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Read the latest updates from Walking With The Wounded's 'Walking Home ' winter campaign
Robert's Veteran Story
By Walking With The Wounded on
‘WWTW meant absolutely everything. They really cared, and now I am a lot better man than I have been for years.’
Robert enlisted in the Army and joined the Royal Artillery, serving for 8 years.
10 years later, in 2006, Robert re-enlisted with 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF Reserves, and was deployed to Afghanistan with 3 Squadron RAF Regiment (Regular Unit). It was a ‘full-on’ tour lasting 7 months. Robert began to experience problems adjusting to civilian life - he couldn’t sleep or cope with life and he was unable to understand why. He struggled on for five years but eventually his mental health got the better of him and he had a breakdown in March 2013.
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In 2017, after years of trying to get help, his need for support was finally identified and he was referred to WWTW. The Head Start team at WWTW swiftly arranged for Robert to receive EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy).
After 12-14 sessions of treatment Robert had clarity and a better understanding of his feelings. It provided him with immense relief and the skills and knowledge of how to manage his life and trauma better.
‘I was very doubtful about EMDR therapy at first but it really did work. My issues will always be there but now I have adapted and I know how to manage my feelings.’
Robert has since decreased his stress levels at work and is now happily employed as a HGV driver. He has tremendous support from his family who have always been 100% behind him.
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Bryn's Story
By Walking With The Wounded on
Bryn served as an Infantryman in the elite 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment (1 PARA), part of the Special Forces Support Group. He was regularly deployed on operations - to Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan – and he was fulfilled by his achievements as a soldier.
After 10 years of active duty however, the physical demands of the role took its toll, and he experienced pain and damage to both his ankles. As he was no longer able to train or go on operations, he accepted that it was time to hang up his Army boots.
Unphased by the transition to civilian life, Bryn quickly transferred his military expertise into a career in private security. He secured contracts to protect senior US government officials as they...
Kane's Story
By Walking With The Wounded on
After Kane’s military career came to a sudden end, he had no idea what to do next. Without any direction in life, he felt stuck and increasingly disillusioned. Over time, he decided that he was most suited to working outdoors and he focused his energy into achieving his goal. WWTW supported Kane into a new career in Arboriculture. They provided him with help, encouragement, and the funding that he needed to get his professional training and apply for work. Now Kane has a great job as an Arborist with a leading utilities service company.
“Upon leaving the Army I was really stuck in a rut and didn’t know what to do. The turning point was meeting Lynsey at WWTW. She gave me so much help and support along the way and now I have landed myself...
Carly’s story
By Walking With The Wounded on
Carly joined the Army in June 2012. When the initial 14-16 weeks of basic training commenced Carly immediately began to experience symptoms of anxiety, feeling panicky. When the PT session came round Carly recollects standing in the ablutions in floods of tears brought on by the mere thought of the obstacle course. Eventually Carly was discharged from the Army in September 2013, just 15 months after joining. In 2015 Carly suffered a breakdown and sought treatment through her GP. In August 2017 Carly met with an Employment Adviser from Walking With The Wounded who Carly refers to as "brilliant from day one". After initial successes, In January 2018 Carly began to once again experience feelings of anxiety and self-doubt and...