Being attacked by a dog often results in a myriad of physical complications, which may include everything from lacerations and bleeding to broken bones. What’s often overlooked, though, is the range of psychological issues that a person may develop after a dog attack.
Depression
Depression is a common mental illness from which a person attacked by a dog may suffer, and is more common if the person has suffered a debilitating or disfiguring injury. For example, a person who’s broken a leg due to a dog attack may feel depression about her inability to participate in enjoyable activities; or a person who suffered a noticeable scar from a dog bite may feel depressed about his disfigurement.
Fear and Anxiety
It is not uncommon for those attacked by a dog to experience fear and anxiety after the attack. In some cases, people will experience fear when interacting with dogs in the future – this can be especially true if the attack victim was a child. In addition to fear, a child or adult who is the victim of a dog attack may have anxiety about minor activities that could potentially include dogs, such as walking around the block.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect a victim after a frightening event, such as a dog attack. People struggling with PTSD may experience a variety of stress-related events.
- Flashbacks related to the incident
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty sleeping
- Irritability
- Nightmares
Each case is different and the patients may exhibit varying symptoms. PTSD can take years of therapy to treat and can be crippling for the patient suffering from it.
If you know anyone displaying any of these conditions please talk to someone things are not always what they seem....
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