When Do Routines Cross That Line WNL (Within normal limits) vs. OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). I just finished reading a fascinating book called ‘The Possibility Dogs’ by Susannah Charleston. It’s a true story about a Search and Rescue canine handler who, after being inspired by her own dog’s participation in her own healing from PSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disease) after a traumatic search and rescue experience, learns to identify abandoned dogs with service potential, oftentimes plucking them from shelters at their very last minute of hope. She ultimately learned from these ‘Unadoptables’ about service, hope and healing. Ms. Charleston focuses on psychiatric diseases in the training of these dogs where the disabilities may be ‘invisible’ to the naked eye but are as significant as any ‘medical’ disability in those afflicted. There are, of course, people in the service dog arena who don’t feel that psychiatric service dogs are truly ‘serving’. The definition of ‘disability’ is at the crux of the issue. There will always be dissent, unfortunately. Some of the psychiatric conditions she trains dogs to assist with are panic or anxiety attacks, severe depression and obsessive compulsive disorders (going back over and over again to see if the front door is locked, the same to make sure the stove is off, and checking over and over again that the windows are locked. Repetitive behaviors. She teaches the dogs to recognize and disrupt behaviors. Facinating animals and handlers. Of course it ‘got me to thinking’ about my behaviors. Am I OCD? Probably a little, although I don’t have any repetitive behaviors in my repertoire ... but I do like things a certain way. I can live with that. I am easily distracted but, once again, I can still be productive and I’m OK with my distractions. Kinda enjoy them, actually. What I came up with is simplistic. If your habits suit you and don’t make you uncomfortable, you’re just fine. You’re never going to please the world. However, if your behaviors begin to interfere with your day to day activities and ultimately limit your productivity, affect your physical health and significantly sadden your state of mind, you just may have a problem. We all have our quirks and patterns of behavior, especially as we ‘mature’, but if you can continue to live a life, comfortably, you’re doing just fine. For those who feel imprisoned, a psych service dog may just be the ticket. I don’t particularly like the term ‘psych service dog’ but that is what they’re referred to in the book and the dogs don’t seem to mind! Its us humans who tend to get stuck on the insignificant little things ... For those who love dogs and love to read, put this one on your list. You never know … you may be able to pass this information on to someone who might benefit from this type of companion one day. At the very least you’ll come away from it smiling from the inside out in awe of our canine friends …. “Dogs are our link to paradise. They dont know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.” ~ Milan Kundera
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 06:43:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015