How Resilience Saved Him After Being Kidnapped and Held Hostage for 20 Months with Arjan Erkel

Do you ever feel overwhelmed to the point you don't think you can go on?  Where all you want is some hope but it doesn't seem like there is any? That's what Arjan Erkel experienced when he was kidnapped and held hostage for 20 months by Muslim rebels.    We discussed human resilience on this week's episode of the Weekend Wellness Hour Show with author and international speaker Arjan Erkel. Arjan was working as Head of Mission for “Doctors without Borders,” when Muslim rebels brutally kidnapped him in the Republic of Dagestan situated in Russia’s turbulent North Caucasus in 2002.    Arjan shared the story of his capture and the resulting 20 months held in horrible conditions with insects and rodents in a 5 foot by 6 foot cell.  He revealed his plea to his kidnappers to spare his life and the mental anguish he suffered as he figured out the correct words to say.   We discussed his daily fears and routine while held hostage.  He explained his sleeping and eating conditions and how he had to change his mindset to get through the monotonous days and find ways to make his situation better.    He often thought about his family and his organization.  He wondered if they were trying to save him, if he would ever see them again, if he would ever have freedom.  He wondered if his captors were going to kill him at any second.   We discussed Arjan's surprising release and his return to his family.  Arjan touched on his recovery and how he has rebuilt his life since 2004.  He shared his desire to help save girls who are part of the sex trafficking and exploitation and how his Find A Girl organization has helped save over 5,000 girls.   Arjan is a cultural anthropologist and now an author of 3 books as well as an international motivational speaker.  Please check out his latest book, Held Hostage, that was just released in December 2020.   Please join us to learn how you can improve your mindset and human resilience even in the worst case scenario!!   Please feel free to reach out to Arjan Erkel at https://arjanerkel.nl/.   -Dr. Amy Novotny   Subscribe to PABR Institute's email list for free Tips for Relief: https://pabrinstitute.activehosted.com/f/1   www.pabrinstitute.com