TT1P Art Therapy
Defining the program with 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
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.
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
Our Inspiration
The Bottle Technique we use in our True Top 1% Program was created by Nicolas Thallot-Arsc out of France 7 years ago.
As an artist JR is inspired by Georges Seurat a Post-Impressionist artist who created the 10 ft Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884 – 1886). He stated the tiny, juxtaposed dots allowed the viewers eye to blend colors optically rather than having the paint physically blended on the canvas. This is more a mental focused art as well as visually That is what lead JR to create art starting with stippling to the current Bottle Technique we look to use to help our veterans with. We use the beer bottle, which is often tied to the self-destructive action of self-medication for those experiencing PTSD
Art Therapy with a Beer Bottle
TO DO OUR PART FOR PTS AWARENESS FOR OUR VETERANS
PTSD
There are 3 hallmark symptoms of clusters associated with PTSD:
- Reexperiencing
- Hyper-Vigilance
- Avoidance / Emotional Numbing
Our Focus:
Taking the object (beer bottle) they use to numb their feelings turn it around
and use that same object to creatively express their feelings without words
Our goal through our art (as art therapy) is to establish another method to work out one’s emotional stress. Many drown themselves in alcohol to escape depression, stress, and anxiety; essentially to numb the bad feelings. Using art as a remedial activity painting with beer bottles (which is often tied to the self-destructive action of self-medication for those experiencing PTSD) to encourage self-expression we hope to be able to shift and/or reduce depression of our Veterans.
Our intention is to show that you can use a beer bottle to create masterpieces rather drinking to numb the pain. Our channels in which we aim to complete this is:
- Free Art workshops using a bottle
- Shipping art supplies all across the world to those who need it most
- True Top 1% Annual Art Exhibition
- Our Top 31 (Sharing the stories of 31 different Veterans time in the service through art)
*** Note: Nothing is positive or negative by nature, it is our perspective that makes it negative or positive. We see to create positive interaction with the bottle rather the negative one that surrounds it. ***
Struggling? TRY ART!
Tried everything? Try Creative Expression, let us help
Struggling? DO NOT Drink, Smoke, or even Snort it away. Reach out to us first!
Are you a Veteran struggling with depression, irritability, decreased motivation, hypervigilant and on edge or any other facet of PTSD or a Mental Health Condition?
We do not believe medicine is always the answer, HOWEVER Art is always a GREAT option or addition to how you can cope. Do NOT abuse the bottle or even think of other drugs. Try ART! Work with your hands and ask yourself what is bothering you and let your hands be the answer to release that inner struggle by creating something.
If you think you are not worth it, YOU ARE WORTH IT!
Veterans Crisis a line 800-273-8255 and press 1
OR go to your local Vet Center
OR at least try the VA Hospital
If you have tried everything else, we are here to help you.
We do it by encouraging you to express yourself through art.
- Do you have an art form you currently enjoy, but:
- Can't Afford to buy the supplies you need?
- Lost everything due to some tragedy?
- Looking to experiment with art for the first time or want to try a new medium?
- Having trouble getting what is in your head out?
This is what we are here for, you will be surprised how ART can change your life. Art is everywhere, it is encouraging you to alleviate what is on your mind and transfer to your hands that will express what you are feeling. Many times, this is a direct insight into what you are feeling and can be decoded to assist in the understanding of what you may be feeling. Sometimes it can be obvious and other times, not.
Art is the Key to unlocking what your mind is thinking without you talking about it!
Email us at info@TrueTop1Percent.com to see how Art can help you
