The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dog helping Chris to cope with PTSD
It is often said dogs are a man’s best friend, but the relationship Chris Buswell has with his two-year-old golden retriever, Lyn, means so much more.
Four years ago, Chris, a former Army medic, suffered the sudden death of his son, Angus, triggering not only grief, but also post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from his time working overseas.
As well as providing the companionship and routine enjoyed by most dog owners, Lyn supports Chris when he is at his lowest, having been trained to comfort the 50- year- old during periods of anxiety and depression – and, despite having Lyn in his life for only 18 months, Chris admits he now cannot imagine a time without her.
“Lyn is a stabilising presence for me, and definitely gives me purpose,” said Chris, who lives near Pe t e r h e a d , Aberdeenshire, with his wife Karla, 51, and is also dad to Abigail, 25.
“I suffer from anxiety and depression, and my anxiety levels just plummeted as soon as I got Lyn.
“When you stroke a dog, you feel relaxed and your blood pressure goes down. She’s also been trained to cuddle me on command, so if I’m having a flashback, I just say the word ‘cuddle’ and she wraps her paws around my shoulders and snuggles right into my neck. She’s a reassuring, warm presence who has brought fun and joy into our lives again.”
Lyn was provided by Bravehound, an East Dunbartonshire-based charity that provides support dogs for former service personnel and their families.
Although not stationed in war zones during his time with the Armed Forces, as an Army medic Chris was often the first responder to accidents and emergencies, which led him to witness horrific scenes.
At the time, he coped by busying himself with family and work life. However, the loss of Angus, who took his own life at 22, brought up Chris’ decades-old trauma, and he began to struggle with PTSD.
He said: “T he worst experience I had was in Cyprus, where a fighter jet crashed. The navigator and pilot died, and seeing that was quite a challenge.
“That stayed with me for a long time. I knew that I had some form of PTSD because I would have nightmares and flashbacks.
“It’s typical that the average soldier, airman and even ambulance paramedic can experience PTSD five years later, in my case it was 20 years.”