Seed NewsvineAlways listening. Triggered by every sound. Every movement. Fight or flight? Check. Double check. Adrenaline explosion. A flash in the distance. Friend or foe? Message or warning? Heart pounding. Always scanning. Always on high alert. Screaming silence. Moments of sleep shattered by night terrors. Nervous system overload becomes the norm; emotional and physical exhaustion becomes a way of life.
Veterans, who have experienced
physical and emotional trauma, call this just another day that ends in
“Y”. No matter how it is labeled, the
trauma they experienced affects every aspect of their life until the core issue
has been addressed and healed.
Medication masks symptoms; however, they are highly addictive and never resolve
the real source of the pain. Talk
therapy has mixed results. Civilians simply don’t understand the military mindset. Peer-support, while more effective, is more
difficult to find.
While in service, personnel
are told to suck it up and just get over it.
It’s part of the culture. To show
weakness, especially during combat, makes the person a liability to the sisterhood
and brotherhood. While in service, the
shared experience gives courage and comfort to the whole unit. Yet, after separation, that mindset becomes a
liability as the camaraderie vanishes and is replaced by isolation.
Yet, there are ways for veterans
to rebuild their lives and reclaim that support system that doesn’t involve
addictive drugs with horrible side effects. Equine therapy is an effective
healing methodology that has been around for decades. As with all therapy animals, horses are
chosen for their temperament and intelligence.
Working with horses provides comfort and support as they help the
handler actively restructure their emotional responses and strengthen their bodies.
Horses' innate ability to
sense the handler’s emotions provides real-time biofeedback. They can hear and match a person’s heartbeat
from nearly four feet away. The horses reflect back the handler’s emotional
state. If the handler is relaxed and calm, the horse will be as well. However, if the handler is emotional—angry,
frustrated, or afraid, the horse will become anxious. However, instead of becoming aggressive, they
will shy away, run, or refuse to cooperate.
This real-time feedback helps the handler understand and work through
their triggers. The mission is to remain
calm and focused in the moment so that the horse will trust the person enough
to interact with them. In this way, working with horses helps the handler stay
focused on the present moment.
For many people, equine
therapy evokes images of riding horses. However, this is not always the
case. There are two primary equine
therapy methodologies: EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association)
and PATH International. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship
International). Both are national and
international organizations that set standards that each associated equine
center must meet to be certified by the organization. Horses are never ridden at Eagla therapy
centers. The focus remains on the boots-on-the-ground interaction between the
veterans and horses. However, the PATH-certified
programs offer both riding and non-riding programs. Both programs heal emotional and physical challenges. Riding a horse uses the same muscles a person
uses to walk, which strengthens the body, while motivating the mind into
forward thinking. As part
of the certification process, the program must be associated with a state-certified
counselor with a master's in mental health and have a hands-on equine
certification.
Equine centers can be found in
most states, mostly in rural or semi-rural areas. As non-profit organizations, they offer the
therapy free to veterans. However, they
are limited as to how many veterans they are able to help by their fundraising capabilities. In these financially challenging times, the
centers have been doubly hit by the increasing costs to care for their horses
and the reduction of funding, especially from the VA. Donating to local centers helps veterans while
providing yourself with good karma points and a tax deduction.
To find the closest center, visit
Horses and Heroes’ website. It has direct
links to both the EAGALA and PATH websites.
Please click on the link below.
https://www.kaleidoscopefilmandtelevision.com/horsesandheroes
The unscripted documentary TV
series, Horses and Heroes, combines the highly effective Peer Support Therapy
with Equine Therapy. Unlike most in the unscripted genre, it will focus on
healing and positive growth rather than endorsing bad behavior. Each season
will bring together veterans from World War II to the current conflicts. They
will share their challenges and support each other as they find new solutions
to their physical and emotional challenges. They know the talk because they
have walked the walk. They see the dodges and will be able to call each other
on them. Sparks may fly. Tempers may flare, especially when they force each
other to face their ghosts. But there will also be laughter and fun as they
rebuild the camaraderie, which kept them safe and strong during their time of
service. The snarkiness and practical jokes between the branches don't simply
end. There is always room for just one more prank. This interaction will help
them rebuild that sense of brotherhood and sisterhood, which will help them
reclaim their civilian lives. When it airs, it will reach the veterans, who
need to hear that they are not alone and give them information as well as the
permission they need to also heal. They will help each other find their way
back to the World. Veterans can’t go back and make a brand new start, but they
can start from now and make a brand new end.
#veterans #EAGALA #PATH #HorsesandHeroes
#TheresaChaze #KaliedoscopeFilmandTelevision, #equinetherapy
#PeerSupportTherapy #hiringveterans #PTSD #support
