Art Therapy Essay
In the book titled “The Trauma Tool Kit: Healing PTSD from the inside out,” (2012) author Susan Pease Banitt describes Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as, “a whole-body tragedy, an integral human event of enormous proportions with massive repercussions.” (Bannit) The symptoms of this disorder may vary person to person, making the process of diagnosing this condition difficult for healthcare experts. One of the main concerns of those affected by PTSD is that the side effects of the medications they are taking tend to have more serious or dangerous side effects than the symptoms they already experience. As a result alternative treatments are becoming increasingly popular among those individuals who have been diagnosed with PTSD.
Following the …show more content…
civil war soldiers began to notice a negative change in their behaviors after witnessing the reality of a bloody, gory war, which is where the study of PTSD starts. The images of blood red fields, the piles of dead bodies that piled up, and the smell of rotting flesh consumed these soldiers. Sleep was not so easy to come by, as they relived the trauma of their battles in their dreams. 40 years later, 1905, the Russians had named this condition to battle shock. For the remainder of the early to mid-1900’s the name would be changed over and over again as psychologists learned more about this condition. Finally, in 1980 the American Psychiatric Association used the term PTSD to describe the condition. In his online article, “PTSD History and Overview,” (2007) Matthew J. Friedman (MD, PhD) stated that, “Although controversial when first introduced, the PTSD diagnosis has filled an important gap in psychiatric theory and practice.” (Friedman) Before the APA added PTSD to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) the condition was viewed more as personal weakness as opposed to an actual disorder caused by traumatic events. This addition and clarification of the condition in the DSM-III were a huge victory for those suffering from PTSD.
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website, “About 7 or 8 out of every 100 people (or 7-8% of the population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.” (2007) Every year nearly 8 million Americans struggle with this disorder. Sadly, some people become so greatly affected by their trauma they feel suicide is the only way out. Common symptoms of PTSD include: blame, guilt, shame, anger, and the inability to express or cope with a traumatic situation. One of the largest changes in recent years is the use of alternative treatments. When we talk about alternative treatments we begin to shy away from the standard western medicine. More and more patients are declining big pharma’s medications, as new treatments are showing more promising, safer results.
Art therapy offers those suffering from PTSD many avenues to cope with their trauma.
Art therapy is more than simply drawing or painting. Music, theatre, and dance have become the treatment of choice for many people. One of the largest problems attributed with PTSD is the inability to express emotion. These artistic therapies allow patients to do just that. While researching at the University of Warsaw, Beata Hoffman explained that, “Choreotherapy is based on a belief that movement and dance integrate emotional, Cognitive and physical realm of a man. This technique contributes to the acceptance of one's physicality with which patients often have a problem.” (Hoffman) The purpose of art therapy is to allow a person the time to do something other than think about the trauma they endured. These artistic therapies are meant to be calming, and relaxing. The best thing this therapy offers the patient is it trains them to focus on the here and now. Simultaneously, the person suffering from PTSD is learning how to change their own behavior through the same art therapy. They learn what they are feeling and how to properly handle those emotions. This form of treatment may not appeal to everyone, however those that have kept an open mind to Art therapy have been able to cope with their trauma and learn to live a happy fulfilling life after the trauma. Actively participating in art therapy has been shown to have 3 positive outcomes for the patient. This therapy has also proved to help those who have suffered from sexual trauma, natural disasters, survivors of war and refugees. According to Jeremy Ramirez’s (BS, MPH-C) review of art therapy, (2016)
“through the practice of art therapy, patients with PTSD experienced at least three significant outcomes: 1) the ability to express thoughts which could not previously be verbalized, 2) improved social relationships which led to reduced social detachment, and 3) a general reduction in re-experiencing, hyper-vigilance and avoidance.”
(Ramirez)
These outcomes are exactly the results people with PTSD are looking for. This treatment plan does not force an individual to take pills either. Instead, they express themselves, and by doing so they set themselves free of the trauma that has so greatly impacted their lives. Art therapy has a variety of methods to assist those in need. These therapies combined with other types of therapy have shown improvement in the overall quality of life in patients.
