An accomplished author, entrepreneur and sportsman, with the perfect home, comfortable lifestyle and all the pressures of a successful conservation enterprise. Everything was `normal' until he took up the call to go to the aid of the humanitarian famine crisis in Kenya 2011. Inspired by Bob Geldof, supported by the British Army, he travelled with an aid convoy, an aspiring dream to make a difference and a commitment to save life's. Three years later, homeless, financially ruined, and alone with severe PTSD he began the long traumatic journey to pick up the pieces of his broken dreams. In recent years during an emotional and heart-breaking voyage of self-discovery he has faced domestic abuse, threat, intimidation, ridicule and ignorance as he campaigned for justice and recognition of the real truth of Mental Health Disability. Driven to self-harm and attempted suicide, scorned by the disability benefits system, lacking necessary support due to funding cutbacks he has poured his frustration, anger and emotional pain into writing short stories about living with Complex PTSD as part of the national campaign for recognition of mental health disability. With the encouragement of many respected individuals he has returned to writing as part of his long-term rehabilitation back towards a life beyond the enduring pain. Now, as part of that need to seek closure, understanding and peace of mind he has turned his recovery process into a way of supporting others who suffer from Mental Health Disability. This book is a unique, thought provoking and intensely emotional personal journey that recounts not only the memories of his late father's army experiences, but also his own childhood, career development, successes and inspiring achievements prior to the nightmare that was the journey to Africa. Speaking out with frank openness, passion and honesty he talks about the reality of this destructive life-changing illness in a modern world. In a commitment towards helping others he has committed to donate 40% of the book profits towards a number of Mental Health Disability projects in the East Anglia region of the UK, including those for the Royal British Legion and the Royal Anglian Regiment where soldiers/veterans are affected by the trauma of conflict and personal loss. This heart-breaking, evocative and extremely poignant book describes the story of a life we can only imagine but not comprehend until we read it in print. What appears at times to be an emotional body blow another time leaves you with a wry smile and bewilderment. This is a real-life tragedy that pulls no punches in how a successful career can be betrayed by health and then swept away with the traumatic effects of debilitating Mental Health Disability. This is a reflection of the deepest pain in a style that is brilliantly unique and a compulsive read from dizzy heights to deepest fall and the journey back.
- ISBN13 9780954663322
- Publish Date 1 September 2018
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint The Alternative Author
- Format Paperback
- Pages 800
- Language English