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| PTSD: Suffolk soldier says nature stopped 'downward spiral' | PTSD: Suffolk soldier says nature stopped 'downward spiral' |
| (4 months later) | |
| Craig Welsh said he became a "couch potato" and lost all motivation when he left the military | Craig Welsh said he became a "couch potato" and lost all motivation when he left the military |
| A former soldier in recovery from complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) said nature became his saviour. | A former soldier in recovery from complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) said nature became his saviour. |
| Craig Welsh, 29, of Ixworth near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, served with the RAF Regiment as a sniper for six years, completing two tours of Afghanistan. | Craig Welsh, 29, of Ixworth near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, served with the RAF Regiment as a sniper for six years, completing two tours of Afghanistan. |
| After leaving the military, his mental health suffered, compounded by one of his patrol taking his own life. | After leaving the military, his mental health suffered, compounded by one of his patrol taking his own life. |
| He said discovering wild camping and bushcraft helped him turn his life around. | He said discovering wild camping and bushcraft helped him turn his life around. |
| Speaking of his time after the military, Mr Welsh said: "I went into a downward spiral... I was drinking too much, partying too much, anything to escape the world." | Speaking of his time after the military, Mr Welsh said: "I went into a downward spiral... I was drinking too much, partying too much, anything to escape the world." |
| Craig Welsh said much of his work in Afghanistan was attached to the US Marines | Craig Welsh said much of his work in Afghanistan was attached to the US Marines |
| He described his tours as "heavy going" and said it "sucked it out of me". | He described his tours as "heavy going" and said it "sucked it out of me". |
| "I had no motivation; I stopped doing all the things I liked to do," he added. | "I had no motivation; I stopped doing all the things I liked to do," he added. |
| "I was quite aggressive. Not physically, but I was always looking to get a rise out of people." | "I was quite aggressive. Not physically, but I was always looking to get a rise out of people." |
| Craig Welsh served with the RAF Regiment as a sniper for six years | Craig Welsh served with the RAF Regiment as a sniper for six years |
| His concerned father put him on to the charity Veterans at Ease, which supports veterans with PTSD, and he received a diagnosis and counselling. | His concerned father put him on to the charity Veterans at Ease, which supports veterans with PTSD, and he received a diagnosis and counselling. |
| He also found that wild camping and bushcraft - learning the skills to survive in the wild - struck a chord with him. | He also found that wild camping and bushcraft - learning the skills to survive in the wild - struck a chord with him. |
| "I am much better and it's all thanks to nature and being outdoors," added Mr Welsh, who now works as an electrical maintenance engineer. | "I am much better and it's all thanks to nature and being outdoors," added Mr Welsh, who now works as an electrical maintenance engineer. |
| "I'm trying to spread the positivity and encourage other people to come out and enjoy it, because it can do wonders for mental health. | "I'm trying to spread the positivity and encourage other people to come out and enjoy it, because it can do wonders for mental health. |
| Craig Welsh said he tried to go wild camping at least once a week | Craig Welsh said he tried to go wild camping at least once a week |
| "In Japan it's called shinrin-yoku, which translates to 'forest bathing', and it's actually prescribed by doctors there." | "In Japan it's called shinrin-yoku, which translates to 'forest bathing', and it's actually prescribed by doctors there." |
| He is now using his love of the outdoors to give something back to the charity that helped him, by completing a 200-mile (322km) fundraising trek. | He is now using his love of the outdoors to give something back to the charity that helped him, by completing a 200-mile (322km) fundraising trek. |
| He hopes to cover about 17 miles each day, over 12 days, and wild camp each night. | He hopes to cover about 17 miles each day, over 12 days, and wild camp each night. |
| On Monday he will set off from Knettishall Heath, near Thetford, and will take in the Peddars Way, the Norfolk Coast Path and Suffolk Coast Path. | On Monday he will set off from Knettishall Heath, near Thetford, and will take in the Peddars Way, the Norfolk Coast Path and Suffolk Coast Path. |
| "I will be finding a bit of woodland or beach, somewhere to set my tarp up, bed down, and then set off again the next day," he said. | "I will be finding a bit of woodland or beach, somewhere to set my tarp up, bed down, and then set off again the next day," he said. |
| "To be out in nature for 12 days - it's massive to me, I can't wait for it." | "To be out in nature for 12 days - it's massive to me, I can't wait for it." |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | |
| Ixworth | |
| War in Afghanistan (2001-present) | |
| Mental health | |
| Bury St Edmunds | |
| PTSD |
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