Jason Moon, an Iraq war veteran and folk-rock musician from Wisconsin, found a way to break through his pain. Now he’s helping others do the same through music.

Moon will perform in Charlotte at St John Neumann Catholic Church Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. The church is at 8451 Idlewild Road.

The show is free and open to the public.

“God put me on the Earth to do this,” he said. “Take something so painful that almost brought me to my end to help others. I don’t know if there’s any greater experience – it’s empowering.”

Moon has suffered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder since 2004, when he returned after almost a year fighting in the Iraq War. He was a member of the National Guard.

After attempting suicide in 2008, he sought help and was able to acknowledge the medical condition that he calls the enemy inside of him.

“In the military, they teach you to know your enemy and learn everything you can to anticipate it … you have to do the same with PTSD,” he said. “It’s a real physical change in the way the body functions, it’s not something you can out shoot – you gotta get help.”

Moon found solace in the strings of his guitar.

He said he had a hard time talking to a therapist but was able to hash out the worst memories and moments by writing songs and recording them. In 2010, he said he locked himself in his office and wrote all the lyrics to the songs on his album “Trying to Find My Way Home.”

In the spring of that year, he started sharing his music with others in hopes of touching someone else’s life. “It felt good to get it out and talk about it,” he said.

Since 2010, he’s performed more than 200 shows across the U.S.

He encourages veterans and family members of veterans to attend. The show is recommended for ages 12 and older, because of the topic of discussion.

During the show, he will perform 10 songs including his most popular hits “Trying to Find My Way Home” and “Hold On.”

He said he also will share his personal experiences with PTSD and the science behind how it effects the body as well as give advice to audience members on how to approach and support veterans who are suffering with PTSD.

While it’s a serious, sensitive topic, Moon said he tries to insert a little humor into the performance and storytelling to make it more entertaining.

“I want people to have fun while also becoming aware of the realities of PTSD,” he said.

Father Patrick Hoare said church members feel fortunate to host Moon just before Veteran’s Day.

“It’s a great way to honor veterans and will be very meaningful to veterans and the community.”