A Marine got a life-changing gift for Christmas: A puppy who will help him with his PTSD.
Peter Coukoulis, a Marine veteran, has suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He served in the Marines, but the transition back to civilian life was difficult because of his PTSD. The then-26-year-old was getting treatment for the condition.
A few weeks before Christmas 2016, Coukoulis received a very special early Christmas gift. While sitting at home and surrounded by family, Coukoulis was given a large box to open. Inside the box? Well, you have to watch the moment for yourself.
https://rumble.com/embed/u7gve.veow2/
Coukoulis' reaction was priceless, and it's evident that the puppy absolutely adores him, even though she's only met him for about ten seconds. We bet that these two will become best friends.
Dogs can help people deal with conditions such as PTSD. Specially trained service dogs perform actual services, like stepping between a person and a stressful situation or alerting a person when they are becoming upset. But emotional support dogs, which do not need the specialized training of service dogs, can also help to keep people calm. Pets naturally help to relieve stress, and an emotional support dog can be a reassurance and a calming force in a person's life.
This puppy is the best present that Coukoulis could have received.
This article was originally published December 25, 2016.
