Brave veteran who fought in the Gulf War and Troubles opens up about battle with PTSD
Guy Cholerton, who served in the first Gulf War and Northern Ireland contemplated taking his own life after he left the Coldstream Guards in 2011 after 24 years
A BRAVE ex-soldier who wanted to take his own life after serving in Northern Ireland during the height of the Troubles has praised a PTSD charity for saving him.
Guy Cholerton, 52, became "irrational, aggressive and irritable" when he left the Coldstream Guards in 2011 after 24 years.
The lance corporal, who also served in the first Gulf War, became so low he would regularly talk about death and ending his life.
But he said the "fog was lifted" by veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress, who carried out eight weeks of therapy on the granddad.
Guy, of Gillingham, Kent, said: "I think the PTSD started around two years after I left the Army.
"My friends and family noticed an aggressive change in my nature so I went to the doctors and got prescribed anti-depressants.
It comes after a 24-hour helpline for troops with PTSD was set up last week following the tragic suicide death of a soldier who fought alongside Prince Harry.
Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt took his own life on New Year's Day after telling war buddies he was struggling to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.
In the wake of his death, his wife Lainey Hunt accused defence chiefs for failing to properly support her husband, who was just 39 when the impacts of war became too much.
The move comes after Melanie Waters of Help For Heroes used The Sun to call for more to be done to help troops suffering with mental health problems.