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Joe was a sailor during the Falklands War who has received help and support from Combat Stress.
Whilst serving in the Royal Navy during the Falklands War the ships company were called to action stations on approximately 54 occasions. As a member of the Operations Room crew, Joe was often unaware of the situation happening around them, which he often found most disconcerting. Joe's off watch action position was as a 20mm Oerlikon gun aimer on the upper deck and it was from this position he witnessed the attack on HMS Glamorgan after being hit by an Exocet missile. During that particular attack, he lost one colleague whom he considered a close friend and went on to lose another three whom were serving on ships Antelope, Ardent and Coventry.
During his service, Joe was also a member of a party that was detailed to carry out clean up operations ashore of bodies, some of which had been dead for long periods. He was employed in carrying the bodies physically over to trenches previously dug and laying them out for burial. Although they were provided with protective clothing, the stench clung to his clothes - an odour that still returns to him if he smells something emitting a smell of a similar nature. At the time he thought the task an unpleasant one but did not consider it had adversely affected him. However, the stench of rotting flesh and the sights he witnessed still haunt him to this day.
Following his discharge from the service Joe found it very difficult to settle back into civilian life and therefore struggled to secure permanent employment. He feels as though he has changed from the outgoing and positive person that he once was. His attempts at employment have not been for the want of trying and he has had 14 jobs since being discharged, however none of these have worked out for various reasons including the time off he requires when going through bad patches. During this period of unemployment he has had more time to reflect on what he has experienced and has been having flashbacks, anxiety attacks and other symptoms of what could be expressed as a suspected condition of PTSD.
Since receiving help from Combat Stress, Joe has been admitted to one of the Society's Treatment Centres and is showing signs of improvement and a better understanding of his condition. He realises that he is not alone and better still can now see a future for himself in employment once again. Joe now considers himself one of the lucky ones and without the support that Combat Stress has given him it would have made it very difficult for Joe to embark on the treatment he required.
Helping ex-Service men and women cope with psychological injury
The atrocities witnessed during conflict are outside normal human experience and the men and women of the British armed forces have been in conflict somewhere almost continuously since WW1. Every one of these conflicts has resulted in psychological injury.
Servicemen and women are being put under heavier psychological pressure than ever before due to the intensity of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Out of the 100,000 British troops who have served or are serving in Iraq, already, more than 2,000 have sought help for psychological problems on their return. With increasing numbers being sent to Afghanistan, the numbers with PTSD or other psychological difficulties are likely to grow.
The symptoms of PTSD are common to almost all suffering ex-service personnel and they include sleeplessness, flashbacks, nightmares, mood swings, intense uncontrollable anger and anxiety. PTSD is treatable, although by the time many who need it actually get it, the condition has become deeply embedded.
Combat Stress (Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society) currently has over 8,000 ex-Service men and women in its care, covering every campaign since WW1 including the Falklands War, which commemorates its 25th anniversary this year.
Help us help Joe and others like him by helping Combat Stress by clicking here - every little bit helps!!!
Combat Stress Website: www.combatstress.org.uk
If you need help: 01372 841680 (Welfare)
If you want to help: 01372 841616 (Fundraising) |
