CatastropheCat
Well-known member
British Volunteer Struggles to Cope with War Trauma in Ukraine
For 24-year-old Akula, joining the fight against Russian forces in Ukraine was a matter of patriotism and duty. But what he experienced during his time on the front lines would leave even the most seasoned soldiers shaken.
The young volunteer described scenes of unspeakable horror - the stench of rotting bodies, the constant sound of gunfire and screams, and the freezing cold that seeped into every pore of his being. Food was scarce, and when it came, it was often spoiled or inedible, leaving Akula to survive on a diet of stale bread and watery soup.
But perhaps the most daunting challenge he faced was the crushing loneliness that gripped him as he fought for what felt like an eternity. "Scary" is one word that comes close to describing the experience, according to Akula. "It's like being lost in your own mind," he told CNN's David McKenzie.
The trauma of war has taken a toll on Akula's mental health, leaving him struggling to sleep and plagued by nightmares. He described feeling "empty" and disconnected from the world around him. "You start to question what you're fighting for," he said. "And that's when you know you need help."
Akula's story is just one of many being told by those who have fought in Ukraine, a conflict that has been raging on since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. The human cost of the war has been devastating, with thousands of soldiers and civilians killed or injured.
As Akula begins to rebuild his life, he hopes that his story will serve as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing mental health support for those who have served on the front lines. "It's not just about winning wars," he said. "It's about taking care of each other."
For 24-year-old Akula, joining the fight against Russian forces in Ukraine was a matter of patriotism and duty. But what he experienced during his time on the front lines would leave even the most seasoned soldiers shaken.
The young volunteer described scenes of unspeakable horror - the stench of rotting bodies, the constant sound of gunfire and screams, and the freezing cold that seeped into every pore of his being. Food was scarce, and when it came, it was often spoiled or inedible, leaving Akula to survive on a diet of stale bread and watery soup.
But perhaps the most daunting challenge he faced was the crushing loneliness that gripped him as he fought for what felt like an eternity. "Scary" is one word that comes close to describing the experience, according to Akula. "It's like being lost in your own mind," he told CNN's David McKenzie.
The trauma of war has taken a toll on Akula's mental health, leaving him struggling to sleep and plagued by nightmares. He described feeling "empty" and disconnected from the world around him. "You start to question what you're fighting for," he said. "And that's when you know you need help."
Akula's story is just one of many being told by those who have fought in Ukraine, a conflict that has been raging on since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. The human cost of the war has been devastating, with thousands of soldiers and civilians killed or injured.
As Akula begins to rebuild his life, he hopes that his story will serve as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing mental health support for those who have served on the front lines. "It's not just about winning wars," he said. "It's about taking care of each other."
I feel bad for this guy Akula, he went through so much in Ukraine and it's still affecting him now 
. It's crazy to think that even with the best training and preparation, you can still get PTSD from war 
. And it's not just about the fighting itself, but also the living conditions and isolation... I mean, who would want to eat spoiled food all day? 
The mental health aspect of this is so important, we need to make sure our soldiers are taken care of before they even go into harm's way 
. Maybe governments and organizations can learn from Akula's story and prioritize mental health support for those who have served 
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It's not like they're putting their lives on the line over here. And yeah, it's totally normal for someone to go from being patriotic to questioning what they're fighting for after experiencing some trauma... that's just a rite of passage, right? 
watching this video of British volunteer Akula is heartbreaking... you can tell how much trauma he went through in Ukraine 
we gotta look beyond just winning wars and make sure our soldiers are taking care of themselves too 
it's like, they're fighting for their country, but what about their own well-being? 
. It's like, we think war is just something that happens to others, but it affects them in ways we can't even imagine. The loneliness, the trauma... it's no joke 
.
. We need to prioritize their mental health, just like we would our physical health 
. It's not just about winning wars, as Akula said, it's about taking care of each other 
.
. The things he had to go through, the food he had to eat, the loneliness... it's just too much for anyone to handle 
and now he's dealing with PTSD and nightmares 
it's not just about the physical injuries, but mental ones too 
#WarTrauma #MentalHealthMatters #SupportOurHeroes
They deserve so much support and care 
It's crazy how some people can get lost in their own minds when they're trying to help others 
We should all be looking out for each other, especially those who have served our countries 
. And you know what really gets me? We're all just sitting here, watching him suffer on our screens, and we can't even do anything to help 
. The UK should be doing more to support these guys, like actual therapy sessions or something... not just empty words from politicians 
️. We need to take care of our own people before we start talking about "winning wars" again 
I'm not saying they're covering it up or anything, but it's suspicious that we don't hear more about it. And those food rations he was talking about... what if they were deliberately made inedible to keep people docile and focused on the mission? 
It's not just physical health that suffers, but mental too. I'm so glad Akula is speaking out and raising awareness about PTSD 
. We need more of this conversation, you know? Less focus on winning wars and more on taking care of each other 
I'm all for recognizing the importance of taking care of each other, but can we also talk about how some forums and platforms don't exactly provide the best resources or community support for people dealing with these issues? Like, I've seen threads where people are struggling to cope, and it's just a bunch of comments from strangers saying "just talk about it" or "try meditation". Um, thanks, but that's not exactly helpful when you're dealing with actual PTSD...