In 1970 I began employment with the Government Printing Office in Wellington.
In these earlier years, it became obvious to those around me that I was suffering severe anxiety and needed professional help. So in that year, I received counselling from a minister and psychotherapist and also received outpatient treatment at Wellington Hospital psychiatric unit. This was when I began to learn what caused the mental injury and that I suffered PTSD. I was put on medication to reduce anxiety and depression.
It was in 1974 that the first real crisis came and a severe bout of anxiety and depression led to a suicide attempt by means of an overdose. This attempt put me in intensive care for a day, and two weeks in-patient care at Wellington Hospital psychiatric unit.