A man is using his personal tragedy to empower combat veterans in Jacksonville.
Ben Watford’s post-traumatic stress disorder doesn't rule his life; instead it’s empowering him to help other veterans.
“It’s either you’re strong enough mentally to see that there is a problem, or you’re going to take it and look at it as--this thing is going to beat me,” he said.
Watford is a fighter and won't let his PTSD beat him. A way for him to release his anxiety and stress is by feeling the beat of the drums. Watford is coaching combat veterans through his charity called Warriors Peer Group, which provides personalized support for those suffering.
“We have to do something to change the mentality. We have to change the perception,” Watford said.
From the pounding of drums, concentrated thinking and support from others Watford believes music helps heal a bruised heart.
"Most guys who come back from combat have built up aggression – and anger,” Watford said.
Music and art therapy was critical in helping Watford overcome his own internal battle. “I had severe flashbacks, cold sweats, and the nightmares would be so severe that I would re-enact it and end up waking up in the bathtub,” he said.
Through his mentorship program, he’s encouraging other veterans to speak up. These sessions are about getting them to talk, or at least to express their feelings through playing instruments.
He recognized the need for this support after his best friend couldn't handle the pain anymore. “He called me. He was done. He gave up,” Watford said.
Their relationship was more of a brotherly bond. They went through basic together and served in Iraq. In October 2014, he received a phone call that forever changed his life.
“He ended up committing suicide on the phone and that put me into a mental spiral,” Watford said. For release, he takes pictures and has one that describes the road to recovery.
“Through all the darkness, I see light,” as the picture shows a road canvased with trees and a small blue clearing far away. Watford said veterans are never in this alone. He wants to help more individuals who are suffering.
Cox Media Group
