Peer-to-Peer Mentoring: A Catalyst for Empowering Veterans
By R. T. Garner
“Brave men rejoice in adversity, just as brave soldiers triumph in war.” — Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman philosopher.
Empowering Veterans
In the summer of 2009, Sam, an American soldier, started dealing with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Though he was diagnosed with PTSD by doctors in 2009, he initially denied its existence and avoided discussing it with anybody, despite their insistence. It was terrifying for him because he was worried about what his family and friends would think and how his diagnosis would affect him.
As a soldier, he continued driving on until a particular day in the summer of 2009, four years following his departure from Iraq’s battlefield. The exact cause behind this turning point is still unknown to Sam. Perhaps it was the sight of the young Soldiers’ remains that he helped collect after an IED explosion obliterated their vehicle, knowing deep down that they would never reunite with their loved ones. It could also be attributed to the time of year, as it coincided with the haunting memories of Iraqi children covered in blood and innocent victims of a market bombing in Balad, Iraq.
Despite being unable to pinpoint the exact trigger, he felt an intense tightening in his chest out of nowhere one…
