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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (MCN - 5/11/2012) — Not all
fights in the Marine Corps are fought on the frontline; some are
only skin deep. According to a 2008 study from the Center for
Military Health Policy Research, 14.8 percent of Iraq and
Afghanistan veterans return home with combat related post-traumatic
stress disorder.
A mask, painted by a Marine who attends art therapy to relieve post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, is displayed at an art expo May 3,
2012. The expo provided a way to raise awareness about PTSD and the benefits of art therapy. During therapy sessions, participants use a variety of art supplies, including paints, clay, markers, charcoal and images for collages, to express their thoughts, feelings and memories. Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew Johnston
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Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, N.C., is using the Art Therapy Program,
which started in 2009, to help advance its mental health
rehabilitation program and combat PTSD. Gala Elliott, an art
therapist with Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune, Directorate of Mental
Health, said when she arrived at the clinic, the therapy was still a
pilot program. Now, weekly attendance is nearly 10 times larger,
thanks to positive feedback and noticeable improvements in
participants' PTSD symptoms.
“Art therapy is for people
dealing with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, anxiety and depression,”
said Elliott. “Really, anybody who wants to use a non-verbal
approach for processing their combat injuries, either physical or
psychological, will benefit from it.”
During the group
sessions, participants use a variety of art supplies, including
paints, clay, markers, charcoal and images for collages, to express
their thoughts, feelings and memories.
Lance Cpl. Mark
Reinhold, an infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment,
2nd Marine Division, was a little skeptical when his doctor referred
him to art therapy as part |
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of his PTSD treatment. Once he got involved and noticed the changes,
however, he was sold. |
“Really what happened with me, and what I see happen with
a lot of other people, is it's an escape from your everyday,
sit-down-and-talk counseling session,” said Reinhold. “It's
a way to really figure out how you're feeling without having
someone digging at you. You figure it out for yourself
without having to verbalize it. You figure it out for
yourself without someone telling you.”
Using art as
a form of expression can subconsciously bring up underlying
issues individuals don't realize are there, Elliot
explained. Once the issues are identified, they are easier
to resolve, she said.
“It brings up things
that are repressed – the thoughts and feelings that are
lying underneath your consciousness,” said Elliot. “Then you
put it on paper through art and, once you take a step back
to reflect on the art, you'll see that it's showing you a
part of yourself that you might not even know is there.”
One of Elliot's groups held an art expo May 3 to help
raise awareness about PTSD and the benefits of art therapy.
For Reinhold this was well out of his comfort zone, but
thanks to the therapy, he said it helped him deal with his
PTSD symptoms.
“I had really bad anxiety problems,
but after doing this kind of treatment, I've definitely seen
improvements,” said Reinhold. “I mean, hell, I'm here doing
this expo and, normally, I can't be around crowds of people.
It's helping me cope with these types of issues, and I'm
meeting new people.”
Elliot believes one reason art
therapy has the kind of effect it does on PTSD patients is
recent evidence shows creative thinking and activities can
have a kind of healing effect on the brain.
“The
more and more research science is doing shows creative
experiences, such as art, stimulates certain parts of the
brain that can help in recovering from traumatic events,
either physical or psychological,” said Elliot. “So to have
someone who couldn't find the words to verbalize their
emotions and memories finally have an outlet through art, it
can be a heavy weight lifted off their conscience.”
All of the therapy is completely confidential and available
to anyone with a referral from their primary care physician
or medical officer. Individual sessions can be arranged, and
group sessions are offered weekly. According to Reinhold,
“If you're battling PTSD, you won't be disappointed!”
“I've been doing this for a few months now, and I've
definitely noticed a difference,” said Reinhold. “My other
therapies started to become easier, my anxiety is way down,
and just overall, I feel better. Anyone dealing with
combat-related stress is going to walk away from this
therapy a better person. Some people might not take it
seriously, and I didn't at first, but I can tell you I'm
handling situations better and this therapy really does
work.”
By USMC Cpl. Andrew D. Johnston
2nd Marine Division
Marine Corps News
Copyright 2012
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