Hello boys and girls. Hey, Jay Roberts here with another inspiring episode of the best version of you. Now before we get into the meat of it. I just wanted to bring to your attention a fantastic program that I'm running starting on the 2nd of September and it is absolutely free. It's a 30-day online body transformation package, which I'm delivering across all social platforms to anybody who wants to lose a bit of weight put on some decent amount of muscle and tone want to educate themselves in exercise and nutrition and more importantly one of really build their confidence at the same time make loads of new friends now, like I said, this is absolutely free of charge. I'm going to be running it via Facebook via Instagram and Via LinkedIn. So if you haven't got either one of those platforms, you can always use a different one. The link for this exciting 30 day program will be in the show notes. Okay. So make sure you click on it jump right in register and I will see you on the other side. Enjoy the show. Hello. This is AJ Roberts 15-year British forces veteran entrepreneur high performance coach and loving father and husband this podcast is for the motivated and inspired. For those looking to level up their lives for Fitness Nutrition and their mindset. Welcome to the best version of you. Hello and welcome to another fantastic episode of the best version of you. I am your host as always. Mr. Ajay Roberts and today. I am extremely excited to bring you another veteran who's got another amazing story in the man. That is Shawn Jones MC. Now. I let Sean go into a bit more detail about the MC shortly to give you a bit of a brief shower. Did 16 years in the Prince of Wales Royal regiment as pwr are unfortunately Sean's career came to a bit of a close earlier than the wished. He was discharged after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD in 2018. And this was as a result of lots of anxiety depression. Unfortunately suicidal thoughts and this led to Sean Leaving the Army early this year Sean is a massive advocate for mental health after him coming out the other side a Sean's also a veteran of multiple operational tours namely Afghanistan in 2011 when he was awarded the military cross for his unbelievable bravery and getting guys out of the complex ambushed by lecture. From home about that. So Sean that further Ado welcome to show me. It's a pleasure to have you. I've been what we've been talking about this for a couple for a while haven't way so farmers we've got to it. So, yeah, it's good Sean just briefly. Let's just talk about what you know leading up to you being discharged with unfortunately PTSD just for the guys and girls at home listening. It's something that just you know seems to just hit somebody or most people our know where really it's kind of unexpected and the people that I've had on the show recently a very much touched on that. It just kind of came out of nowhere. Was it similar with yourself? Yeah, it was strange really because I was in my unit in Germany based in Germany and the burden just come off the promotion board Colour sergeant. I was getting posted back to the UK and everything was great. Everyone was exciting. I've never really mastered you noticed much going on with me. But just before I left Germany in this transition period to move it back. I went out for a run and I went sort of I lost 40 minutes in my life essentially because I don't really remember what happened. I sort of had like a bit of a black capturing this run a runtime. We're still going. So on you what's just got on for last 40 minutes of walking around the corn field essentially which you know, I'm a massive fan of what sort of went and spoke to the doctors and they initially signposting me to the pcmh which is the mental health sort of, you know, sort of life within the military over in Germany. You also have been posting son a couple of appointments over there and I posted that actually UK to pick up that the But over that, but just as I posted just everything to a crash down to be honest again, just got into it to a funk. I just slumped. I don't know what it was. I had none of my peers around me or anything like that and we end up and up on a holiday a family holiday with some friends and actually during that family holiday is well planned my suicide. But yeah, so I mean very minor was with three close friends. It will also be in the same unit is made their families and that and just how I become on that holiday. I ruined it for everyone essentially because I was Moody was this them, you know causing issues. I wasn't happy. So it's causing issues. We never had any arguments or it's just you know people Notice of the difference in me up to that ended after a week or so. We went back to the UK. I was due to start my new job a few weeks later. I had loads of leaves takes over the end of the month were that leave. and yeah, I just Just go solo. I was just continuously thinking I iced it done. You know, it's easier for everyone if I'm not around so deserve. So yeah, I ended up getting involved obviously with the mental health Team back in the UK, you know, and the journey went on from there really difficult period around that time. So I've been listed in the mental health Team For some month or so I've been signed off sick from work. So I never actually turned up a table type of the training and Advisory Group in the UK was posted to I never actually got that would put on sick leave and during that time, you know, literally I left the house to go and never return. Thankfully that had some form of black out and ended up on a beach and my wife found me later on that evening. Crazy time to be honest, there's so much that went on in between there. But I pretty much hit rock bottom massively and was that was that the turning point for you to then go and get help or like really hit home to say like I need to sort this out. Now, you know, my wife's finding me. No, not at that point. Really? Yeah, obviously she found me. We spoke about it. I promised I would never do it again. I was Education is important as well, which is important one because I always said I didn't want to be on medication little to be seen as being on it for the rest of my life and I would put on it in the end of the I sit opposite to the doctor's if it's a choice that I don't want to be on it. If you're telling me is a medical professional it's time to go on it is a difference. Yeah, I've got somebody told me I was going to be on it and you know think slightly improved after that, but obviously I was enacted. Oppression presence and stuff like that. So thinking of doing could be there anyway, but I was going through a form of therapy. The hard part of the therapy was at that time was in this study the therapy itself. It was hardly enough got the my therapy wasn't willich in London. So I was driving two hours to an appointment where I was anxious before I got there to talk about not nice stuff. So then be anxious for two hours on the way home after not talking about a nice stuff. It just wasn't just didn't work and up had a relationship with with a psychologist become fractured just pure because of my frustrations at the system and it just just wasn't wasn't working. It wasn't a great Dynamic to be to be part of and it eventually came to a head, you know. My marriage broke down in that time, but I'm still living in my house, you know marriage court because I couldn't build an army camp because of what was what was wrong with me. Yeah, the doctors all you can't be on Camp them know I was going to put me hotel where they see pad. So, you know, we'd split up and we live in the same house. Isn't it was a bit of