Another alternative treatment becoming more popular in the United States is the use of medical marijuana. There is a lot of controversy with this treatment, what with this plant still classified as a Schedule 1 drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency. However, many open minded individuals have participated in studies recording the effects of medical marijuana. Cannabis is no longer only available in the leafy green nugget form we may be more accustomed to. Tinctures, edibles, concentrates, and extracts are becoming more available and more popular. Now there is a way to reap the benefits of a plant, without having to worry about the odor that usually follows marijuana smokers. Also patients need not worry about terrible side effects, as the effects of cannabis are much less dangerous. Kerry Ressler of Emory University described PTSD as, “an over activation of the fear system that can't be inhibited, can't be normally modulated.” (Ressler) To relieve the stress, scientists used the cannabinoids found naturally in the marijuana sativa plant. They discovered that these cannabinoids could in fact suppress the fear system within our own bodies. Naturally our brain creates these same cannabinoids and even has receptors for the chemical. As Ressler continued her studies of the effects of Marijuana on lab rats she noted that initially the marijuana made the rats, “initially less anxious, more calm - you know, many of the things that you might imagine.” (Ressler) Marijuana seemingly has healing properties that would be beneficial to those suffering from PTSD.
An article in the December issue of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Weekly (2015) it is stated that “The amygdala in patients with PTSD is hyper responsive to threats or emotions; the ventral/medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are hypoactive. By modulating the threat response, cannabinoids reduce the reaction to fear; this has been shown in healthy volunteers taking Dronabinol. Cannabidiol, unlike THC, is not intoxicating, and it also attenuated the amygdala response to fearful faces.” While tests are still being conducted by scientists it would seem as though there is some real medical value found in the marijuana sativa plant. The plant has shown significant improvements in the lives of the patients currently using it as a means to cope and deal with trauma.
In addition to these alternative treatments many patients are finding comfort and healing in animal assisted therapy. These emotional support dogs are able to detect our physical reactions to stress and anxiety. When the dog recognizes these signs they are trained to make physical contact with their owner and offer them compassion and love when they need it most According to an elements Behavioral Health article on Trauma and PTSD treatment, “The results of Animal Assisted Therapy in the treatment of PTSD patients has seen significant results. In one study of the effect of dogs with patients, psychologists noted an 82% reduction in symptoms.” (Dec, 2011) What these animals offer is the ability to be there at the first sign of distress regardless of what time of day it is. These support dogs provide their owners with much needed companionship and loyalty. Another advantage of using emotional support animals, according to the article, “The Truth About Animal Assisted Therapy” (2016) is that, “Therapy animals also provide a purely nonjudgmental space for individuals to work out their problems.” (Uyemura) Providing this nonjudgmental space allow their owners to feel loved, adding positivity to their lives. Sometimes this new spark of positivity is just what a person suffering from PTSD needs to get on a path towards finding inner peace and healing.
The final alternative treatment is even more controversial than the use of medical marijuana. Doctors have begun test trials using MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy, to help those with mild to severe PTSD. The purpose of the MDMA is to help the patient take control of the traumatic experience while on the drug. According to the article, “Is Ecstasy an Answer?” (July, 2015) author Zoe Cormier explains that in a 2011 finding, “83 percent of patients given MDMA assisted psychotherapy experienced a significant reduction in their symptoms, compared to just 25 percent given standard psychotherapy. It’s crucial that the MDMA dosing occurs in conjunction with focused psychotherapy.” (Cormier) It is important to the patient’s recovery that MDMA is used alongside some other form of therapy. Taking the drug alone may not be a fix to the problem, and may in fact lead to other issues, such as drug abuse/dependency. This course of treatment would best be discussed with health care providers.
Results from studies on MDMA have shown promising results for its patients. In the short article, “Evidence for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD mixed” (April, 2013) published in the “The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update” studies have shown that
“MDMA-assisted psychotherapy could be safely administered in a clinical setting; no drug- related serious adverse events occurred. Though the results showed no statistically significant reductions in CAPS scores there was clinically and statistically significant self-reported improvement. CAPS scores improved further at the 1-year follow-up.” (April, 2013)
With findings like this we could expect the possibility that perhaps MDMA will become a recognized treatment for those suffering from PTSD.
Currently there is no cure all treatment available for those suffering from severe trauma. PTSD can be managed daily by the individual; however, the individual must be able to recognize there is a problem and must want to change. In our current social climate there is a growing distrust between patients and the pills being pushed on them. Perhaps thinking outside the box and finding alternative therapies and treatments should become the new standard, considering how much positive feedback comes from these three treatment plans. Ultimately these treatment plans will all need to work hand in hand with some other form of therapy to allow the healing the patient needs. Everyone may have their own opinion about these treatments, but as long as we continue to see positive results the research will continue. The results of these studies are all examples of why alternative treatments are becoming increasingly popular among those who have been diagnosed with PTSD.
