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Give a regular gift
Your regular gift makes a lasting difference
Veterans with complex mental health problems need the specialist treatment and long-term support that only
Combat Stress can provide.
Your regular gifts mean we can respond quickly when veterans are in their darkest hour.
We helped 14,000 veterans last year, providing life-changing treatment.
We know that recovery from PTSD can be a long journey, but with your help, we can be there for veterans month after month.
Treatment gives veterans the tools and techniques they need to start living again.
Nigel
Dean
Davina
My story - Dean
“I joined up when I was 16 and served for seven years, doing tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Sierra Leone. I soon began to seriously struggle and my sleep pattern was totally ruined. I left the Army, but when my first daughter was born, that triggered everything – all my emotions came out.”
What it was like living with PTSD
“I was drinking a lot because I didn’t want to go to bed, I knew the flashbacks and nightmares would come. I wasn’t eating well and ended up in a coma due to malnutrition and dehydration. I destroyed my kitchen in front of my kids – destroying cupboard doors with my bare hands – that’s how bad it was. My marriage broke up in 2014 and I eventually called Combat Stress.”
How Combat Stress made a difference
“Things moved quickly, and I did the PTSD Intensive Treatment programme at one of the treatment centres. The course did wonders for me. Combat Stress literally changed my life.” What life is like now “Thanks to the support of my partner Jenny, I have the strength to get up every morning, taking on new challenges.”
My story - Nigel
“I joined the Army when I was 18, serving in Northern Ireland and Bosnia. After leaving, I enjoyed a 10-year career with the prison service, I was a fire fighter and rugby player. But in late 2014, I had a shoulder replacement, took redundancy and my father passed away. I went from being the busiest man in the world to doing nothing. I started ruminating about an incident in Northern Ireland.”
What it was like living with PTSD
“I started suffering from depression, anxiety and flashbacks, and started gambling. One day I had a meltdown whilst doing some DIY and I ripped up the floor.”
How Combat Stress made a difference
“I broke down when I started talking – it was the first time I’d talked about the Army. I felt I was sharing with someone who understood. I had treatment for anger issues and PTSD. Now I can be open with family and friends.” What life is like now “I wanted to continue my recovery journey so launched ‘Combat2Coffee’, providing barista training in prisons and the community to help individuals get back on their feet.
I still have bad days, but I know how to help myself. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Combat Stress.”
My story - Davina
My tours took me to Bosnia, Cyprus, the Middle East, and I often found myself in situations where I would wonder afterwards, ‘how am I alive?’. “It was after my tour in Bosnia that I felt like l had turned to stone inside. We went to visit family in Majorca. I looked out of the window and thought I was in Bosnia. I felt totally shell shocked.”
What it was like living with PTSD
I started having terrible dreams, and saw a specialist who said I was sleeping like I was in the guard room – always alert. They asked if I’d ever heard of PTSD.”
How Combat Stress made a difference
It took me a week to call the Helpline but as soon as I did, things started to get better. I had a therapy session once a week, and I began to understand how the brain works. Before I got help, I was frightened of my own actions.” What life is like now “I used to feel like I didn’t deserve help – I still had all my limbs, but at Combat Stress I learnt that I was there because I needed to be. My body might be intact, but my mind got damaged. I still get help from Combat Stress’ Peer Support Service. There’s a real mix of us who attend but we’ve all walked the walk. Thanks to Combat Stress, I’m so much more relaxed today.”