Amber Guymer-hosking a former Army medic chats about childhood abuse, the military and PTSD.

⚠️Warning ⚠️ this podcast contains topics of a very sensitive nature and viewer discretion is advised.Amber Guymer-Hosking was an Army Medic for 11 years, serving in Afghanistan, Kenya, Malaysia, and Brunei. She was medically discharged in  @TheOldParatrooperpodcast /videos/uploadwhen her mental health started to deteriorate. This led to flashbacks, nightmares and eventually suicide attempts.She remembered the trust and family bond with her comrades that often made the horrors of war bearable. Despite the traumatic memories, Amber admits to missing her deployment and feeling a sense of guilt.One of the most mortifying experiences for Amber was the aftermath of a patrol in Gresh. She was left shocked by the sight of a badly injured soldier and recalled the heartbreaking moments of dealing with severely burned comrades.Her PTSD diagnosis came after a posting in Malaysia, where she saw a rapid decline in her mental health. She experienced severe sleep paralysis and nightmarish flashbacks which led to her return to the UK for mental health support.Living with PTSD is a continuous battle with high anxiety, Amber explained, feeling as though someone is constantly sitting on her chest. Once a bubbly and sociable person, she started to find social interactions overwhelming. The weight of Amber’s experiences soon became too much and tragically led her to multiple suicide attempts, despite the presence of her son in the same military house.When Amber returned to the UK, she found herself homeless after running out of money to pay for hotel rooms, so she reached out and found support through Help 4 Homeless Veterans, a charity in which the Veterans’ Foundation proudly supports. She credits them for not only providing her and her son with housing but also for changing their lives.