Sharon Gillingham

Today, Sharon and Paul have what many would call the perfect life. Paul has a secure job he enjoys, Sharon runs her wedding cake business from a studio in their garden, and their beloved dog Holly keeps them active. But it wasn’t always this way.

As soon as Paul moved in, Sharon sensed something was wrong. Once her “big, bubbly Irishman,” Paul’s frequent, explosive outbursts revealed the toll of his 22 years in the military. Tours to Bosnia, Iraq, and Northern Ireland had left unseen wounds. After leaving the Army in 2007, Paul started a plumbing business, but a serious bout of pneumonia left him weak and financially strained.

“He became very withdrawn, moody, and edgy,” Sharon recalls. Nightmares, flashbacks, and mood swings escalated. Paul would cancel social plans, isolate himself in their bedroom, or obsessively watch war films, perpetuating a restless cycle. His hearing loss compounded things — the TV blared at volume 94, and any confrontation would drive him into complete silence for days.

Hitting Rock Bottom

Sharon, exhausted and isolated, felt the pressure mount. Recognizing the same anxious feelings from her turbulent youth, she knew something had to change. After a particularly traumatic night, she hit her own emotional limit. Desperate for help, she searched online and found PTSD Resolution.

She left a message — and twenty minutes later received a call. “The relief was immeasurable,” she says. Her first therapy session gave her tools to manage her anxiety and helped her understand Paul’s condition. Still, Paul remained skeptical after a long and frustrating experience with the veterans' mental health system.

A New Path

Paul had been diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression, but the support had fallen short. Long waiting lists, impersonal GP experiences, and the financial burden of residential treatment had left them feeling hopeless.

A month after Sharon began therapy, Paul agreed to try PTSD Resolution. The difference was almost immediate. “After a few sessions there was a noticeable difference,” says Sharon. “He seemed calmer, less angry, and more smiley.”

Over 18 months, they both received regular therapy — individually and together. Paul found trust and progress in a therapist who worked at his pace. He began to understand his triggers, and Sharon noticed profound changes in his behavior and engagement with life.

Building a New Life

Paul agreed to hearing aids and was shocked at the volume he’d been living with. “We can now watch a film together with ease,” Sharon says. Understanding how PTSD affected his sleep and sensory processing gave Paul confidence to make positive changes.

He accepted a job with a boiler manufacturer — “happier working than he’s ever been.” Hobbies followed: gardening, woodwork, and walking Holly the puppy. He even crafted a custom sign for Sharon’s cake studio — something unimaginable a few years prior.

Sharon reflects, “I felt selfish for wanting my own head sorted before Paul’s, but I was reassured that carers need care too.” PTSD Resolution recognizes how trauma affects entire families — and supports everyone involved.

Hope Restored

“Between us we have turned the biggest corner thanks to PTSD Resolution,” says Sharon. “There was no judgement, no pressure — just support, empathy, and expertise.” The rapid response and accessible therapy changed their lives.

“Looking back to the day I first made contact was without doubt my darkest time — but within 20 minutes I was being listened to, without judgement, and told it will get better. I was very emotional and I didn’t believe it — but she was right.”

“Who says people can’t change? They can — with the right help and encouragement. And we most definitely had that with PTSD Resolution. We will be forever grateful.”