TT1P Art Therapy
Research, Definitions and Statistics:
ATTENTION: New study shows that the average suicide death of a military servicemember is higher than originally recorded.
Please read: 44 VETERANS COMMIT SUICIDE EVERY DAY
PTS"D": Post Traumatic Stress "Disorder", in over the past Century of research into the mind and behavior we have only in 1980 established the diagnosis PTSD by 3 Vietnam Veterans and 2 Psychiatrist. Even to this day we are expanding and drawing from the term. As a foundation we concluded to drop the ‘D’ in PTSD because we believe that the Disorder has a negative connotation and hurts the healing process of our Veterans.
PTS:
There are 3 hallmark symptoms of clusters associated with “PTS”:
- Reexperiencing
- Hyper-Vigilance
- Avoidance / Emotional Numbing
As we learn and research more, we have determined that traditionally symptoms from PTS are from an event that happened during the services. However, we have found through the many we have helped that it is not always the case. Some of our Veterans have developed a version of PTS through their time in service, from missing family functions, isolation from family because of their duty, divorce and other non-violent traumas.
We have found the transition from military life to civilian has proven to cause issues and trauma on its own. During ones time in service there is always a mission, there is always something to do. Everything has meaning from practical or tradition. One cant smoke in the field because you don’t want to give away your position, cant touch your face to maintain a certain level health and when colors play, you face a certain direction. Uniform is maintained to a inch. Your rank represented your worth, etc. You are always on a mission, you live day by day with direction and a constant focus. They miss family functions, birthdays, holidays, etc and in the military those family members and friends learn to move in a healthy way. For many that come out of the service, via 8 years or sometimes a career, these servicemembers are hit with the fact their family and friends moved on, and they have not. And as one has said is Hard as Hell.
The Study
Art Therapy Association Journal in 2013 by Kopytin and Lebedev conducted on 112 male and female war Veterans being treated for PTSD. Results showed that the experiment group experienced increase humor and creative problem solving as well as improved self-esteem.
The Statistics
Art Therapy allows people to communicate without relying on words
· Now it is told to be more than 22 Veterans and Active-Duty military commit suicide every day
· Alcohol intoxication is involved in 22% of all suicides
· Over 45,000 Active-Duty Military and Veterans committed suicide in 2020
- 60 % of Americans use Alcohol as a copping mechanism for stress, fear, anxiety, etc
- It is estimated that we lose one veteran every 65 minutes to PTSD. In recent years, it's estimated that over 20 percent (1 in 5) veterans return from Afghanistan have been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). ~ SOURCE PTSD Foundation of America
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) estimates that between 37 and 50 percent of Afghanistan and Iraq War veterans are diagnosed with some form of mental health condition.
American Addiction Centers Case Study of 1,100 soldiers returning home from deployment :
- estimated 25% of those who were sampled were misusing alcohol 3-4 months after deployment
-About 8 out of 10 Vietnam veterans seeking PTSD treatment have issues with alcohol abuse
- 1 in 3 Active duty service members are binge drinkers
Veterans Crisis a line# 988 and press 1
PTSD SYMPTOMS TO LOOK FOR:
- Intrusive memories
- Re-occurring nightmares
- Disconnection
- Hopelessness about future
- Immediate outbursts of anger
- A sense of being "on guard" – Hypervigilance
- Developing a destructive addiction
- Suicidal thoughts
The Art
As an artist, JR draws inspiration from Georges Seurat, a renowned Post-Impressionist painter celebrated for his masterpiece, "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" (1884 – 1886). Seurat's innovative use of tiny juxtaposed dots to create optical color blending rather than physically mixing paint on the canvas deeply resonates with JR. This approach not only stimulates visual perception but also engages the mind in a unique mental-focused art form. Inspired by Seurat's technique, JR embarked on his artistic journey, initially exploring stippling and eventually developing the Bottle Technique. This innovative method involves using a beer bottle as a tool, symbolically linked to the self-destructive coping mechanisms associated with PTSD. Through this artistic process, JR seeks to offer therapeutic support to veterans, encouraging them to channel their experiences into creative expression and healing.
The Bottle Technique we use in our True Top 1% Foundation as a PTS Awareness Campaign was developed by Nicolas Thallot-Arsc out of France 7 years ago.
ART THERAPY:
Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy involving the encouragement of free self-expression through painting, drawing, or modeling, used as a remedial activity or an aid to diagnosis.
Art Therapy is a Technique rooted in the idea that creative expression can foster healing and mental well-being. ~ Van Lith T. Art Therapy in Mental Health. A systematic review of approaches and practices.
Art is one of the few ways of expression that does not require talking. Instead the way of communicating thoughts, feelings and emotions is through your creations. Unfortunately our Veterans, sometimes can not talk about their struggles or will not. While bottling up their emotions, in time these emotions become a physical manifestation that can encourage violence, horrify nightmares that bring restlessness, or even create internal bodily harm that affects their health.