StreetSense interviewed a war veteran from Scotland Eric Walker who discussed the problem of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how he struggles with it. This was arranged through my brother, Peter Wilson. Eric Walker currently lives in Glasgow and was diagnosed with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder {PTSD} sometime after doing a tough stint in the British army where he was sent to Bosnia and Iraq.
By PTSD we mean a person who has been subject to a highly stressful situation which leaves an indelible scar on a person which can drastically alter his or her behavior. The stressful experience is so extreme the person can suffer dreadful nightmares where he relives traumatic events, experiences flashbacks of the original events, has problems with dealing with his emotions, feels overwhelmed by some situations, can feel numbness, experiences survivor guilt, and tends to always be on the alert in case the traumatic events repeat themselves. Life can often be reduced to an emergency situation when innocuous things such as an ambulance siren, fireworks going off or a car breaking down triggers disturbing memories of past experiences leading to a startled response. Also, the victim can be hyper-vigilant. Those events which lead to the condition can encompass being a victim of horrific torture, imprisonment, physical and mental abuse, being a victim of terrorism and directly experiencing war. To Complex PTSD can be added further problems such as withdrawing from society, dissociation, problems with concentration and memory, deep distrust of people and becoming very angry and irritable at people and things.
Before I phoned Eric I was told by my wife that I had the wrong code and that the amount of numbers meant I had a Russian rather than Scottish code. So when I phoned someone and a person loomed up on the screen began greeting me and introducing himself in Russian I was on the verge of apologizing for making an intrusive phone call. Then the man explained he was actually Eric and it turned out he had learnt Russian and could speak it fluently. Eric came across as a warm, friendly and down to earth person. He spoke about how learning mindfulness, setting yourself a goal and purpose in life and having good and trustworthy friends can make a profound difference to how people can cope with the suffering arising from PTSD.
StreetSense
Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Eric Walker
I joined the British army when I was 16: the paratrooper's regiment B Company. I was sent to Bosnia as a dog handler. I was in Iraq from 2003-2004 and left the army at 21 years of age then served in the Surrey Police for a substantial amount of time. When I returned to Scotland around 2007-2008 my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was at its height. I was diagnosed with it when I was 33.
I met the number three specialist in PTSD in Scotland, Doctor Alistair Wilson, who helped me with the idea of mindfulness. The big thing I took from this was that the mind was an easy thing to gain and lose. It is not complex and it is very easy to drift away from mindfulness. It has been good for me. When I reflect on PTSD it is a complex issue like alcoholism. When you join the army you have this open conditioning or training in the army and they do a lot of risk taking. Mindfulness helped me a lot because I was drifting away a lot.
StreetSense
What is Mindfulness?
Eric Walker
I 'll explain in simple terms. It's about the now moment or the present. That is being aware of everything in the present and the whole reality of it. Being aware of everything in the present allows you to keep yourself in check and take more control over your life. When you go back you are going back all the way {i.e. being distracted by many past thoughts or concerns about the future}. I started to suffer from something called “dissociation,” and I began to forget things. For example, I left my mobile phone on the train. I lose things because so much is going on in my mind. It is drifting. I have difficulty concentrating on things for a long time and can concentrate only for ten or twenty minutes.
StreetSense
How do you cope with flashbacks?
Eric Walker
There are coping mechanisms. I try to concentrate on the blinds in my window. If I am having a flashback I count the blinds back and forward. I can change my environment. Anything to get out of going back if I can sort it out. Secondly, if you can understand it you can put a check on things. I read a lot about the research about PTSD. It is good to have people present. For example, Peter is a friend who has seen me at my worst. PTSD is a very misunderstood issue.
StreetSense
How do you feel about managing to cope with PTSD?
Eric Walker
I am certainly a lot happier. I did some courses and got an education. Alistair Wilson who is the number 3 specialist in Scotland helped me a lot.
StreetSense
Is help available for people in Scotland?
Eric Walker
Mental health issues are big on the agenda in Britain at the moment. You are better treated. Even the Royal Family are raising this issue. I'll tell you a story. I met a Russian girl called Natalie C. I have been to Moscow 3 or 4 times and stayed at the Rossiya hotel. I am not sure if this hotel exists any more. I met Natalie in Bosnia when I was 18. I flew over to Cyprus and had a holiday with her. It was the best time in my life. She is a very nice girl. She worked for IKEA in Moscow. That was a great time. I had a bit of romance in my life and I was really happy. Sometimes your emotions can get upset and it can affect people. In the majority of people they drink excessively or take drugs. I was never taking drugs. I have heard that in America some specialists are suggesting those suffering from PTSD be treated with ecstasy. I am all for this!
StreetSense
What advice would you give to anyone suffering from PTSD?
Eric Walker
The best thing which helped me was to try and get information on mindfulness. I believe in it. It doesn't work for all people. When I use this I can walk about more and avoid some terrible situations. I inherited a lot of money from my grandmother. You can easily get lost. So you need to have good friends around you. For instance, Peter has been a good friend. Trust is important because people can abuse you if you are ill. It is important to have a goal or purpose in life. It is important to start to achieve a small goal. You can set yourself a target. It could be any goal even if it seems small. For instance it could be painting something or washing the dishes. A goal gives you something to strive for.
A lot of people are afraid to ask for help. It hurts their pride. You are looked at as being seen to be weak.
Knowledge is power. That means recognizing what is going on in you and around you. I understood the classical conditioning that goes on in the army—and how your nerves are shattered when you leave it.
The biggest problem I have is my attention span is limited. Take one example. It is very hard for me to read a book through to the end. I start with reading 2 or 3 pages and then stopping. I can't sit in a restaurant to eat for 45 minutes.
But I think my condition is getting better. Earlier I was very erratic. I think I was just too young to join the army at 16. I'll send your more information on this. Take care in Russia.
StreetSense
Thank you very much. We are grateful for you giving your time. Take care and good luck!