Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); military personnel suffer a greater number of tragic or life threatening events that cause reactions such as flash backs, upsetting memories of the event, increased jumpiness, or trouble sleeping.
I found a solution to help me 20 years ago and that is horseback riding. Initially, I did not recognize horseback riding as a form of therapy for PTSD. I soon learned that my personal wellbeing was directly affected.
I have found that interaction with “Tommy,” a quarter horse, helps me feel more relaxed. When connecting with Tommy, he is all I focus on and my problems seem to go away.
Over the years I have found riding to be relaxing and if not riding, just grooming him changes my focus. Each time I return home, my wife notices that I am calmer and even humorous at times.
William R. Graser, Author Veterans’ Reflections
The information below is a great source on how the Veterans Administration is helping Veterans with PTSD.
Reining in PTSD with Equestrian Therapy
See more at: http://www.va.gov/health/newsfeatures/2014/September/Reining-In-PTSD-With-Equestrian-Therapy.asp#sthash.zIlRaqah.dpuf
Link to blog post:
https://veteransreflections.wordpress.com/2016/06/17/june-is-ptsd-awareness-month/
I was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and the second oldest of seven children. Two of my brothers and one sister served in the US Armed Forces. My oldest brother Bob, served in the US Navy; my younger brother Howard served in the US Army, and my oldest sister Doris served in the US Navy. My father served with the US Merchant Marines during World War II. I was recruited by the US Army Security Agency in 1965. My assignments included Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, occupied West Berlin, and the US Army Security Agency’s headquarters at Arlington Hall Station, Arlington, Virginia. I earned the Army of Occupation Medal and was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal for my service in West Berlin. Because of my past assignments – and the hundreds of men I met along the way, I decided to write a book focused on the personal accounts of former veterans. These veterans served during World War II, the Cold War, Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War, the Korean DMZ Conflict also known as the Quiet War, and Operations Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan).
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