"The Fund’s counselling support saved my life"

When Andrew Stevens was diagnosed with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) 10 years ago, the RAF Benevolent Fund stepped in to help. Thanks to the Fund’s quick intervention, Andrew was enrolled onto its Listening and Counselling service, providing him with the tools to better manage his condition.

Andrew, 43, joined the RAF when he was 18 years old, serving for seven years as a painter and finisher on Tornados based out of RAF Lossiemouth. He loved his job in the military and being part of a tight community and a brotherhood. But, in 2007, his career was unexpectedly cut short, and Andrew struggled with the transition into civilian life.

Despite being successful in finding a civilian job, he became anxious and depressed and quite quickly things spiralled out of control. He began to worry about everything -finances, family, about his new job, his home. Eventually that worry turned into compulsion.

For ten years Andrew struggled with extreme OCD. OCD is a mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.

Andrew explained: "It started with small things like washing my hands. I would wash them twice to make sure they were clean and that I wouldn’t get ill. But things escalated and before I knew it, I was washing my hands four or five times and was still not happy. I began to avoid certain parts of the house and then eventually stopped going out too. I would spend hours at a time in the shower, trying to get clean.

"When I got home, I wouldn’t go near my children. I know it sounds crazy, but I couldn’t risk touching them. This went on for 10 years."

Andrew added: "I started obsessing about everything that could go wrong. I would come home, do my routines – my handwashing, my showers, my food – and I wasn’t really communicating with anyone. It was exhausting.

"I questioned whether there was any point in me being here; I was ready to end things."

However, there was light at the end of the tunnel for Andrew, when he reached out to the Fund for emotional support. He said: "The Fund’s early and reactive support meant I didn’t have to ask myself these questions for very long and slowly the darkness lifted. The Listening and Counselling service they provided saved my life.

"I had counselling once a week for around six months and this really helped."

Andrew credits the support from his wife Claire and three sons, Craig, 19, Lewis, 17 and Andrew, 12, for helping him through the tough times. He said: "I wouldn’t be where I am without Claire’s help, she was loyal and very patient."

Andrew is now thriving in a less stressful job working part-time at the Tesco Mobile phone shop in Dunfermline and enjoys volunteering in his free time. He said: "I volunteer with the Air Cadets, training them as part of the fieldcraft team and I love it. That is my passion."

Andrew concluded: "The OCD is always going to be there. But the difference now is how I manage it to make sure it doesn’t spiral."