Nightmare job gave me PTSD

DAD Neil Samworth, 55, had to leave his £29,000 job at Strangeways jail, Manchester, after suffering post traumatic stress disorder. He tells of the damage to prison staff’s health.

WORK was incredibly stressful and took a real toll on my life. There’s a massive drinking culture in the prison service. You get home and you need to have a drink and switch off.

Long, excruciating hours are hard enough but it’s what you do and see on the job that affects you most.

Horrific violence, suicide, self-harm, drug abuse. Being attacked yourself – it all comes with a price.

When there’s a serious incident a bell rings. Your heart sinks and the adrenaline starts pumping because you know it’s going to be a stressful or dangerous situation.

I often dreaded coming to work. But I always did because I felt guilty being off sick. I know so many who feel that guilt and push themselves to breaking point.

In 2015 I hurt my shoulder restraining an aggressive inmate. The doctor told me my blood pressure was through the roof. I was heading for a stroke and heart attack.

I became extremely unwell and struggled mentally. I was aggressive and ridden with anxiety. There were recurring nightmares of stuff I’d seen in prison. A few months later I was diagnosed with PTSD.

There just aren’t enough staff to cope with the violence and threatening conditions.