Lib Dem councillor reveals PTSD impact from Brexit

Antonia Harrison, a Liberal Democrat councillor from Havant, has publicly shared her experience of being diagnosed with PTSD as a result of Brexit. Speaking at the party's autumn conference in Brighton, she expressed the deep emotional toll Brexit has taken on her identity, stating that she feels European at her core. Harrison, who has a background in mental health therapy, highlighted the personal and physical effects of this trauma, including losing her voice multiple times. Harrison's life was significantly enriched by the UK's membership in the EU, having lived in Brussels and learned multiple languages. She lamented the impact of Brexit on her family, particularly her daughter, who holds a master's degree in international law but is unable to pursue opportunities in Brussels due to the current political climate. The Liberal Democrats aim to eventually campaign for the UK to rejoin the EU, but they recognize the need to first mend the relationship with the bloc. Senior party members have called for closer ties with European neighbors, including a proposed free movement policy for young people. Harrison believes that the public must come to terms with the perceived mistakes of Brexit before any serious campaign to reverse it can take place. Harrison also shared her personal struggles, including issues with health coverage for her property in Spain, where her mother spent her final years. She described the emotional distress she experiences when traveling through airports, feeling a sense of loss as she navigates the new realities of post-Brexit Britain.