a nightmare to be honest with you. There's a lot going on for her Junior time. Talk to my phone. It was a lot going on for her time. So it's all broke down a bit. We still good friends. But what happened was is that I then started to progress and the medication probably had something to do with that as well. We've got to sort of Christmas 20 2017 and at that point there we were getting on really well. We worked fine - we were looking at trying to sort things out together, but I wanted them in a house anyway, so they were there two months ago. And yeah, what sort of broke down again of the Christmas period drank heavily ended up in an altercation in a bar got my jaw broke. No recollection of the event. What still over I missed again. I was and I was in my life, but I've just been drinking for a long time. This is the nest it's a mark nasty mix isn't it? And you're going back to the guise of had on before there's whenever there's alcohol involved in 99.99% of the time in the military. There is alcohol involved at some point the drug culture in the military is it's there and you know, those military people that are listening know what the drink culture is. And so Because I was good at my job. I messed up quite a lot in my career, but I had a pretty clean record when I left. Yeah, because things are sort of swept away because it was I've Got the Feeling with our make sure he's good bad what you know, let's sort this out. So we've never really held to account for anything. So I just got away with a lot of stuff, you know that I was at the time it was good, but I look back and reflection now. And think had I been held to account for something. I've done early on in my career. Maybe I may have noticed a difference in myself because I did change over the use but in that all-male environment that's an aggressive environment at times. It's easy to hide stuff, isn't it? Really? Yeah, I'm selling everywhere. I've been posted because you I mean you obviously be an infantry regimen you guys tend to go around. Get the don't need volunteers or other sort of cap badges tend to get posted Here There and Everywhere. So maybe I have been yeah, it's an insult like infantry environment is very much just not you could just feel that Vibe kind of just naturally naturally aggressive and it's just like Pete like people just seem to need to let off a lot of steam. Yeah, it is just different. So I mean, I don't know if you're aware, but actually I wasn't at all Engineers to start with. Yeah, so I transferred away. It's something that when did I leave I was into a engineer regiment inaudible. Yeah, so I was there for two years. I think I was transferred. So not a lot of people know that to be honest with you. It's not, you know, just a long time ago to be fair 2003. So, okay. 2003-2004 so but yeah, the dynamic slightly different, you know, the engineers are quite relaxed at times with having the done. Where is the Infantry very regimented and the rank structure is 100% there whereas in it is everyone's quite highly and made Tiant has a has a good relationship with working relationships where it is. It's not necessarily like that and infantry. Yeah. Yeah, but I've noticed when and also the the engineers tend to build the bar and the Infantry like Smash It Up essentially. Yeah, so don't because Squadron bars Sunday, whereas infantry certainly aren't going back obviously to like younger years. You joined the army at 16, you know, which is is pretty good going by person joined the level 8 And I'll kind of glad I did because you've kind of find your feet a little bit, you know, you have to grow up if you want to you know, if you want to leave home at a young age and you can take that into the military because you have that little bit of life experience. So going it going into the army at 16. I think no matter what regiment you mean. You have to grow up very quickly then you yeah it is. I mean, I've had my time again. Through chain nothing but from consider joining the video is it was just difficult at that age with the Army at the time hadn't really gone through that that transition stays to the Boolean is still there. You know, I was subjective massive bullying when I joined the army. All right. Yeah, but it's one of the reasons why my time and Engineers didn't go so great. Okay. but that culture was still there and because I was so young, but I was quite tall for my age. You know, I didn't look 16 years old. I tried to sort of I don't know some paperwork peacock, you know trying to Puff out my chest and be a bit try and be a bit older and wiser and not back down to people that are older than me, but it just doesn't work like that in the military and I'm coming proper to that several times. So it didn't go well for me initially, so I'll probably hold off a little bit to be honest with you. I haven't time again and was there any particular reason that you chose to join? The Army needs you always want to be a soldier. Yes. Am I so my uncle was in a while starts and my stepdad who brought me up pretty much or I live with from when I was about seven six seven years old. He was he was in the Royal Regiment of Wales. So I was around the Army a lot as a kid. So for me, it's just I wanted to I wanted to be in the Army from an early age. I think probably my pride aside when I was about 14 15, and that's what was going to do because I knew that's what we wanted to do. Probably the acted in a little bit in school because I knew what I wanted to do. Yeah, which is Then how about some again stay in school? Yeah, I didn't it is totally true and my brothers he's he's a Special Forces Unit. Yes, although he's amazing at what he does. He's an amazing Soldier. He's like really fit easily, but he wants to commission into to be an officer. He's got he's got to redo his maths GCSE as a result. So just it just it just goes to show you you can't hide you literally can't hide. But yeah, I've you know, so many guys do it so many kids do it and you know, we're both you I'm sure we both agree. I wouldn't be the person I am today without military and being a being a being an army brat myself as well might you know, I lived in Germany or four whole years as a kid teenagers and you know, I a lots of the Army in this kind of shape. You into who I am and what I do now and what I want to do in the future and it definitely definitely mold you and helps mold you and the skills you get from that from the military no matter what branch here in very very easily transferable and to civvy Street and hence why you can spot a Squatty a mile off. