After sixteen yeras of covering conflict and war for foreign news I finally fell victim to PTSD.
The tipping point for me was Iraq. I spent over 600 days in that hellhole, running from one death to another.
Its such a dangerous place to work that every movement has to be planned in advance to minimize the risk.
My family saw it before I did though. The angriness, the black moods, the irrational behaviour.
Fortunately, with their support, I am coming to terms with it, and I am on the mend.
I had to change from covering conflict and into work that was less stressfull, but that is a good thing, not only for me, but for my family as well.
For the newsgatherers out there who are struggling with PTSD and feel they cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, rest assured, it is a time in your life that you can put behind you. It does take a certain amount of perseverance, but don't give up, if you allow PTSD to destroy your life, then it will.
Look forward, not back, remember pleasantness, not ugliness, think positive, not negative, and above all, hold no regrets and carry no greivance.
The tipping point for me was Iraq. I spent over 600 days in that hellhole, running from one death to another.
Its such a dangerous place to work that every movement has to be planned in advance to minimize the risk.
My family saw it before I did though. The angriness, the black moods, the irrational behaviour.
Fortunately, with their support, I am coming to terms with it, and I am on the mend.
I had to change from covering conflict and into work that was less stressfull, but that is a good thing, not only for me, but for my family as well.
For the newsgatherers out there who are struggling with PTSD and feel they cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, rest assured, it is a time in your life that you can put behind you. It does take a certain amount of perseverance, but don't give up, if you allow PTSD to destroy your life, then it will.
Look forward, not back, remember pleasantness, not ugliness, think positive, not negative, and above all, hold no regrets and carry no greivance.