Trauma therapy made me worse

THE armed forces’ treatment for post traumatic stress disorder can make the problem worse, an ex-marine claims. Jamie Sanderson, 42, told how he received therapy after he was medically discharged four years ago with back injuries, hearing loss and PTSD. The ex- sniper said: “They made me go back to the trauma and revisit it. The system was making it worse. “The area of Afghanistan we were in was chaotic. We got mortared heavily. I got injured in the last few weeks and had to come home.” Jamie met an old marine friend, Jason Fox and they set up the Rock2Recovery charity for ex-servicemen.

The pair, who have helped 130 people in two years, spoke at a lecture in London.

Jason, 40, served in the Special Boat Service in Iraq and Afghanistan. On one tour they lost a quar- t ter of their men. “That’s five o or six guys,” he said. “They were either killed or experienced life-changing injuries. “We were having a bad time, i in the middle of a massive gun fight. We experienced trauma physically and mentally.” He had therapy through the military but said it did not work for him and he left the forces for medical reasons. Jason said: “I just wanted to get on with my life, but my life didn’t want to get on with me.”

Rock2Recovery helps victims to get involved in mountain climbing, water sports, music, and other hobbies.

The Sunday People is campaigning for more support for services people. Some 40,000 have had PTSD since 1991.