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road to recovery
Early on in his career in the Army, a traumatic incident hugely affected Peter. He says Combat Stress saved his life.
Early on, I served in Northern Ireland and had to deal with a riot, suffering an injury which meant I was sent home. It was such a shock. I started to really struggle with crowds. Because of my injuries, I moved to the Regimental Police handling security, then left the Army in 2001.
“When I left the military, friends and family said I was different. I was getting into fights, drinking too much.
"I saw a film where someone had PTSD and I realised all the symptoms were mine. I tried to get help from my GP and was referred to a mental health specialist, but I didn’t feel he really understood. He didn’t ask about my being a veteran. In 2017, I remember coming downstairs one day and telling my wife I felt empty. I couldn’t stop crying.
“My doctor said I was having a severe mental breakdown and if it hadn’t been for my wife and mother supporting me, I would have been sectioned."
"The GP put me in contact with Combat Stress and a nurse immediately put me at ease."
The power of peer support
"During my treatment, I had group therapy, one-to-one therapy and I used the Peer Support Service, which was awesome, I can’t big them up enough. When you’re sitting with other veterans, there’s no judgement, we are all in this together. I still use the service today, it’s empowering.
"Combat Stress made it all possible."
“If you go to the doctors or hospital, they aren’t used to dealing with veterans, but at Combat Stress, it’s all they do.
"If it wasn’t for Combat Stress, putting it bluntly, I don’t think I’d be here today. They put me on the right path.
"I took courses like yoga and painting, which I now love and use to cope with my symptoms. To any veteran with mental health issues, you’ve got to stop being a hard nut and pick up the phone to Combat Stress.
"I know it’s difficult to ask for help, but if you need it, you must. It’s that first point, picking up the phone, recognising something is wrong, that’s the hardest. I’ve set up a group called ‘Wild Western’ for veterans where we go camping together. None of this would have been possible without Combat Stress.
"If you’re a supporter, I hope you see the difference you make."
Veterans with complex mental health conditions often need to see specialists from a whole range of different disciplines. And thanks to you, we can offer this all in-house, here at Combat Stress.
When each new veteran has been assessed by Combat Stress, our specialist clinicians work closely with each other to create a holistic treatment plan that’s unique to them. It could involve anything from intensive trauma-focused psychological therapy, psychiatry or substance misuse support, to art therapy or family support – whatever each veteran needs to move forwards. The road to recovery is long, but our treatment is highly effective.
No other charity in the UK offers veterans holistic care from an interdisciplinary team of experts, and it’s all thanks to you. Your gifts help veterans learn the tools and techniques they need to manage their mental health long term, so they can tackle the past and take on the future, and that’s amazing.
Thank you.
"If you’re a supporter of Combat Stress, I hope you see the difference you make.”