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Stories - Paul's Story: Blanking it out

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Paul Harrison

Blanking it out

Paul Harrison was a TA soldier. He went to Iraq in 2003. When he came back he was severely traumatised. He was not diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder until he was discharged almost three years later. In the meantime he started using alcohol to blank out his symptoms.

Biography

Paul Harrison joined the Army Catering Corps as a chef in 1979. He served in Northern Ireland in 1981-82 and was attached to the Royal Green Jackets in Belfast. In 1983 he left the regular army and became a TA soldier, going on active duty in Cyprus with the Royal Artillery in 2000.

In 2003 Paul was mobilised to go to Iraq and took part in the invasion, this time with 33 Field Hospital. He returned later that year in a deeply traumatised state. He was passed around various army psychiatrists, eventually being diagnosed with 'panic disorder'. Paul was posted to Aldershot and put on 'light duties' before finally being demobilised in 2006 and medically discharged. His discharge papers state that he is 'unfit for any form of military service'.

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