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So obviously you transferred into principles are Regiment talks through that that time obviously from you know private up until when you know, you really got into sort of like the command levels of so when I left are going to left the engine the engineers. I was already a lance corporal actually and so did my NCO carder in Germany and Hamill and I transferred across and they actually let me keep my rank. Which for me was a shock? I thought I was going in the back in catterick and straight away. But didn't they? Let me keep my rank during the during the process. So from leading Engineers to going across to the Infantry and my lemons down in a leadership from the engineer's want to go to the Infantry was a whole different world the approach to leadership in the Infantry was really different the nears as I alluded to before it was can sometimes be a the know like a Lord of the Flies scenario of people just really not wanting to do it and it's just like it is a couple of bickering sessions and things like that. Sometimes sometimes not all the time from the engineers, but sometimes you promote through your job and it's not necessarily the best way whereas in the Infantry. I've got a cross there. I had a bit of a culture shock because it I was being pulled Corporal straight away and I was like, no. No, my name's Sean. Yeah that the private that I know it's so straight away the very basics of leadership. I didn't I don't think I had a good grasp on them. You know them an NGO Carter just been thrashed around a bit does your leader so those early days were quite yeah Harry We trying to work out the system and come Majors got within the Infantry of happy wanted things done under two sergeants. So for me trying to learn that that craft as a lance corporal early on from Platoon sergeants that work whether by War already, you know, I just wasn't getting things right so I had to really go back to basics and I was lucky I had a good friend there that You happy he's old mental, but when you're not off, I just looked at happens doing things as I write and that like that. He doesn't need to share with the blokes. It doesn't need to demand respect. He just gets it but on the flip side to it. I had people in my he wasn't in my platoon. So I people in my car to where they would demand the respect they would shower the blokes. So I had these two different styles of leadership. I was like, How do I fall into this and so I'm trying to find the middle ground very very quickly because the company I was in was was deploying on pepper kicked as the 2nd Armored infantry company to go in to help them because armored infantry, you know, it's been used is used heavily in Iraq and other theater, but Afghan it was a whole new sort of concept. So I had to learn things pretty quickly and those early days I said we're Beige is trying to work out how things were and I went down too far right that times. I went down there the aggressive leader, you know that the demand in the respect. I have rank you will do what I say type stuff. And it took me a while to snap out of that. It really did. You know, it was it was a difficult difficult time that was trying to fit in in an operational training cycle. So my early days wasn't well liked by the privates to be honest with you. And I know I wasn't there to necessarily be liked by the privates because I was there to do a job. You still have to work and serve them fight alongside them. So I had to find the balance. I found them early days to transition from the engineer's to Infantry. Enough octo cycle really difficult, but once once I took people on the ground in Afghanistan, it's sort of changed and a little bit. And actually a little bit more approachable and you come down a bit once you get settled so it was okay at first but you know, there's a lot of things that happened early on that all that change me probably changing me to where I am today start it from that point. We need from an IED strike was involved in. Yeah, and you know, sometimes it takes an unfortunate event to quickly change the Dynamics of how you are as a Personal especially a leader. Yeah, we've all seen them in the past like the people who be you know, we always say likewise a really good camp called Camp Corporal and by that I don't but are they mean like as in homosexual like as in as in that they're really good at shouting and barking orders, you know in Nice Nice pressed iron uniform on Camp for the minute. They get the minute against the field and they have to think about 300 different things at once. Once because they're in charge of the blokes in their safety, they're just completely lose it. So if you like said it's absolutely imperative. We find that balance because to having done so much leadership stuff over the last few years. It's easy to look back and go. Why did I do that? Why did I do that? You know once you've actually done all that kind of stuff, but I've always found the best commanders of the ones that are the best leaders of Does it take some really good Snippets of everybody's ideas and advice as a as a collective as a team and then amalgamate them into like a you know top plan and you'll find that the productivity productivity and the efficiency of you guys and girls, you know elevates massively doesn't it? Yeah. I was a massive difference. So post post sort of that Opera Kate or 8/9 I was wounded. On that and I came back and I went through the rehab sort of stuff. I deployed back off on that or again. I'll see that that bit there sort of change me a bit, but when I got further down the road and I did Junior brecon, which was which what we have to do to become full court rules that that there Changed how I approached leading my men women. It was it's a really really good course just to make you look at yourself. There is no one's better than anyone that calls until the final day and the instructors make sure that everyone knows that regardless of how fit you are. How can a soldier you are? It don't matter so really getting on that course changed how I did things in the way I look at it leaders and you know how I like didn't have to shout to get things done. And if the blokes knew that they could trust me. That's the last thing for me like the guys knew they could trust me obviously as a because of Corporal later on on later or parekh. I didn't have to tell them about anything. They would come with me into anything and I knew that and they said that to me because of the trust and the respect they had for me not because I shouted at them there was times where I did shout at them where they knew they dropped a bollock. But you know after they trusted me and trust trust in leadership is a huge thing, you know, he might be and if they know regardless of what the job is or its military whether it's industry, whatever. If you as their leader are willing to do what they have done or what they're about to do then you I think become a good leader. If they know you will do it. If you need to they will trust you and they will do that job to a better so I don't and I found as well and I actually found a lot on in the civilian sector is that if you really take away that didactic I say You do approach and just throw it in the bin. It doesn't work and you actually Empower your subordinates in your peers and you give them that element of commands your you would have seen that on your tours of Afghan and other like what, you know be exercised and stuff that you they immediately act around cup, you know, they just suck. They suddenly take everything to the next level and I found switching up. Approach was made such a difference in that so when he unfortunately got into a firefight situations, you know, or ambushes and stuff. Are you had guys that were like sapphires privates they if given command giving commands like an end you would expect from an NCO because you'd Empower them to do so and then they were obviously they were that confident in their job. They weren't scared to do so either. Yeah, we drew the back end of my Time in Germany. So my senior NCO moussaka to Sergeant type type area. We went through a huge transition within our Battalion or regiment. We were we were doing this empowering stuff, you know, there's a lot of times and people relate to this where they've got qualifications to run ranges and stuff like that, but they never did. It was always the boss between Commander or or between Sergeant the random was actually we will have all know. Oh, we don't have to they've done the course. They're qualified. They Command hooks and it was like empowering the Junior ncos. And in the eye on the private ranges in that perfect pairing a lowest level to do what the qualified to do was the catchphrase so to speak was was