Andrew's Story Challenger

“At first life at home was fine but then in 2001 I started having a bad time but I didn’t know why. I couldn’t sleep or I was jumping awake (I know now that it related to the times when I nearly died during my time in the Navy).

“I became a workaholic, exhausting myself with very long days so there was no option but to sleep. I kept this up for 15, 16 years – my then wife used to say I was like a caged animal on holiday.

“Eventually I was forced to take a month off – I was bone tired, edgy, irritable, annoyed at the slightest thing. I was divorced by this point from my wife and then I split up from my partner. I became homeless – I ended up sleeping in a steel container as that was the only place available. I couldn’t face going out, crowds – which had always been a problem – were now an even bigger problem. I used to go shopping at 4am. I was shaking like a leaf all the time. I was suicidal.

“In 2016 it was The Royal British Legion who suggested I contact Combat Stress. It was hellish hard to call the Helpline – I didn’t want to ask for help. All veterans are taught to be self-reliant but there was no other option, I needed help.

“After calling the Helpline a meeting was arranged for me with one of the community psychiatric nurses in Birmingham (at The Royal British Legion Pop In Centre). This was so difficult for me – in fact, I passed out in the street as I made my way to the meeting but when I came round, I managed to walk to the meeting and I burst into tears when I met the nurse.

“I was so relieved that someone believed me. Before I’d felt so alone and that I’d let everyone down.”

Andrew undertook the Combat Stress PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme in January 2017.

“I spent almost 20 years not knowing what was wrong but through my treatment I’ve learnt how the brain works and why it does what it does. The breathing and meditation techniques I learnt at Combat Stress have also really helped me.

“I know now that during my service there wasn’t the time and I didn’t have the inclination to talk about what was happening. I was always so resilient, putting myself into dangerous situations. I was trained to react and spring into action to get the job done and that’s what I used to do. I should have died numerous times but I didn’t give in. What kept me alive then became the cause of my troubles later in life.

“But thanks to Combat Stress, I’m getting my life back bit by bit as opposed to seeing it disappear.”