A military veteran from North Cornwall who received help for his alcohol recovery in Newquay has urged others to follow in his footsteps.

Graham is appealing to serving personnel, veterans and families to seek support from WithYou with any challenges they may be experiencing in relation to drugs, alcohol or their mental health to mark this year’s Armed Forces Day.

WithYou, which has offices in Camborne, Falmouth, Liskeard, Penzance Redruth, St Austell and Truro, offers tailored support to members of the armed forces community who are experiencing challenges with drugs or alcohol 

The organisation says it is able to better enhance their drug and alcohol recovery by acknowledging their unique experiences, specific needs and military identity.

Graham approached WithYou in 2020 after his  eldest son had recently passed away, and as the country went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he began to experience severe challenges with alcohol.

Graham said: "It was a very traumatic and sad time, and I didn’t deal with it. I started making excuses as to why 'it’s okay' to have a drink during the day.

"This went on through lockdown, and it just got worse and worse until I was at a point where I’d stopped drinking for enjoyment - the depression and anxiety was really high. The only way that I could get on top of it was to have a drink – I stopped drinking beer and started drinking vodka to subdue the anxiety."

Graham’s relationship with alcohol started during his military career as a coping mechanism.

"Being in the army, no matter where we went, what we did, we always had a drink – it was a given," he said. "Drinking was an enabler - it was used as a way to decompress: if you had a problem, or you’d get back from somewhere, you went out with your mates to the pub to sort it out.

"After leaving the army, I experienced quite acute anxiety, and I sought counselling for it instead of medication. I received cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) - which worked - but all the way along, I carried on drinking.

"Looking back, I can see that the drinking was ramping up, always. It was the go-to: if something went wrong, you drank. If something went well, you drank."

Graham found a rehab centre with the help of his partner, which he describes as an "amazing experience". To aid his recovery further, Graham's partner contacted Mark Thomas, WithYou’s Armed Forces coordinator.

Graham said: "Mark has been my primary contact at WithYou, alongside Alan, my recovery worker, who is also ex-forces. Both of them have been so supportive and good to talk to."

"Mark encouraged me to go along to a session with ex-veterans.

"He gave me the confidence to speak openly to like-minded veterans who were on their own recovery journey. I really enjoyed listening to other people’s experiences, and it made me realise that we are all in the same boat.

"The support that I have received from WithYou has been different to what I have received elsewhere.

"It’s very accessible, no matter what you need support with, it’s there. Mark and the rest of the team are always a phone call away.

"There’s personalised support for ex-veterans, which I haven’t experienced anywhere else - the events that are available to us, such as the 'Walk and Talks' and the drop-in sessions are brilliant. They’re tailored specifically for veterans, by veterans."

"Having the ability to speak to like-minded individuals with similar experiences is invaluable. A lot of the veterans that I've met have been a similar age to myself with a variety of different experiences in the forces, and with their own unique challenges: from suffering with PTSD to having their battles with alcohol."

"Another thing that it has shown me is that I want to give back to WithYou for the support that I’ve received - I’m currently volunteering and facilitating MAP groups, but my passion is to become a recovery worker at WithYou."

Andy Craze, the national Armed Forces programme lead at WithYou, said: "We’ve developed a dedicated programme at WithYou which provides specialist support for veterans and their families.

"Veterans have given their lives to their country, and we are proud to play a small part in improving access to the support that they and their families deserve."

For more information about WithYou’s armed forces community programme, visit www.wearewithyou.org.uk/what-we-do/armed-forces