This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week, with the theme this year being ‘Action’.
Whether you’re looking for a quick boost or something to help form long term healthy habits, there are lots of action you can take to improve your mental health.
We’re proud of how MAN v FAT and its communities not only help guys to get active and lose weight, but also supports the men to make significant mental health improvements.
This year, we wanted to tell the story of Andrew Prismall, a member of our MAN v FAT Portsmouth club.
Andrew has experienced a life with PTSD and was keen to share his back story with the rest of the MAN v FAT community in the hope it would help those who’ve experienced similar circumstances.
At the end of this article, there are some helpful links from our wellbeing partners JAAQ for those seeking additional advice and guidance but, first of all, here’s Andrew’s story in his own words.
Tell us a bit about yourself – your family life, what you do for work
I live in Southsea with my wife and 3 year old dog. I have my own small business in Portsmouth providing property information to lawyers.
Please talk about your experiences with PTSD and how it has affected you
I had serious operations and illnesses a few years ago. One episode in hospital involved me losing my life momentarily and having broken ribs from the CPR.
I find it nearly impossible to talk about that event. I didn’t know I had PTSD for more than a year, but it was noticed how I didn’t react to big threats but the slightest thing would set me off on an angry path.
I heard of someone else who described it as not batting an eyelid at someone nearly killing you in your car by cutting you up, but then getting to a supermarket checkout and wanting to kill the person next to you who pushed your divider along, making a mess of your food.
I then had 2 years of counselling, some of it (EMDR) was really hard on me to do, digging up memories in an effort to normalise them. I was signed off as an uncured case. The was no point going any further.
I believe that no one can ever be truly cured of PTSD. It is always there and you don’t know what will make it arise again.
When I react to something my head has decided as a threat is not just in my head, being scared or shocked, it’s physical. I know when I have a PTSD event when my heart rate start racing, my breathing is shallow, I shake and I just want to run away to safety.
What do you do outside of your MAN v FAT experience to look after yourself and manage those tougher days?
Every day I take my dog for a long walk and sit maybe up to two hours, I do this on my own with music always in my ears. It gives me time to think and be in nature. My headphones protect me from hearing potential threats and increase my feeling of safety. I am very watchful and deadening hearing helps.
I try not to talk about it as I don’t want my wife and others to have to suffer as well.
What was it that made you sign up for MAN v FAT in the first place?
I have always loved football and playing it, and I always need to lose weight. I have physical mobility issues and I’m 59 years old, but gave it a go and everyone there is so supportive.
I’m not a great player but MANvFAT is such a great leveller. A truly safe and supportive place.
How has your MAN v FAT experience supported you with your mental health and wellbeing?
A lot. I am less watchful when I am there, I feel comfortable and among friends. I really look forward to being there and the new friendships I’ve made. The support is tremendous. I can relax and my watchfulness is less evident.
How important is it that men talk about their mental health and wellbeing?
It would be so easy to say how important it is, and men don’t do it, but we all have reasons. My reason was not wanting to show a weakness and not to make others uncomfortable around me.
In my business I feared that rivals would use it against me, and colleagues would think of me as being “a big mental”. I don’t want anybody feeling that they need to treat me any differently.
If I’m talking to someone in a normal friendly or work manner I am unlikely to see any threats, it’s more likely to be from someone you aren’t talking to. Threats can come about any time on any day, they can be completely out of the blue.
A “threat” can be the arrival of someone who has previously been a “threat”, a picture of their face, even the mention of their name. I start shaking and my heart goes crazy. Or I could turn a corner and see something which is a threat in some way.
When I see a threat, I react in not just a mental way, it’s physical too. My heart and lungs start racing and I get short of breath and want to run away from the threat as quickly as possible.
And of course, sudden unexpected bangs and shouts can have, what other would say, is an “over the top” reaction.
I want to thank MAN v FAT Portsmouth for their friendliness, support and acceptance.
Want to know more?
A huge thank you to Andrew for his honesty and time in talking about his story.
If you’d like to know more about PTSD, JAAQ have some helpful conversations for you to take a look at:-
Deborah Lee – Trauma and PTSD
Ella McCrystal – EDMR Therapy
Marc Convey – Overcoming Trauma
