A community building approach to ptsd using the arts in a military hospital setting

Abstract

Social support plays an integral role in the management of the negative impact of stress upon health and recovery from trauma. Sufferers of combat-induced ptsd frequently complain of feelings of isolation, loss of identity, and a decreased ability to connect with and empathize with others, including loved ones. The stigma of mental illness, internal and external pressure to uphold the dominant narrative of the invulnerable hero, and the complexity of emotions toward the combat experience are among the barriers to honest communication and reintegration into civilian society. But trauma and the resultant fragmentation of memory provides an opportunity for patients to rebuild identity and meaning through the regular construction of narratives not once, but on a regular basis, as circumstances evolve. Encouraging individuals to independently and interdependently engage in the arts as an occupation through which to actively reevaluate relationships with themselves, their memories, and their loved ones empowers them to become active participants in their treatment, and can improve outcomes across the continuum of care.