really for not any retention, but to allow them to grow nobody grows and up to allow them to do what they could be qualified to do. You can qualify anything you want. If you're not in the position to use it, you don't grow in that so we were empowering everyone at the lowest level or what they were qualified to do and it worked really well. We grew some fantastic leaders over the last sort of six years of another time. We always had good leaders anyway, but just that transition, I think the Army was changing as well is this leadership and development but we did really well there are providing younger guys. Yeah, and I think it's it's long overdue. A Jew because I'm sure you agree. Now that you're out and you see you've been through the whole transition thing and likewise, you know, you would have met a networks of a lot of people and it's one thing that I come across on a weekly basis because I helped a lot of lads getting out and and lasses just from using my network and contacts into the helping people into civilian life that that going back to that approach where they're not being empowered. And it's they've been in they've been part of that. I say you do type environment. It leads them to massively undersell themselves when it comes to Future employment or even even even thinking of starting up their own business. Like they just just way off the mark because they go in there with a totally, you know, not negative attitude, but they just under sell themselves Master banana don't realize they actually share potential that they've got and a fact that so many. Companies all over the UK and worldwide, you know, I will let hanging out to have a junior NCO or somebody stand up and deliver training and development to to the guys and girls at work in departments have been a company like it's crazy. Yeah. Well you imagine, you know 20 year old Junior and CEO knows how to take it and structural action lesson properly. So someone in whatever it is within a civilian sector to do that you've got On for a very long time that come out the Army in early stage. They know at 20 years old had to structure a lesson properly and you know is going to be elements a little bit different obviously, but the structure is there and their confidence is there as well and that's the thing you don't really get that a lot of the time this will be sector and you're right guys, I'd run to sell themselves or they think they go too over confident at times. I think it is just really to fight sometimes. I need to find a middle ground and just know that they're okay. Just that be their own personality be themselves don't have to go Ott, but don't undersell yourself either. Yeah. Yeah, of course. It's my simply and it's it is a big obviously a big learning curve and it's different for everyone depending on the industry. You want to go down but let's say obviously I want to touch on like how you ended up in the position you were in but more importantly like how he come out. the other side I think we've covered a lot of good ground here, you know, especially with stuff like the adult grown-up stuff of leadership in the empowering is the farthest is amazing, but there's a lot of people out there right now and every people listening to this who Are too scared to talk or they just they just don't want to talk all the barriers of right up there close book - through like your your story of how you suddenly got diagnosed with PTSD. But like what it was in particular that you know, really helped you come out the other side since the position where you are now and likewise, you know helping people so, I mean what what really I had a big culture shock Essentially in January 18. I ended up in a psychiatric unit and it really isn't a place that you want to be and it's strange because it's a nice place if that makes sense. It's a really strange one, but I ended up there because people thought I was going to you know kill myself, so I ended up in a secure unit. And I had time to reflect in their time to just have no worries. I was just safe and everything is going on in life just stopped for me. So I could it was like a reset it really was and that time in there was just massive reflection points of look where I am. I don't want to come back to a place like this. How do I how do I have a question here? And the only thing that could ever really come back to or the only common denominator was I am the only person that can change what's going to happen in the future. You can have whatever however many doctors and Specialists and family members and friends around you is one you've got to want that change got to get into that positive mindset or a better mindset. I wasn't necessarily positive, but I was in a better mindset. And then sort of leaned into the help that was provided for me. So I so I took something so I took someone's value and I started to absorb it and I started to look at myself and think what else what are other people doing to stop this? And there was these suggestions of you know, they say wellness and meditation and things like that and I just thought you know, I'm a I'm an infantryman that that's that's not a thing. Think that's what I thought in the past. Actually, it was worth it. I started to do it and I started to exercise regularly because I stopped exercising through this period these last the last four months of 2017 and early 80's put on, you know, I usually sit between 75 and 80 kilos their thereabouts not too much more than that. I hit about ninety seven kilos, you know weight on so I started running. Morning, or at least exercise in the day meditation and and having you know, a routine and morning routine for me was was key. Right? It was key to starting my journey keeping to that and knowing what I was doing now, I was in a unique situation where I was still in the army. I'll put on sick leave. So for me at the time money wasn't a problem. And I know that's a lot that cause a lot of people's issues. But for me just in my specific journey, I was okay. So I just knew I needed to carry on with my routine of meditation and fitness and attending my therapy weekly and those three things are really helped me in that first part of Acceptance and accepted him something wrong because I didn't think there was anything wrong with me really until I was in that psychiatric hospital and accept it was a problem is massive regardless of the PTSD depression anxiety. Whatever it is, you need to accept that there's something not right. Have to agree with it. But accepting it's slightly different and that helps you heal a bit better and more efficiently, I think. And when you finally accepted it was that quite a long period that you were just like so beating yourself up. You wouldn't accept it or it was I mean, I mean the century that that acceptance I mean it was probably something wrong with me since 2008. Genuinely as well, we would probably was an issue that was masked by by the military machine. Yeah by the job by operational tools and stuff like that. So there's probably something wrong before men. So for me to get to 2018 to say, all right, I've got a problem here. That's a long time as a 10 year 10 year ago. There's massive may end and I mean I without going into too much detail, you know, you looking to see it. Medical records and people do think that there's an issue with you back then but it's not dealt with that then probably, you know, there's a new look back now on reflection and think why did I make those decisions? Why do they drop myself in it there? Why did I make that decision? And it was all a lot of time heavy drinking. I wasn't an alcoholic but I didn't stop when I started. Yeah, you