For veterans Rachel Hughes and Michael Deardorff, relief from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the physical toll of serving in the military was somewhat unexpectedly relieved by a four-legged friend.
Hughes, an Army veteran, and Deardorff, who served in the Marine Corps, both received service dogs through Dogs, Inc., a company providing highly trained companion dogs to veterans.
Hughes, who retired as a master sergeant after 22 years in the Army, was matched with Byner in 2023. The dog not only helps Hughes manage her PTSD, but he also gives her motivation to get out of bed each morning and enjoy life.
Serving as a counterterrorism specialist, Hughes was deployed to three wars in the Middle East. Following the Army, Hughes joined law enforcement as a hostage negotiation lead.
Talk about pressure. And trauma.
“Being a soldier and training to become a police officer brought together two passions that had lived in me for years. I wasn’t just learning to defend a nation, I was learning to uphold law and order. Discipline met justice. Structure met purpose,” Hughes told Military.com. “It was where discipline hardened into resilience, where fear gave way to confidence, and where a young woman learned she was capable of far more than she ever imagined.”
But Hughes’s PTSD was unrelenting, causing nightmares, sleep issues and persistent anxiety. The ripple effect caused relationship problems.
“I was in a very deep black space, and my psychiatrist mentioned a service dog,” she said. “I also saw a documentary on service dogs on TV. I decided that I needed to try getting a service dog for me.”
Meeting Byner lifted the Army veteran’s spirits almost instantly.
“I was so full of joy. I cried because I felt something deep as I sat loving on this big bundle of fur. It was like he was made for me,” Hughes said. “Byner calms me and grounds me. He makes me laugh, and he loves me as I do him. I can be so anxious, and Byner will just calm me by being there. He doesn’t judge me; he just loves me.”
Hughes believes service dogs can improve mental health in ways veterans don’t often consider, offering support, comfort and a reliable cuddly buddy.
“Byner has helped me tremendously reduce my anxiety and stress. He has given me so much love and compassion and has made PTSD easier to manage,” Hughes said. “I hope this message can get to a veteran in need and help them to choose a path out of loneliness and darkness.”
Ryan to the Rescue
As a Marine Corps veteran, Mike Deardorff wrestled with bouts of anxiety and depression that his wife didn’t even know about.
But it all became too much when one of Mike’s closest friends died. He grew increasingly overwhelmed.
However, a chance encounter with a service dog from Dogs Inc. while grocery shopping was the push Deardorff needed to get some help. He applied for a dog and was matched with Ryan, a yellow lab, in 2020.
It was love at first paw.
Deardorff regained his confidence, independence and ability to face everyday life. Traits he developed in spades as a Marine Corps captain. In some ways, Ryan saved his life, and he sings the praises of Dogs Inc. whenever he can.
“Service dogs save and transform lives by recognizing the early signs of anxiety and interrupting the behavior before it escalates. This helps prevent panic attacks and keeps the symptoms of PTSD more manageable,” Deardorff told Military.com. “They also help veterans re-engage with the world, as going to a store, being in a crowd, or even just leaving the house can feel overwhelming. Having a service dog provides a sense of security and confidence that makes those situations possible again.”
Deardorff served in the Corps from 1994-2004. In 2003, his unit, C Squadron, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, was the first to enter Basra, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The opportunity and responsibility to lead Marines into battle was both the most challenging and rewarding aspect of Deardorff’s career.
“The trust placed in you is immense, and you’re making decisions that can have serious consequences, including the potential loss of life,” Deardorff said. “My time as an officer forced me to grow as a leader and gave me experience I couldn’t have gained anywhere else. That mix of responsibility and reward is what made it the most meaningful part of my military career.”
Following his deployment to Iraq, it didn’t take long for PTSD to set in. Deardorff felt a panic attack coming while riding home from the airport after returning to U.S. soil.
“Unfortunately, the hypervigilance that kept me alive overseas also returned home with me, and it stayed with me long after I left the Marine Corps,” he said. “I was always in a heightened state of awareness, constantly scanning my surroundings for threats that didn’t exist, and I was unable to relax.”
Pleasant feelings that once caused Deardorff happiness and joy vanished. He avoided public spaces.
“The hypervigilance also made it difficult to sleep, and my sleep pattern resembled combat naps. I was running on fumes, and it affected every aspect of my life both personally and professionally,” Deardorff said. “I became more withdrawn, easily frustrated, and had a difficult time adjusting to civilian life.”
The Marine veteran tried to push through the pain for 15 years until finally seeking help through a therapist, who diagnosed him with PTSD, and through meeting Ryan, who transformed his life.
“When we’re together, he helps keep me grounded and present in the moment, and I’m able to enjoy hobbies and activities that I used to overthink,” Deardorff said. “He often recognizes changes in me before I even realize what’s happening and will interrupt that buildup of anxiety before it turns into an emotional spiral.”
He encourages veterans to not wait years to receive mental health treatment and be open to alternative forms of therapy.
“Unwinding 15 years of denial has been a significant process, and while I’m far better today than I was just a few years ago, I wish I would have started sooner,” he said. “I encourage others to learn from my experience. If you have PTSD, or know someone who may be struggling, I strongly encourage seeking help and exploring treatment options, regardless of what that looks like.”
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