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Can i do anything to help my nieighbour PTSD?

7 replies

EachandEveryone · 01/08/2020 09:51

Im close to his mum i help her with shopping etc we are in flats. Hes lived with them since leaving the army five years ago hes about 31. Hes now working in a prison out of the frying pan into the fire. I think he likes a uniform. Hes tried to get into the met with no joy. Anyway hes nice enough but some of his views are abhorrent to me and i can only put it down to his army upbringing. He deffo has PTSD. He has been to the doctors said they are useless. His 8th friend committed suicide last week. He has started running since last year he is good at it. 6 races cancelled this year and hes had a rough time with Covid and working in the prison.

He often sends me text at bizarre times of the night. Yesterday at 5am he was saying that nobody would miss him etc. I was getting up for work. (Nurse) i text all the right open ended questions, I asked him if he wanted to hurt himself etc. I sent him all the right phone numbers and asked him where he was. No reply so i went to work. Its not the first time.

This morning he sends me photos of himself in a hospital bed after surgery for a damaged windpipe 😟. Now hes not telling me how it is damaged but the hospital is right next to the prison so I dont know if he wants me to think hes made an attempt on his life or if hes stopped a fight at work.

Now that he is in hospital do you think he might reach out for help? Or is he going to come out back to square one? I wish there was a wand I could wave. His parents have their head in the sand plus they are elderly. Bloody wars.

OP posts:
RoseyLentil · 01/08/2020 10:05

Hello @EachandEveryone would SSAFA be able to help him ? I would post a link but can't see how to do so sorry. They support current and former service men and women. You sound like a compassionate and lovely person. I hope your neighbour gets the help he deserves xxx

GenderApostate19 · 01/08/2020 11:02

Is there a local Tri-Services centre in your area?
We are involved with ours and they offer lots of help to ex-service personnel, some of whom have horrific ptsd.

PotteringAlong · 01/08/2020 11:05

Now hes not telling me how it is damaged but the hospital is right next to the prison so I dont know if he wants me to think hes made an attempt on his life or if hes stopped a fight at work.

That sounds like he’s manipulating you. Do not allow yourself to be manipulated.

EachandEveryone · 01/08/2020 11:25

We are north London.

I wont let him manipulate me he is prone to exaggerations like just telling me it took three anaesthetists to sedate him for the op. Hes quite obbsessed with illnesses.

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Stompythedinosaur · 01/08/2020 11:29

I would send him the details of the local crisis team and the samaritans and try to stop engaging. It sounds a bit of a strange dynamic.

EachandEveryone · 01/08/2020 12:00

Yes Ive done that yesterday. I cant force him to get help hes a grown man. I would normally not get into it but that message yesterday did set alarm bells off then by coincidence hes now itn hospital. Thanks.

OP posts:
EachandEveryone · 23/08/2020 10:45

Just an update. Hes applied to rejoin the army and, according to him, theyve accepted him. He says only 8 years and he will get a full pension. Lets hope they offer more support in the army than they actually do out of it. 32 funerals hes been to.

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