Hi there Cry -
Sorry to hear a bit about your story. I noticed no one has responded to your post so wanted to check in on you.
It is possible you have PTSD. This forum is not a resource for diagnosis, but you are certainly welcome to share and sort through the feelings you're having on here.
Emotional service dogs are a viable option. Some states even recognize psychological service dogs and their handlers (that is to say, you) get the full rights of anyone else with a physical disability that is accommodated by a service pet.

Just a note for you - when sharing about specifics of trauma the community members will write TW or Trigger Warning in the title of their post. This helps people to know there's a potential trigger in the post and therefore decide whether they are in a good enough place to handle that.

Feel free to continue reaching out here. And certainly, if you're feeling that the anxiety may be an indication of PTSD or another anxiety disorder, look in your community for a mental health provider that can help you sort through and provide you with a diagnosis.

Best to you,
XF

Hi Cry. Welcome to the forum. I'll add my voice to the choir about letting the doctors diagnose. We are just patients here. We will be happy to answer personal experience questions, but we leave the diagnosing to the trained specialists.

I have relied on emotional support from animals since . . . Forever? I even travel with my dogs. Yea, it is a hassle to travel with an animal, but it is worth the effort. It has been suggested that I register my current dog (my avi pict) as a service animal to make the travel a little easier, but I haven't yet. For emotional support, I don't quite see the sense in using the official service dog network. I like bonding with them as babies and/or bonding with the dogs who wander into my life on their own. Seems to me that letting somebody else train them would weaken the bonding potentials. I believe it is hard to beat a dog on natural emotional support.

These have actually been helpful. So thanks. And I'll have to do some more research.
Cry

Those trained specialists have not only done that research, they have the professional detachment and supervised training that helps them see the proverbial big picture a little more clearly. When I attempt to research my own illness, it is all to easy to misinterpret symptoms. A talk with a doctor could be an excellent research stop.

Please feel free to keep asking questions and/or sort the confusions of your trauma here.

Hi and Welcome Cry..... A psychiatrist can diagnose what is going on with you and whether it's PTSD.... Your GP could refer you to one
There is a lot online about the signs and symptoms of PTSD and complex PTSD
You've been through a lot..... I'm glad you found us.... This is a great group.... Big hug

http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/symptoms_of_ptsd.asp