A STRESS-BUSTING group in Swindon has celebrated its first birthday with the launch of a website.

Gulf War veteran Andrew Hack, 37, has set up a website for members of the Stress Management User Group Swindon (SMUGS).

He suffers from Gulf War Syndrome and created the group to help people with stress-related illnesses.

He said: "People get referred to us once they have finished treatment on the NHS.

"We take some of the strain for the state system and help people rebuild their lives after stress-related setbacks."

In its first year SMUGS has proved popular and now Andrew has launched a website, www.smugs. org.uk, to offer more support.

He said: "We have had about 50 people coming to the sessions in the first year.

"That may not sound a lot but people use the group for extended periods of time and are often coping with very complex illnesses."

The website contains its own forum, so group members can now discuss their problems 24 hours a day.

Andrew said: "It is a great help to all people attending the group and it will also be of benefit to old members of the group who have now moved on to run their own lives.

"The website is becoming a portal for everyone in Swindon who suffers from anxiety, stress and depression."

Mr Hack, who lives with his partner Catherine and two of his three daughters, has further plans to host contact points to different alternative therapy businesses, which will help to reduce pressure on the NHS.

He said: "In this country there is a tremendous amount of stress-related illness.

"We need to do something quickly to address this, and anything I can do to make the people of Swindon happier has got to be good."

Last year Andrew set up his own company producing stress-busting CDs.

As part of the stress course, run by the Swindon Primary Care Psychology and Counselling Service, cassette tapes were distributed to help people relax.

But Andrew now records the CDs using his own equipment.

He said: "You listen to them in a quiet room and it is all about slowing you down to concentrate on what your body is doing.

"Over a period of time you can teach your body how to relax. It is all about telling your body to switch off because that is what people with stress can't do."

For more information about SMUGS and the new website, contact Andrew on 01793 882206.

Danger signals for the future...

ANDREW Hack is living proof that stress can be beaten.

The Middleleaze father of three turned from patient to teacher after winning his battle with Gulf War Syndrome.

The 37-year-old veteran suffered from stress for 14 years until he went on a stress management course.

He left the armed forces and started work for a computer company.

But he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Gulf War syndrome, so he entered a stress management programme.

The programme was so successful that Andrew decided to set up SMUGS to help other sufferers.

He said when he went on the course they were so pleased with his input that they asked if he would help them to set up a users' group.

Andrew faced opposition from the armed forces in gaining recognition for his condition, and was only recently granted a pension.

He said: "They didn't accept that I had a stress-related illness for a long time.

"I know just how hard it is for people to get help for what is a real problem in the workplace.

"I see a serious national crisis with stress coming on in this country.

"I want to see more people recognising the dangers of stress, so that Swindon becomes a better place to live in."