Norfolk
Health and wellbeing, Mental health, Support for Freemasons and families
Alan’s story
Veteran Alan returned from the Middle East with complex PTSD after suffering trauma during his time there with the RAF.
Although the NHS acknowledged that he needed help with his mental health, they said that they were not equipped to support him. With his condition having a major impact on his everyday life, he decided to turn to the MCF for help.
“Physically, I had panic attacks and would sometimes be on the floor and vomiting. Mentally, I experienced a dissociative disorder which meant that – in my mind – I was back in the desert and I can hear the sounds, smell the smells, and it’s like I’m really back there again. It’s a horrible thing to experience and to keep re-living.
“The NHS trust in my area told me that they couldn’t support me, but I knew I really needed help. I applied to the MCF, who were fantastic.
Thanks to them, I am getting regular therapy with an incredible practitioner. He specialises in EMDR, or eye movement desensitisation reprocessing. It helps me to minimise the horrible visions and cope better with them.
“I really do feel that we are starting to make progress. We are starting to turn a corner, and I’m finding daily life much easier. I really can’t thank the MCF enough.”
