- Stanley Gichira has already lived a life many would consider extraordinary, having worked as a Kenya Defence Forces soldier from a young age
- What many do not know is that, since his retirement two years ago, he has struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- The tumultuous development saw him withdraw from friends, abandon the sports he loved, and even lose his family
At 32, Stanley Gichira has already lived a life many would consider extraordinary. A former soldier with the Kenya Defence Forces’ 60 Army Special Battalion (Special Forces), he once trained to endure the toughest physical and mental challenges.
Source: UGC
Today, however, his greatest battle is one fought in silence, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Stanley says life has never been the same since he left the service two years ago.
He told NgGossips that last year, he was diagnosed with PTSD at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, a turning point that helped him put a name to the turmoil he had been experiencing.
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“It has changed everything,” he says. “I withdrew from my friends. I stopped doing the sports I love. I even lost my family.”
Stanley and his wife are now separated, and he rarely sees his young son. He describes the strain his condition placed on his marriage, explaining that while he had hoped for understanding and support, the emotional distance between them only grew.
The isolation that followed deepened his sense of despair.
He admits that, at his lowest points, he made several attempts to end his life. Each time he survived, an outcome he now sees differently.
“I’m still here for a reason,” he says. “Maybe it’s time to speak about this.”
Mental health professionals say PTSD can affect anyone exposed to traumatic events, including soldiers returning from active service.
Symptoms often include flashbacks, anxiety, insomnia, anger, emotional numbness and withdrawal from loved ones. Without timely support, the condition can devastate relationships, careers and personal wellbeing.
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For Stanley, retirement from the military did not bring peace. Instead, the structure and camaraderie he once relied upon disappeared overnight. Civilian life felt alien.
“In the service, you are trained to be strong, not to show weakness,” he reflects. “But when you come out, and the battles are inside your mind, it is different.”
He believes many former servicemen and women across Kenya are suffering in silence, unable or unwilling to seek help due to stigma or fear of judgment.
“People are going through worse than me,” he says. “They don’t talk about it. They keep it inside.”
Source: UGC
By sharing his story, Stanley hopes to spark a wider conversation about PTSD and the need for stronger family, community and government support systems.
He wants families to understand that PTSD is not a character flaw or a lack of faith or willpower, but a medical condition requiring compassion and treatment.
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“People should not be abandoned,” he says. “They need support, not judgement.”
Despite the hardship he has endured, Stanley says he still holds on to hope. He wants to reconnect with the activities that once brought him joy and to rebuild relationships, especially with his son.
Most of all, he wants others struggling with PTSD to know they are not alone.
“If my story makes even one person speak up and seek help instead of suffering in silence, then it will be worth it,” he says.
Source: NgGossips
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