New Study Provides Insights into PTSD Among Military Patients

"I drew this eye for a friend of mine who had a horrible experience on a combat patrol involving a young child. He told me that whenever he looked at his kids’ eyes, he saw the eye of the kid he encountered who was armed and presented a show of force. He was in a very bad place and he viewed himself as a monster. I drew him this eye because I wanted him to know that I saw him as a great man, a great father, and a great friend. I wanted him to have this drawing as a constant reminder that he is loved. Doing this for him helped me accept who I was, and that it was and is important to embrace and accept who I am and appreciate the qualities that make me who I am." TSgt Matt Zien

"About half way through the PTSD program, I caught my mind wondering about situations I could not control and I began to feelings of sadness and remorse. I was taking my own negative thoughts and perceptions and convincing myself that they were the thoughts of other people. Without thinking, and acting on instinct, I stopped what I was doing, and drew the first thing that came to mind, which was this dragon. As I was drawing it, I came to the realization that this dragon represented this new belief that I was strong, and I had the determination and drive to combat the feelings that had been haunting me and controlling my life. I was able to visualize the force that I could draw strength from." TSgt Matt Zien

Here the first of many pieces of TSgt Matt Zien work with art and a brief explanation that he's sharing with everyone.

"Drawn on the third day at the PTSD RRTP. I felt alone and isolated, and I had an overwhelming feeling of hope for any kind of happiness. I have always loved sunflowers, so I drew a dying and withering sunflower that represented me and how I felt. The bulb, or where the sunflower seeds represented the light of the sun had extinguished and I replaced it with a drab grey, and poorly detailed silhouette of my head representing that the light had extinguished. The sunflower, usually tall and strong, was drawn week and frail to symbolize my inner strength and determination to continue to fight. The leaves that border the bulb were drawn so they appeared to have all fallen off. The leaves that remain are in their final stages of life, melting and losing their color as they fall from the bulb. This represented my life essence, my will to carry on. The root system was drawn so they were no anchored to the ground. I wanted to portray that I felt that I had no source of sustenance or energy source to power me through this dark moment. I had accepted that I would no longer have any feelings of happiness or fulfilment." Tsgt Matt Zien