know and you don't go 12 14 hour been sessions. Not remember nothing wake up in cells and I know sometimes that can be put down said that military culture but actually the decisions I was making and hiding it through military culture because I was a, you know, good bloke. So for me it was a long period but it's only when I've I'm out of the situation when I was out situation. I can look back and go. I was also going towards on school because I love Soldier it as I love the in the field but we spoke earlier about is a good camp sold a lot. I was I wasn't that great because I would wrap myself in it. I'll turn up late for work. You know, I was just You know not what I should have been doing all the time. So there was these patterns. I can look back on now and you can say it's coincidence or whatever, but I look back now and think some so many warning signs there that I could have dealt with internal earlier and they weren't so I get myself to 2018 and in this psychiatric unit. There's a realization that there is a serious problem. And it took me to get there, you know, it wasn't a suicide attempt beforehand. I've gone off to never return again. That wasn't the reality Jack it was the hospital. I was quite happy and willing to die. Essentially I wasn't it didn't bother me. My mindset was just gone. So yeah the development for me starting post that that staying at Psychiatric unit and it was then I realized in the people. I was around weren't necessarily even though they were good friends weren't necessarily the people that I needed to be around. I needed to be around positive stuff positive people positive outcomes. I needed to cut negativity off negativity was all around my life and I didn't even know it. So I needed to come negativity often and Implement positive stuff. So starting the day off properly. It's a positive start going to your already onto a winner. So that for me was a huge thing and I'll take it at something you still implemented this day just being around positive Z all the time. Yeah. So like I'm not falling out with any of my friends per se but there's probably about 95% of the people. I spoke to you when I was in the military. I don't really speak with anymore. Yeah, we're not regularly. Anyway distance yourself, basically. Yeah, because there's still that they're still in the Army in still that edited vibe from them at times. They're not negative people, but they can have a different vibe that I don't we want to be around too much anymore. Yeah. It doesn't help to your cause. Yeah, and I started to surround myself with what positive people and there were positive people. I already knew I rekindle daubers old friendships that I have. Had for years and you know, so Out friends that I'd left the military, you know, Woody prime example, you know key he helped me in those early days. We still doesn't have to be fair. So it was surrounding myself with a bit more positivity. Yeah, and it's it's not just the positivity in itself. It's the people you surrounding yourself that actually genuine generally want to See you win as well. Yeah, you know which I think is which is so important and you just naturally if you're always in that mindset, then you naturally attract, you know, it's just that law of attraction is that you just naturally attract like-minded people all the time. Yeah, and it's yeah it is so important to do that and it's been exactly same for myself, you know, since I left the military I although I live I live in a Garrison town. I only see that people I want to see I don't see the people that have to see and it's I like that balance, you know, but at the same time I keep that keep that arm's distance away from the negativity and I'd like she just surround myself. I would be online, you know networking with people like veterans like doing podcasts like this. It's just it's so vitally important from what for myself is all moving forward and then what you're doing, you know. If your own personal development journey, and you know, no matter what your past is is just fight so vitally important to surround yourself with positivity all the time. Yeah in like so and like I said doesn't mean like, you know, you have to sort of delete 95% of yeah your friends or social media. It's just it's just or even family she's distancing yourself slightly. Yeah boss keep it, you know, just keeping it at arm's length really, but still saying hello. But like I said, you know, it's all about that growth mindset Now, isn't it? Yeah, you've gone past like, you know, that's huge hurdle and upset of being in that situation of being a psychiatric ward in with your issues to now be in a position where your growth mindset is imperative and it continues to do so Yeah, no definitely and they don't eat it only progressed on Beth from there to be honest with you because I said the acceptance phase was there. They're getting rid of the negativity and then just working on myself and and working on my home and just being generally happier, you know was was key and I said me speaking with people in like-minded people just elevates that because you have a different type of conversation. You know, so there's now probably talk about me but earlier on we had a conversation, you know about other things and you know, it's it's positive conversation most you can support people that might be a bit negative in a conversation. You just got our Bowl you don't put as much into it, you know, there's not as much interaction and you know what, you know about things but you just get on with it. Yeah, it's like brexit. All right, you're brilliant. Yeah, same as bashed on some kind. Prime minister, but tomorrow the day after the sky still going to be blue. Well, not the minute not the minute but like a letter boxes are still going to be read and you know, you know, like my faster still going to smell it. It's just that it hasn't doesn't affect you that much if that's all you've got to talk about then, you know move along but so go back to into obviously positivity and like your routine is stuff that like I'm a big big fan of mine. Routines And I stress it a lot. I talk about all my social media platforms a lot on Instagram and stuff like that and we go walking every morning me and the wife and okay. It's a really good way to just chat. Yeah, we literally go for a walk with a brew people probably fit with mental but like we're going to God dog. Yeah, and but it gives us a really good opportunity to chat rather than sort of roll out of bed quickly smash the breakfast or free clothes on and get to work and then not really talk. Anything so later on that night. So it's a really good opportunity to have a chat about future plans and what we want to do as a family and you know travel ideas and yeah set you up for the rest of the day you already have that positive mindset from the offset. So we've yourself like you said about your routine is meditation something you're actively still doing now. Is it something that you've got your over that line or is it something you do? I still I still do it now. I must admit the last few weeks. So in the summer holidays, it's not been as strict as what it usually is, but I'm actually trying to introduce it with the children as well. So that's why you guys been a bit up and down but I could never get my head around meditation initially and I started using a guided meditation app headset headspace. Yes really has this is brilliant. Awesome. And what I would do is I would get up in the morning go downstairs. No no, no. My phone would be on Playmobil already downloaded the what I needed for headspace to the previous day. And I meditated first thing and I go out for a