How does EAL promote change in coping with PTSD and contribute to personal resilience?

 

Research: those coping with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) undergo decline in anxiety and stress by their interaction with horses.

The presence of horses has a calming effect which enables the participants to connect to their feelings in a safe environment.

Improvement of emotional regulation which is vital in coping with the feelings of detachment.

 

Horse characteristics:

• Non judgmental companionship. Horses do not analyze us or doubt stories they stand quietly and accept us for who we are.

• Mirror our emotions – the horses reflect what we undergo unconsciously, our anxieties our fears our tranquility.

• Horses are constantly reacting to us. The feedback that is transferred to the person enables him to regulate his emotions.

• Here and now – horses live in the here and now they react to us in a given time. Each change in our behavior or emotions will evoke a different reaction from the horse. Thus, the soldier will be able to renew his emotional resilience and to check in real time if it is successful.