From Guest Blogger Robert Johnson
When researching PTSD and alternative ways of helping people overcome the daily rounds of stress and pain, you might encounter woodworking as a therapy. Arts, in general, are proven to be very helpful in overcoming mental illnesses since a new course in psychology, known as an art therapy, has been developed.
PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. It can develop a few months after the traumatic event. If the event was prolonged and experienced over a period of time, it often becomes complex post-traumatic stress disorder or CPTSD.
When it comes to woodworking, many people who have experienced CPTSD/PTSD have witnessed a change after starting woodworking workshops and getting deeply into it. One thing that is common to woodworking and regular psychotherapy is that it can improve the self-esteem of people experiencing this illness.
In the following, you will get to know three people whose lives have been changed thanks to woodworking Their experience may encourage you to give a try on your own.
Mierop Mann is a 52-year-old businessman, who left his family and his business in order to deal with PTSD and find a new way to face a childhood trauma he had. Since he had left his business and family in order to have a personal freedom, a broken piece of furniture and lack of money made him start a new journey.
“I needed to transform a broken piece of furniture and re-purpose it without costing an arm and a leg. It was an experiment and I did not know where it would take me or if it would make a statement at all,” Mann said.
Since the transformation happened and he was able to change a piece and express his feelings, Mann continued working on it.
“Every piece I do is a new chapter and has a new introduction like a movie. It takes me on a journey, allowing the opportunity to reflect on various trauma at different stages of my life. It’s the story of my inner-child struggling with the abuse and trying to find the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Woodworking will be the savior to a very conflicted existence”.
Laura B. Paskavitz is a single woman from Boston and her struggle with CPTSD started in her childhood. She was raised in a cult and has been dealing with mental disorders for over 25 years. She was introduced to woodworking by her artist friend and, when she was in her 20s, she started processing wood.
“I think people struggling with self-esteem issues who may not see their own value would benefit from woodworking. By learning to create and build, the hope is that the process and outcome will prove they can make, and are themselves, something to be valued”, Laura said.
Rolando M. Corral is US Army veteran who retired in 2006, Two years after he was diagnosed with PTSD, he met a Korean War veteran whose garage was full of tools. This vet taught Rolando the basics of woodworking. The most interesting part started after a dream Rolando had in which he dreamed about making a wooden American flag and saving another veteran from committing suicide.
“I want woodworking to define who I am for the rest of my life. As for that table, my kids were very pleased, and I noticed my creations put a smile on people’s faces. Woodworking helped me open up to the idea of allowing people to come into my personal space and share it with them just for a brief moment. Because woodworking helps heal the hidden wounds of war,” Rolando explained.
