Using the classics to treat vets with PTSD
EDITOR’S NOTE: Columnist John Ostwald will submit daily columns for the two weeks prior to Veterans Day. The columns cover a variety of armed forces issues. The information in the columns comes from interviews with veterans and family members, research and John’s perspective as an educator and veteran.
••• I was daydreaming again. My mind wanderd to an off Broadway play that I saw in Manhattan years ago. I heard the words clearly and I can’t explain why or how. “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
As I came out of my stupor I realized that I wasn’t in Manhattan but in Ballston Spa, New York, at the Saratoga County Veterans Agency. Like the small theater in the city, it was packed with an enthusiastic audience and passionate “actors”.
The performers that night were not experienced actors but a diverse group of veterans who were sharing their stories of pain, passion, hopelessness and healing through acting. They weren’t “poor players ... heard no more” and their message signified everything to them.
The program that sponsored this event is called Decruit. Their website shouts in big letters, “We were recruited and wired for war but never De-cruited and unwired from war.” De-cruit is a therapeutic tool used to ease the pain of PTSD. “DE-CRUIT is not geared towards veterans of any particular war or time period. All are welcome and can be helped equally. You can join whether or not you are diagnosed with PTSD. DE-CRUIT is not geared towards veterans of any particular war or time period. All are welcome and can be helped equally.”
Stephan Wolfert, actor/ writer/director has been working with a group of male and female veterans for the past seven weeks to prepare for the performance this evening. The audience composed of veterans, family members and supporters anxiously awaited the unusual amalgam of intense personal disclosure, Shakespearian dialogue and fledgling acting.
When the performances began I realized that this experience is going to be replete with the highest level of emotional honesty that is often accompanied by pain. One by one, the thirteen people told their stories. They are not all combat veterans but all have been wounded deeply in one way or another in the battles of life. The Shakespearean phrases meshed well with some of the tragedies.
When they finished their meaningful accounts of their traumas, they were debriefed briefly by Stephan. He tells them to look into the eyes of the nurturant audience and to “plant your heals and breathe.” You can tell that he has done this many times before. It is a significant calming skill that he uses very well. Stephan’s subtle facial expressions also revealed that he is not just an admirer and student of Shakespeare but an emotional partner in the profound dialogue.
One of the participants, Penny Lee Deere said: “I knew drama is an importance (alternate therapy) to help with my complex trauma, De-cruit gave me the opportunity to get it all started. I intend to incorporate more active drama sessions in the “Art4vets / Support our Troops committee” along with horse program, kayaking, chi gong, music, writing.”
Col.(R) Christine Rem, RN, said that the experience of “De-Cruit” utilizing Shakespeare,” Gave us the opportunity to tell one of our challenging experiences to an audience. Many times veterans won’t share their story in entirety or in a comfortable environment because some folks cannot understand. Their eyes cloud over and they seem disinterested and want you to hurry through what you are trying to communicate; so veterans just give up telling their story and hold it inside. This performance gave each individual a validating performance to tell our very personal and lived experiences.”
At the conclusion, tears flowed and smiles followed and I recalled the phrase by one of the presenters who would no longer be “facing the sunrise alone.”