Following the …show more content…
civil war soldiers began to notice a negative change in their behaviors after witnessing the reality of a bloody, gory war, which is where the study of PTSD starts. The images of blood red fields, the piles of dead bodies that piled up, and the smell of rotting flesh consumed these soldiers. Sleep was not so easy to come by, as they relived the trauma of their battles in their dreams. 40 years later, 1905, the Russians had named this condition to battle shock. For the remainder of the early to mid-1900’s the name would be changed over and over again as psychologists learned more about this condition. Finally, in 1980 the American Psychiatric Association used the term PTSD to describe the condition. In his online article, “PTSD History and Overview,” (2007) Matthew J. Friedman (MD, PhD) stated that, “Although controversial when first introduced, the PTSD diagnosis has filled an important gap in psychiatric theory and practice.” (Friedman) Before the APA added PTSD to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) the condition was viewed more as personal weakness as opposed to an actual disorder caused by traumatic events. This addition and clarification of the condition in the DSM-III were a huge victory for those suffering from PTSD.
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website, “About 7 or 8 out of every 100 people (or 7-8% of the population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.” (2007) Every year nearly 8 million Americans struggle with this disorder. Sadly, some people become so greatly affected by their trauma they feel suicide is the only way out. Common symptoms of PTSD include: blame, guilt, shame, anger, and the inability to express or cope with a traumatic situation. One of the largest changes in recent years is the use of alternative treatments. When we talk about alternative treatments we begin to shy away from the standard western medicine. More and more patients are declining big pharma’s medications, as new treatments are showing more promising, safer results.
Art therapy offers those suffering from PTSD many avenues to cope with their trauma.
Art therapy is more than simply drawing or painting. Music, theatre, and dance have become the treatment of choice for many people. One of the largest problems attributed with PTSD is the inability to express emotion. These artistic therapies allow patients to do just that. While researching at the University of Warsaw, Beata Hoffman explained that, “Choreotherapy is based on a belief that movement and dance integrate emotional, Cognitive and physical realm of a man. This technique contributes to the acceptance of one's physicality with which patients often have a problem.” (Hoffman) The purpose of art therapy is to allow a person the time to do something other than think about the trauma they endured. These artistic therapies are meant to be calming, and relaxing. The best thing this therapy offers the patient is it trains them to focus on the here and now. Simultaneously, the person suffering from PTSD is learning how to change their own behavior through the same art therapy. They learn what they are feeling and how to properly handle those emotions. This form of treatment may not appeal to everyone, however those that have kept an open mind to Art therapy have been able to cope with their trauma and learn to live a happy fulfilling life after the trauma. Actively participating in art therapy has been shown to have 3 positive outcomes for the patient. This therapy has also proved to help those who have suffered from sexual trauma, natural disasters, survivors of war and refugees. According to Jeremy Ramirez’s (BS, MPH-C) review of art therapy, (2016)
“through the practice of art therapy, patients with PTSD experienced at least three significant outcomes: 1) the ability to express thoughts which could not previously be verbalized, 2) improved social relationships which led to reduced social detachment, and 3) a general reduction in re-experiencing, hyper-vigilance and avoidance.”
(Ramirez)
These outcomes are exactly the results people with PTSD are looking for. This treatment plan does not force an individual to take pills either. Instead, they express themselves, and by doing so they set themselves free of the trauma that has so greatly impacted their lives. Art therapy has a variety of methods to assist those in need. These therapies combined with other types of therapy have shown improvement in the overall quality of life in patients.
