Veteran Josh Walker of 101st Airborne questioned PTSD existence for six years before seeking treatment
Article by Ken Budd, courtesy of HumanAnimalBond.org
Before his dog Baxter changed his life, Josh Walker was suffering from night terrors. In 2005, Walker was deployed to Iraq as a cavalry scout in the 101st Airborne, enduring ambushes and firefights. The nightmares started when he returned home, along with hallucinations, fits of anger, and fear. Heâd slam on the brakes when he was driving, thinking a roadside object was an IED. It took him six years to accept that he was suffering from PTSD, despite the concerns of his fiancĂ© and family. But denial, he says, is common for many combat veterans.âIf somebody I respect could accept it, maybe there was some truth to this PTSD thing.â
âIf youâre suffering from PTSD, it means you werenât strong enough.â
âYouâre trained that if something is wrong with youâphysically, mentally, spiritually, emotionallyâthen youâre worthless to the unit,â says Walker, 34. âSo if youâre suffering from PTSD, your mentality is that you canât admit it because it means you werenât strong enough.âThe well-meaning reactions of people at home can also be problematic. âPeople buy you drinks and pat you on the back and thank you for your service,â he says. âSo for you to say, âIâm actually struggling really bad, Iâm not sleeping, Iâve got anger issues, stress, depressionââit feels like it would devalue your contribution and sacrifice.â
His attitude finally changed when he read a blog by a Special Forces combat veteran about his service dog and his experiences with PTSD. âI thought, âIf somebody I respect could accept it, maybe there was some truth to this PTSD thing.ââ He eventually entered a pilot program at West Virginia Universityâwhere he was taking classesâfor PTSD service dog training. Thatâs how he met Baxter, the Golden Retriever who changed his life.
