Mask-Making: An Innovative Art Therapy for Veterans With PTSD and TBI
A combination of physical blast trauma and psychological injury from exposure to the inhumanity of war can lead to a protective response by the brain–it seems to wall off the trauma, to hide it away in a primitive part of the brain. This act of sequestering is an emergency response, but the longer the brain sequesters the trauma, the deeper and more entrenched it becomes.
Talking isn’t going to reach into this primitive zone, and medication isn’t, either. The brain is unable to process the experience because it’s hidden away, and keeping it quiet and hidden and under control takes a huge amount of energy and effort.
The mask-making is a nonverbal way to give a face to this experience,
The National Intrepid Center
Explore
Category
Are You Eligible for a Free Case Review?
If you are a veteran, or a family member of a veteran, whose work has been affected by their disability and who would like to appeal a VA benefits decision, we would like to speak with you.
Submit For Your Consultation Now
Toll-Free Phone: (888)-811-0523