Page 494 - Total War on PTSD

I remember walking into my REBOOT first meeting. Something struck me as strange. Everyone was smiling and seemed so freaking happy. What did they all have to smile about? Wasn’t this a combat trauma healing group? Aren’t we supposed to sit around and hear each other’s war stories and complain about the VA? But everyone seemed to be happy. It didn’t make sense!
Only a few weeks into the process, it started to dawn on me that I was healing. I was starting to address issues in my life that I had never exposed.
During Week 8, we discussed the cost of unforgiveness. For years, I had been carrying around a heart full of unforgiveness and bitterness. I was angry. I hated the enemy, I hated my cousin, and I hated myself. At the end of the lesson, we had the opportunity to come to the front and share the list of people we needed to forgive. I read through my list, which included my cousin and, most importantly, myself.
I took a pair of scissors and cut that card of names into pieces — and for the first time, I felt forgiveness. I felt joy. All of a sudden, I understood why everyone was smiling. They were free.
Coming to REBOOT Combat Recovery was the best decision of my life, after accepting Jesus and marrying my wife. Through REBOOT, I learned that others felt the way I had felt and that I wasn’t alone in my fight.
REBOOT is much more than a program. I have made amazing friends here that let me share my story without trying to one-up me with their own stories. They listen and show me love and support. They have reaffirmed that I am a “real man” and that I do have what it takes to be a great husband, father, and friend.
I will forever be grateful to REBOOT Combat Recovery.
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