Adam, a 50-year-old Royal Marine veteran who served in Northern Ireland, was struggling with his mental health and PTSD.
He had tried to access support in many places, but it was not until he reached out to a veterans' support organization that he found the help he needed.
As a sergeant with the 42 Commando Royal Marines, Adam lost eight soldiers he was in charge of. He felt like he had done a lot of bad things and killed 15 terrorists, which made him feel like he had to pay for this. Geoff had trouble sleeping, suffered from encephalitis, and had three strokes. He had also recently buried his mother, adding to his emotional burden.
Thankfully, the veterans' support organization was able to provide Adam with clinical support and emotional guidance. Although Adam couldn't remember his service number due to memory issues, the service team explained what they could offer and advised him to call back once he had found his service number. They also encouraged him to use the helpline whenever he needed emotional support.
One thing that made a difference was the positive approach taken by the support team. They helped Adam see that he was looking at his experiences in the negative and suggested that he turn them into positives. For example, instead of focusing on how many lives he took as a soldier, they encouraged him to think about how many lives he saved.
After speaking with the support team, Adam felt grateful for their help and support. He said, "Thank you for that, you are the first person that has ever said that to me, so thank you," and "Thank you for putting up with me and thank you for speaking to me."
Adam’s story is not unique, and there are many other veterans who are struggling with mental health issues and PTSD. If you or someone you know is in need of help, don't hesitate to reach out to a veterans' support organization. There are people who care and who are willing to help. Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
For more information on the organisation please email us at:
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