Meet me: Linzi Adlington

My name is Linzi and have worked in the Police for a total of 16 years, across 3 different forces. I started in A&S as a PCSO, before joining Wiltshire as a PC in 2015, and then transferring to D&C in 2019.

When I worked in Wiltshire, I attended several incidents which resulted in me experiencing waking nightmares and flashbacks. I didn’t ever feel like I could talk to anyone about this, and so it became something I lived with. I really struggled with sleep, and I became a shadow of the person I was before, often being snappy and emotional.

Several weeks before I moved to Devon, I found my dad at his home after he had collapsed and fallen down his stairs, and where he had been for 2 days. He was extremely dehydrated and was in a bad way. When he went to hospital, he was unable to use his hands to feed himself or even pick up a drink. I then spent all of my free time with him in hospital, providing additional care. Initially it was thought he had Parkinson's, but later it transpired that he has a rare untreatable progressive neurological brain disease. Dad remained in hospital for several months and I spent this entire time, travelling between Exeter and Bristol daily to look after him as I felt it was my duty to.

Whilst dealing with my dad suddenly being extremely ill, I also had the stress of a relationship breakdown, a complete house and work relocation, and due to this, I began to crumble. Outside of work, I found I was alone, living in a new area, missing any kind of support network and still suffering flashbacks.

At work, after many weeks without proper sleep, my building anxiety and running myself into the ground still trying to support my dad, I reached burnout. A standout moment, was when I struggled to remember someone’s name, having asked it 3 or 4 times in a matter of seconds.

Thankfully, I was referred to Surfwell and took part in my first session. I felt so at ease with everyone, and it took me no time to open up to my instructor. When I started talking, I wasn’t aware that I had been holding so much in, and I quickly opened up about the unresolved trauma from my previous force.

I was referred for further support, and I was subsequently diagnosed with PTSD due to the trauma. There was a period where I fully believed that I needed to leave the Police, but due to Surfwell and the support and intervention they provided, I have been able to continue.

I was offered the opportunity to come back as an instructor last year, and I jumped at the chance. The programme has had a profound and lasting effect on me and I’m so proud to be able to wear a Surfwell instructors top and be able to help others in the way that Surfwell has helped me. I’m proud to be part of this team and have so much enthusiasm for the role I have.

I know what can happen when a someone attends a Surfwell session, and I am so passionate about being able to share my story.

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