About Me

My Story

Like millions of people, I suffered a series of traumatic experiences that went on to give me the mental health illness we know as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In many ways I was lucky.

Firstly, I survived.

Not only could the experiences have killed me at the time, but British and Swedish research indicates that PTSD sufferers are several times more likely to commit suicide than the rest of the population, usually within two years of their diagnosis.

When I experienced my traumas, I was mostly doing things that I was very passionate about. One of the incidents occurred when I was working in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Several took place in war zones where I was privileged enough to witness history in motion, but also retreat to a country where I was not treated like a pariah, as is the sad situation for many refugees shunned by the world today.

An additional benefit for me is that I went through all of my traumatic experiences as an adult. Many sufferers of PTSD, particularly ‘complex PTSD,’ endure their traumatic experiences before they reach adulthood. Not only is it abominable that any child should have to experience trauma, but the damage on their younger brains can be so much more long-lasting. Their treatment can be especially difficult.

Finally, I am fortunate enough to have access to the British National Health Service. If it wasn’t for the beloved NHS (which must be protected at all costs) I shudder to think how things might have turned out for me.