Armed Forces Veterans Suffering PTSD

BBC: Veteran on mental care 'disgrace'

This recent BBC item about Lance Corporal Johnson Behaddy highlights a problem which stretches across healthcare mental healthcare provisions in the UK for veterans, active military personnel and civilians alike.

We see this clearly every day and sadly, with increasing regularity. The stories of the majority of our UK clients are similar. They are pushed from pillar to post with little reassurance, structured care, support or advice. Most are prescribed inappropriate medication and few receive referrals to experienced advisors.

The military is clearly no exception to what is becoming more prevalent in the civilian world. Forces personnel are coming back from war zones and immediately, or over time, developing anxiety disorders, most commonly PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

PTSD can be difficult to diagnose, our clients complain of flashbacks, nightmares and night frights, panic attacks, generalised high anxiety and depressed thoughts. Most are worn out from dealing with their symptoms and thoughts and feel depleted, desperate and alone.

Our qualified staff has perhaps treated more anxious people than any other organisation in the world, having helped over 115,000 people worldwide to recover. There is nothing my team hasn't heard.

We help people of all ages and receive many referrals from the NHS, private practice, psychologists and PCTs. Service people from the police force, prison service, fire service, navy, army and air force have used our programme to rid themselves of a wide range of anxiety related conditions with amazing and permanent results.

PTSD is no exception. The disorder responds well to our programme structure and the support from our psychologists, counsellors and life coaches provides those clients who require it, with constant, seamless, accessible support when they need it. Reliance on weekly sessions provided through other means, coupled with medicinal treatments are often ineffectual, long winded and untargeted.

Talking therapies can be useful, but in anxiety disorders, what sufferers need is structure, qualified, experienced support and reassurance and a life strategy which creates an environment for change in order for the disorder to be eliminated completely.

Our staff and programmes provide just that.

PTSD and other anxiety disorders are pointless conditions; they are behavioural conditions which can be quickly and permanently eradicated given the correct treatment.

Our service people should be given absolute priority before they even leave the war zone. Their mental and long term health is paramount and when they have risked their lives for the security of our nation, I for one will be there for them on their return and before if they need it. We should be ashamed as a nation, of the way Lance Corporal Beharry has been treated when you witness the wastes of money perpetrated by the government and its agencies which are so evident when you watch the news.

PTSD can be eradicated completely as can all anxiety conditions. That's a war we fight daily.

Charles Linden
Author of The Linden Method^® and
MD of The Linden Centres