run. Sometimes I'll switch it up depending on which what I was doing first thing, but I tend to meditate first and then go for a run. I would do a quick 10 15 minute meditation because I'm a fan. Myself if I did it more because there are longer ones. I would zone out a bit too much. Yeah and wasn't up for a run. Yeah, so wanted to be just up. Bit of water on board meditate go for a run come back and then, you know have my phone I won't put the phone on until about course away when I knew it'd be work time about eight o'clock. So basically before the kids left be on airplane mode and I was really important because you interact a lot more in a house soon as you switch your phone on you can get drawn into all sorts. It's very quickly and we all know we can become guilty of that by the wrist social media whether it's emails whether it's whatever the soon as you put it on you'll get drawn into it. So I just didn't put it on until I finish what I was doing. Yeah, and it's so important like you what you've just explained there is something up in like tour around down people's throats of the last like month month or so about just making that first part of the day, even if it's the first half an hour all about About you like don't be every actor and really wake up and start miss, you know, replying to emails and messages and stuff like that because because somebody's messaged, you know, you do it when you're sorted and when you're ready when you're hydrate when you're hydrated when you're focused and when you're efficient, yeah sorted you out for the whole day ahead. What a lot of people forget is as well you mention hydration there. The on average the most dehydrated you are is when you wake up in the morning, we could have predicted that effort. I don't know between six and nine hours, you know, you haven't had a drink during that time. So you wake up you need to replenish your fluids in and take water onboard. So for me, it's important to get up and get water on board shape first thing in the morning as part of the routine Yeah, a hundred seven eight going back to The early stages of you sort of getting over the post-traumatic stress and you know, seeing like the end of the tunnel doing all the things you need to do in your life like surround yourself with positivity and that was it was it was there on and off days you had or was it very much just getting yourself surrounded by the right people. No. No, I mean it was with days where I was didn't we talk to people my mood was low. There's plenty of that. It wasn't all great. You know, we've just talk through what I did to get to where I am and I still have a few low days now nowhere near as much as I used to do, but it was difficult to get to that stage. You know, what some really really low points during that time. You know, I've never also word try to gloss over the things that we're going on with me. Yeah, there's all sorts of things going on. Wet the bed what grounds wet the bed, you know, there's always there's a lots of things going on because the nightmares became so piercing and troubling the right they were and Vivid that you know, there was episodes of meet me by the bed. So that was you know, I'm quite happy to to sit and say that some people are more why you saying that because it's fact and there will be someone out there that that is happening to you know, they need to realize that It's it can happen and you know, you probably if that's happened. You do need to start speaking to someone because it's just part of you your brain telling you this not something quite right? Yeah, so, you know, it wasn't all great there was period for I was up and down again. I was on medication for a while so that that balance balance me a bit, but my next tool battle was Get off the medication because I didn't want to leave the Army dependent on medication. So my routine became that ingrained that I managed to wean myself off the medication. That's what I've heard, which was really important to make it was always in the back of my head that I wasn't quite right on the medication and I didn't want to have a crash and burn because that's what happened. So I thought well, it's best me to do it and try it while I'm still in so that I've got the correct support networks around to be able to deal with that and I've come off it and I'm not in it, you know, again people are scared the medication but it helped me to get better and to get what I was and once I dealt with what I needed what dealt with it because I probably started out with everything to this day. It's you know to do but it got me to a point where I was comfortable to talk about everything and I could taper off from weaned away from it and still be okay to talk about Stuff without makeup into a flat spin, you know his death. I've got to fit but honestly, that's a such a remarkable thing that you did that yourself and wean yourself off it because not even not just any depressants and tablets for mental health issues anxiety stuff like that, but even people are even people are like hooked on painkillers and opiates and stuff like that, you know, just trying to be able to or drugs themselves, uh been able to wean yourself. Off something that you become heavily relying on is, you know deserves a medal in itself me. It was is all its mindset. I think I think I've got myself to to the point of where I knew that. I was coping. Well really. Well. I'm just awful now it's time to try and take her off these and see how it is doctors weren't best pleased when I told them but you know, They hadn't noticed that is what I was doing. I was still on them, but I told them on a you know, I think was about a quarter of the dose. But you know, they said look it's been working. We've not really notice the difference in your in your sessions. Let's roll with in see see what happens. So yeah, I mean it was one point where they thought they may need to reintroduce it. But that was just a bit of a blip it me and but I was fine after after a few days now, that's awesome. And not only do you have a by any sort of advice for people the guy's a ghost listening that may be on some form of medication but not a hundred percent sure that they want to be on it. Don't burn yourself with it. Like I know I just said I did it. Speak with the doctors and get their honest opinion because a lot of times when you're going when I did this, I've been through a lot of therapy A Lot weekly sections once or twice a week to know who people haven't dealt with things did enough during that stage because the top but to there to balance you out into the day your mood and not get new solo. So If you imagine on medication without medication, I'm down here. But when I'm on medication, I'm up here and have a session or medications going to bring me down to here. I'm still not a model though. It's because the medication yeah, someone just takes it away and I had a bad day and they drop below this level loves when they have a serious problem and people makes all sorts of rash decisions. So I'll always say speak with a doctor first and foremost. Don't do what I did and Make sure that you know, it's look at Alternatives just because it's not always the medication. That's the issue. Sorry. It's not always the medication isn't the issue at times. It's a type of medication that maybe doesn't work. Well with you so always look at the Alternatives and look at then the basics so the routines because the routine help me, you know that that is massive morning routine. And good structure to the day is what helped me if I didn't have that in place and try to come off that medication. It wouldn't have lasted very long. So probably what forward a bit