Another alternative treatment becoming more popular in the United States is the use of medical marijuana. There is a lot of controversy with this treatment, what with this plant still classified as a Schedule 1 drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency. However, many open minded individuals have participated in studies recording the effects of medical marijuana. Cannabis is no longer only available in the leafy green nugget form we may be more accustomed to. Tinctures, edibles, concentrates, and extracts are becoming more available and more popular. Now there is a way to reap the benefits of a plant, without having to worry about the odor that usually follows marijuana smokers. Also patients need not worry about terrible side effects, as the effects of cannabis are much less dangerous. Kerry Ressler of Emory University described PTSD as, “an over activation of the fear system that can't be inhibited, can't be normally modulated.” (Ressler) To relieve the stress, scientists used the cannabinoids found naturally in the marijuana sativa plant. They discovered that these cannabinoids could in fact suppress the fear system within our own bodies. Naturally our brain creates these same cannabinoids and even has receptors for the chemical. As Ressler continued her studies of the effects of Marijuana on lab rats she noted that initially the marijuana made the rats, “initially less anxious, more calm - you know, many of the things that you might imagine.” (Ressler) Marijuana seemingly has healing properties that would be beneficial to those suffering from PTSD.
An article in the December issue of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Weekly (2015) it is stated that “The amygdala in patients with PTSD is hyper responsive to threats or emotions; the ventral/medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are hypoactive. By modulating the threat response, cannabinoids reduce the reaction to fear; this has been shown in healthy volunteers taking Dronabinol. Cannabidiol, unlike THC, is not intoxicating, and it also attenuated the amygdala response to fearful faces.” While tests are still being conducted by scientists it would seem as though there is some real medical value found in the marijuana sativa plant. The plant has shown significant improvements in the lives of the patients currently using it as a means to cope and deal with trauma.
In addition to these alternative treatments many patients are finding comfort and healing in animal assisted therapy. These emotional support dogs are able to detect our physical reactions to stress and anxiety. When the dog recognizes these signs they are trained to make physical contact with their owner and offer them compassion and love when they need it most According to an elements Behavioral Health article on Trauma and PTSD treatment, “The results of Animal Assisted Therapy in the treatment of PTSD patients has seen significant results. In one study of the effect of dogs with patients, psychologists noted an 82% reduction in symptoms.” (Dec, 2011) What these animals offer is the ability to be there at the first sign of distress regardless of what time of day it is. These support dogs provide their owners with much needed companionship and loyalty. Another advantage of using emotional support animals, according to the article, “The Truth About Animal Assisted Therapy” (2016) is that, “Therapy animals also provide a purely nonjudgmental space for individuals to work out their problems.” (Uyemura) Providing this nonjudgmental space allow their owners to feel loved, adding positivity to their lives. Sometimes this new spark of positivity is just what a person suffering from PTSD needs to get on a path towards finding inner peace and healing.
The final alternative treatment is even more controversial than the use of medical marijuana. Doctors have begun test trials using MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy, to help those with mild to severe PTSD. The purpose of the MDMA is to help the patient take control of the traumatic experience while on the drug. According to the article, “Is Ecstasy an Answer?” (July, 2015) author Zoe Cormier explains that in a 2011 finding, “83 percent of patients given MDMA assisted psychotherapy experienced a significant reduction in their symptoms, compared to just 25 percent given standard psychotherapy. It’s crucial that the MDMA dosing occurs in conjunction with focused psychotherapy.” (Cormier) It is important to the patient’s recovery that MDMA is used alongside some other form of therapy. Taking the drug alone may not be a fix to the problem, and may in fact lead to other issues, such as drug abuse/dependency. This course of treatment would best be discussed with health care providers.
Results from studies on MDMA have shown promising results for its patients. In the short article, “Evidence for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD mixed” (April, 2013) published in the “The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update” studies have shown that
“MDMA-assisted psychotherapy could be safely administered in a clinical setting; no drug- related serious adverse events occurred. Though the results showed no statistically significant reductions in CAPS scores there was clinically and statistically significant self-reported improvement. CAPS scores improved further at the 1-year follow-up.” (April, 2013)
With findings like this we could expect the possibility that perhaps MDMA will become a recognized treatment for those suffering from PTSD.
Currently there is no cure all treatment available for those suffering from severe trauma. PTSD can be managed daily by the individual; however, the individual must be able to recognize there is a problem and must want to change. In our current social climate there is a growing distrust between patients and the pills being pushed on them. Perhaps thinking outside the box and finding alternative therapies and treatments should become the new standard, considering how much positive feedback comes from these three treatment plans. Ultimately these treatment plans will all need to work hand in hand with some other form of therapy to allow the healing the patient needs. Everyone may have their own opinion about these treatments, but as long as we continue to see positive results the research will continue. The results of these studies are all examples of why alternative treatments are becoming increasingly popular among those who have been diagnosed with PTSD.