Peer Shannon

 Shannon’s military journey started at the age of 17, when she enlisted in the Australian Army. It was there that she met her husband and early on they became each other’s “mechanism of support and strength”. Through their shared experiences, Shannon and her husband were able to navigate postings, deployments, exercises and time apart while nurturing a family.

“Military life comes with a plethora of pros and cons, and they are always reflected on at the most challenging of times, Christmas being the main one in our family,” Shannon reflects.

“Having gone through Christmas 2021 with my husband deployed and no family in NSW, I am so appreciative that he is safe at home with us this year.

“We know plenty of families who are battling through another Christmas without the one they lost. Even when we are apart, I always like to remember how lucky we are to have each other as family.”

If you find yourself struggling, Shannon’s advice is to “reach out to those closest to you, those you trust. Tell them in your own way that it’s a bit rough. Sometimes just being in the presence of others may be enough.”

Don’t let feelings of uncertainty stop you from reaching out.

Shannon explains “rather than rationalise the situation as normal, I noticed the effect it was having not only on me, but my family as well. This motivated me to seek assistance before the effect became more profound and had irreversible effects.”

Getting support from friends and family can be incredibly important, and Shannon offers the following when starting difficult conversations with those close to you.

“My advice would be to reach out to those closest to you, those you trust. Tell them in your own way that it’s a bit rough. Sometimes just being in the presence of others may be enough.”