Finding Her Way Back How Vanessa's Beating PTSD

Discovering Her Team Spirit Has Helped This Mum to Heal

- Steve Landells

Words probably can not do justice to the enormous impact the Invictus Games has had on Vanessa Bawden-Pere’s mental wellbeing.

Crippled for years by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the former Army Reserve staff sergeant and mum of two was prone to angry outbursts, feelings of anxiety, vivid nightmares and flashbacks.

Spooked by large crowds and noise, the Cantabrian even avoided her sister’s wedding.

Yet four years ago – shortly after quitting a 26-year army career – she was diagnosed with PTSD, and so began Vanessa’s road to becoming “a better wife, mother and friend”.

Both medication and psychotherapy have aided her recovery, but nothing has had quite the same impact as the Invictus Games – the multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick military personnel, founded by Prince Harry.

Set to compete in the games for a third time in October, this time in Sydney, the 48-year-old, who today trains young medics in the Defence Health School, says, “If I hadn’t discovered the Invictus Games, I’d have gone into a dark place and probably never come back.”

Raised on a farm in Waipawa in Hawke’s Bay, Vanessa signed up to the army on a whim at 17 years old. During her career, she served both overseas and domestically, and was exposed to a number of traumatic events, which, even today, she prefers not to talk about.

The impact took a huge toll on her mental health, but she refused to accept the symptoms.

“I didn’t want to show any sign of weakness. I very much had a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude,” explains Vanessa.