

WiseMonkey wrote:I gather from your post that you work at that shelter, is it correct? Can you ask the staff to let you work in some other room so you wouldn't have to see this pitbull every day? Tell them that it's temporary until the dog gets adopted. I don't know if this is possible as I don't know the shelter's set up. I've heard this kind of PTSD responds well to EMDR.

I've spent time elsewhere avoiding the dog until the lady left the shelter. I did talk to her a few times. To try to conquer the fear. It didn't do much in terms of conquering it. I reside at the shelter currently. I'm homeless.
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Re: It's a service dog, but its a trigger

Postby WiseMonkey » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:55 pm

Sorry..I wouldn't advice you to continue to try to conquer your fear. It doesn't work with PTSD. I am afraid you will have to avoid being around this particular type of dog for a long time until you are able to get some treatment. So, try to figure out what your options are. May be it'd worth finding some other place to reside..I don't know..I don't know your exact situation..
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Re: It's a service dog, but its a trigger

Postby minotauros » Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:59 pm

WiseMonkey wrote:Sorry..I wouldn't advice you to continue to try to conquer your fear. It doesn't work with PTSD. I am afraid you will have to avoid being around this particular type of dog for a long time until you are able to get some treatment. So, try to figure out what your options are. May be it'd worth finding some other place to reside..I don't know..I don't know your exact situation..

I'm still at the shelter but she left it. Yeah, I see what you're saying. I tried conquering it the way I did my fear of insects but it wasn't the same. Though I am getting treatment.
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