about what your question was to be there. But I think the website that's exactly what we need me and it's it's again like saying before it's just creating a platform for people like yourself have been for this kind of stuff that's relative to is like hundreds and hundreds of people out there. The almost code up in a bowl because they've got nowhere to turn to you say I say it time time again if we can help one person from this podcast and you know, the other guys out there doing similar sort of podcasts and radio shows and what kind of stuff and that's that's the most of the goals is we can just help one person. Yeah overcome that bit of sort of tragedy and turn it into some form of Triumph, then then were winning and you know where more people are in a better place. But yeah, it's really awesome that you can share stuff like that because it's what people need to hear. Yeah, something like to hear it at times. I have been criticized on social media before being as open as I am and It didn't help me. To be honest with you. It brought me to a point that someone would say at least it's my decision to say what my journey has been. Yeah, of course it is. I think that the more open we are no more blunt. We are because you know, some of the things I say could sound quite blunt, you know, when the bed is quite a blunt not a blunt, but it's quite a tear me up. I saw the video up and really, you know, it's not a lot of people admit to that but I think if you don't admit to that and an open up the things that will be people out there suffering and doing that and they will want to say anything about it. Yeah, and I'd like to get we need people to be as open as possible for the for these reasons purely because there's people out there suffering with these same problems. But again, there's potential serious potential there's lives at stake. Yeah, and and the thing is Is that people recognize it early? It doesn't get to the critical stage of where somebody's thinking about suicide if we actually other people are like this if you can get it early on things can be dealt with careers aren't ended because they may not get that far to have a lolly get diagnosed with something that's going to happen after their career whatever job they have, you know, if it becomes a normal conversation Then you know people will fare better from it, you know trying to prevention's better than cure and if I can talk and tell my story to help someone prevent something spending hours trying to try and cure them in the long run. I mean, yeah a hundred percent massively right? So moving forward moving forward you're working on a book which is pretty pretty huge. Yeah. I'm starting to feel kind of left out the minute like I'm interviewing all these vets in that light. Go these books and I feel like I feel like I need to bring a book out talk a bit about the book They're gonna bring out me. So for me it was never. Never about writing a book that makes sense for me. It was about writing down my life my thoughts to try and make its it better in myself. It was and then became about I've got two young kids. So they're going to have questions one day that they may feel they don't want to ask or awkward about asking so for me if Just had two books and whether that's just printed off twice and put it in a binder. I can say here you go. Yeah, I can because it is quite you know honest and open, you know, there's a lot of battery the media so they can read this and see from my words and they may not want to ask those questions, but then they may be able to have more of a meaningful conversation by knowing what they know. So for me it's important to do that. So It's turned into me right actual book and I want that to be published fart fart not I'm not far away from publishing, but it's finished, you know, and it's a couple of months close friends are going to have a have a run through it a couple of them were published look at already. So we'll see and we'll go from there, but for Me it's not about necessarily a book. But if it helped people and the main to be my kids. that's what I thought a lot of veterans are doing at the moment and a lot of the goals behind a lot of the Visions behind the books are you know to help other people out there because you yes, you might you won't know that person individually, but if they're picking up your book off the shelf and as you know, even a chapter that's totally relative to them and change their perspective on things in the problems that they're facing again again you You know you're winning and it's important that sort of people like yourselves and I've like like-minded people people like Brian Wood and the other guys out there that are bringing bringing books out there with you know, suffer from PTSD and been dragged free shit to come out, you know, come out singing on the other side is really really important. So like I really wish you all the best with your that way and I I never said I was a big seller. I'm sure that I'm sure there'll be some banter banter between you and Woody. Yeah, I imagine they will we see what he thinks of it before long. Have you asked him? If you can be a lead role in this movie? Excuse me? No little bit older now. All right. I haven't got the hair. Yeah. It's if you can just get like a little Cameo scene at the end, you know where the camera come to light fixtures on the like the modern-day version of Everyone likes it. Just just get you little sort of ten seconds of Fame, but they will I'm really excited about it. To be honest with you. It's a it's going to be a good thing. You know, I'm excited to see how it pans out because it was a lot going on. So we'll see ya know. That's awesome man. I know sort of like daily lifestyle wise I mean, If you've got your landed a really good job working with working with Michael coats former Royal Engineers. Got got really good podcast himself the Declassified don't worry, but my free little plugin for you there. Yeah. Well, so it's house like how's life been obviously back on civvy street and moving forward you got sort of like big plans and I was really fortunate to gain that relationship with with Michael and work for his company. I've got the back but doing a podcast with him. It's all work from home. It's not get to see the kids more often build my day the better. My throat's gone the moment so apologies. So yeah, it's been great, you know day-to-day life, you know routine work starts at 8:00. And yeah, I mean, I can't complain to be honest with you. It's a good network of people positive people and we're all striving for growth in different ways shapes or forms. That's also again going back to what we're saying for just you know surrounded your whole environment pretty much with with positivity. So yeah, it's only an obscenity going to bring good things for you on the other side. Yeah. Are you are you doing anything with your self sport wise the you kind of like an active Sportsman and after well I did I've done a couple of mad things really at a charity football match. A few months ago, which was painful should we say? Yeah because I'm going to keep footballer, but I will brand new football boots bad move. Yeah playing against X Pros as well was not great at a 24-hour fitness circuit session last month, which again why why did that? I don't know. But other than that, no, it's just Fitness very good. Just make payments. