SOLDIER & EX VOW TO REMARRY
THE FIGHT FOR FAIR PLAY
needed to protect my son from seeing his dad in such a bad way.
“He would never talk to me about Afghanistan, although I knew he must have seen some awful things. But neither of us really knew what was happening to him or how to cope.”
James recalled: “I would have flashbacks to explosions and hear men shouting orders and gunfire ringing in my ears. I’d constantly be thinking about the friends I’d lost.
“I was in a constant state of grief and I just wanted to shut myself away.
“In my nightmares I was always back there, fighting in Afghanistan.
“I just felt numb and when Anneka asked me to leave I didn’t realise what was happening. A few weeks later I cried non-stop for three days.”
But Anneka had not given up on him. She said: “I still cared very much for James and did some internet research. I realised he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and it felt like I had failed him. But I also became angry about him being allowed to leave the Army without any counselling after what he went through.
“We had been left very alone. There was no help and support when he came home.” After their divorce James and Anneka both had other partners but neither relationship worked out.
Then after three years apart they met again at Owen’s karate class.
Anneka, 31, recalled: “I noticed a change in James. And Owen said to me, ‘Daddy’s not grumpy any more.’
“I could suddenly see the funny, thoughtful guy I fell in love with again. I imagined us as a family and Owen asked if James would come home.”
They met for dinner and talked things though. James admitted he had PTSD and was looking into getting help.
He had already seen the doctor and was taking anti-depressants.
James returned to the family home THE Sunday People has launched a campaign demanding the Government provides more support for troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. We are calling for veterans minister Mark Lancaster to do more to help those affected by and the couple made an appointment with the veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress. But James is only just receiving counselling two years later.
Their second wedding is set for next year – and this time two of their sons will be present because Anneka gave birth to little Alfie last year.
Statistics show that hundreds of veterans wait more than 18 weeks for mental health treatment.
James, 29, who now works in a coffee PTSD. We also want an independent inquiry by MPs and additional NHS funding to help troops trying to return to civilian life.
Combat-related illnesses such as PTSD are increasing every year and a fifth of all veterans will develop the disease, according to the charity Combat Stress. More soldiers have committed suicide in recent years than were killed fighting in Afghanistan.
A Freedom of Information request showed 11,395 of the military were treated for mental illness between 2007 and 2014. shop, said: “Soldiers see some horrific things. It’s part of their job. But they need support to help deal with the emotional distress.
“Men find it hard to talk about their feelings. Like many, I just bottled it up. If I’d recognised what I was suffering from when I left the Army and got help earlier, Anneka and I would never have split.”
Anneka added: “It has been a huge struggle but we are stronger now. We have stuck at it and fought through all the dark times.
“Anyone with PTSD needs to get help and talk to someone because bottling it up just makes it worse.
“They need to remember they have nothing to be ashamed of. James keeps telling me he is sorry. I say he has nothing to apologise for.
“He fought for our country and I’m so proud of him. I want to help him through this as best I can.”