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Do you going back to Señor aquí Keen footballer that you follow a certainty money went to the United a civil and game last weekend, but I always sat in their Arsenal fans was worried that we weren't asked them shirts. I was like, yeah. No. I was not from Manchester. But things always yeah I am so you know, it's football was just it's been great for me in life, you know played it, you know regimental level, you know, really enjoyed it, you know, and it was a decent level as well know who Regiment of footballs quite a decent level. Yeah. So yeah don't get to do it too often anymore. Like it's still very much what I love about football. Supply tonight what people think about so the you know, the egotistical staff and the violence and that comes of it. It's still you know, it's the biggest culture in the world by far and you know the way it brings people together every, you know, just from Club level like or you know, your Pub Sunday Pub Team level all the way up all the way up to, you know, following following Nation, you know, like they just went mad when England got to the semis last year. Yeah. Yeah, so let you know football itself like the way it brings people together is like fantastic. So I believe is very important. If you having issues or have had issues with authority you get yourself involved with this kind of stuff, you know, doesn't not necessary football could be like rugby whatever but let's talk about people isn't it? Yeah. Yeah just on a like minded level that you just mentioned that with a common interest. Mmm. It's really it's really important. What I'm saying because there's going to be a lot of guys and girls that have listened to this and I've had problems or having problems right now. Where can they find you on social media? I've been I'll put all the tags in the show notes, but where do you spend the most time? Where do you hang out on those? And so I use most of the the main platforms really Instagram? I'm Shawn Jones underscore. NC on Facebook on page on there's Sean Jones MC on Facebook search with this a on the pages on there and on Twitter. It's actual Jones MC. So all very very similar and yeah, I use all three platforms quite often not a lot throughout the holidays recently. Yeah. With weapons at this year, but I'm on there quite quite often. Okay, so, you know for guys and girls listening may have an issue and that I mean Reach Out speak to Shawn. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to help free food current situations or just to give you a bit of advice and moving forward trying to maybe get you a little hole that you might find yourself in. Yeah. Yeah. No definitely is people are message me quite often, but it's just chat little bit of advice. I'm a medical professional, you know, but I can I can sympathize and tell you what I did right and what I did wrong more importantly because I did make mistakes. So, yeah, definitely if anyone does want to chat or anything really thin definitely send me a message. Before we for you, right mate, I always ask my guests this question and I think it's a really good question because it brings out a lot in yes, because they need, you know, kind of like think on the spot but it helps them kind of reflect on themselves. Now, we got this imaginary time machine here in the in here is stuck in the Wi-Fi somewhere. Yeah, and you can put a Post-It note. It and you're going to send it back to 15 year old Shawn Jones what there's a cut the bullet points that you can put on there for him to read. What would those be or 15 year old? Okay quite sure you won't join the Army yet. And you're just a laugh funny age where you're kind of like gum passed out of lessons on you and you found your find finding yourself something. So I mentioned the one already. D stay in school longer it's that I know it's a box that has one but could definitely do be kinder because I got me personally, I wasn't a very nice person at times. So these kinda it's free. Yeah, and it's a tough question that may I tell ya. I think probably set an example earlier alone. Yeah, because I didn't really set an example for people when I was younger, you know probably was a bit too far to the right, you know, the main I was out of control but you know, especially joining the Army early had all this money and a lot to do with it. So my two main points with Be kind and set an example to be honest with you. Well, that's pretty amazing This and like I said, it is a good question and a really sort of take she starts thinking, you know straight away because that's as a difficult question, you know is is and now I mean, thanks for sharing that with us meet guys and girls are really really hope you took some amazing golden nuggets away from from Sean's F. So today, it's been absolutely fantastic having you on the show. Oh mate, please guys and girls if you like the show and you took a lot away from it. Please leave us a review. It means the world to the show and it means that we get out there a lot more and we help more and more people every single day for every single episode. Sean has been an absolute pleasure. Mate are really glad that we finally nail down some time to get you on and I wish you all the best with your book moving forward and everything you're doing. It's Absolutely fantastic, and you know guys and girls if you learned something from Rashon today, please let us give some feedback. Let us know what you thought and likewise if you're struggling, you know, it's like we've said many many times before it's it's not weak to speak get out there talk to people get in touch with Sean. I'm sure we'll be more than happy more than obliged to select to lend an ear now. Definitely. And no honestly, it's been great to get on there. It has I'm sure we will be talking a lot more in the future. And yeah, it's been nice to meet you for the last few hours and yeah, definitely the reviews and I can't let go that enough to help build, you know, not only the audience but confidence in Nevada mountains this doing it that he's doing the right things. So Stephanie those reviews are really important to us on guys and girls really hope you enjoyed today's episode. We've got loads more amazing episodes lined up over the next few months of more amazing stories. But until next time please take away or the amazing golden nuggets that Sean as shared with us today and go out there and become the best version of you.
Sean Jones MC left the army after 16 years as a Colour Sergeant in the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions after a complex ambush on his patrol in Afghanistan in 2011. Part of his citation read: He “epitomised the best qualities of the British infantry: gritty determination, controlled aggression, tactical cunning and complete disregard for his own safety”. Sean’s career unfortunately came to an abrupt end after a diagnoses of PTSD in 2018 which led him through a period of huge anxiety, depression, suicidal thought processes and an admission to a psychiatric unit. Today on The Best Version Of You, Sean shares that after a long period of therapy and reflection came growth. With the growth he has experienced through positive life changes and interactions with the Declassified network he has been able to start over again and is now on a journey to help others through the lessons he has learned. He began by doing what so many fear..... by speaking out and explains how he managed his mental health and his transition from the military over social media and will soon be offering professional talks about his journey and how he can help others who may also be suffering in silence. To reach out to Sean you can find him on Instagram: seanjones_mc and on Twitter: @SeanJonesMC. Note: Guys and Girls, if you enjoyed this episode please kindly leave the show a review on iTunes. It really does help the show but more importantly it helps more and more people in need. Thank you. 