I have always had an interest in creative writing, but, in my mind, I officially became a poet in Iraq. It was in 2003, during my tour of duty in Baghdad, where I served as a Military Police Officer. While on tour, I read anything and everything that I could get my hands on. Among other things, my friends and family would send me books and magazines. My girlfriend at the time sent me a copy of “The Norton Anthology of African American Poetry”(2006), where I was introduced to the poetry of Audre Lorde, Lucile Clifton, and Gwendolyn Brooks. Yusef Komunyakaa, Etheridge Knight, and Henry Dumas.
I escaped through the reading and writing of poetry. The influence of those mentioned inspired me to write. I wrote prolifically. I kept a journal to document my experiences. I wrote letters to friends and family, short stories, and essays. Literature became my refuge, a way of life. It allowed me to escape from my surroundings creatively. The writing helped me to spiritually and emotionally process the daily hazards of living in a war zone.
After combat, one of the most alienating experiences was coming back to the old civilian lifestyle that was ours before the war. I was a different person directly after my service. My temperament was different, and I felt like I had no purpose. The things that had brought joy and excitement were now flat and unappealing. I had truly lost my sense of self. The old, mild-mannered college student who loved to go to frat parties no longer existed.
Since my discharge from the Army in 2004, poetry, as a form of expressive writing, has been the only thing that has helped me reinvent myself and create community. Knowing that poetry helps me address my personal challenges with my service connections, I seek to help others experiencing the same personal setbacks because of their own military or personal trauma. My daily writing habit has transformed into the thrill of a genuine purpose.
One of the most challenging aspects of war-related mental illness is acknowledging it. Anxiety and psychological disorders are familiar among Gulf War, OEF, and OIF Veterans. For Veterans having difficulty processing traumatic experiences and events of combat, having the opportunity and platform to express ourselves creatively is crucial. Focusing on meaning and finding significance in the traumatic memory can help Veterans endure the onset of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. From poetry to prose, fiction to memoir to theater, the mending power of creative writing is therapeutic by moving our Veterans along the continuum of readjustment and personal transformation.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the rate of suicide among Veterans who do not use V.A. services increased by 38.6%. In 2014, 1,846 Veterans took their own lives. Approximately 30% of Veterans with time in a war zone experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with an additional 20-25% reporting symptoms years following service. Readjusting to daily life can be challenging and sometimes fatal.
Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs reports that 22 veterans commit suicide daily, with one occurring every 80 minutes. This is just one of the many alarming statistics that have to do with the plight of our Veterans, where the creative arts have been the most effective means of mitigation for Veterans living with mental health issues. In an attempt to address the epidemic of Veteran suicide, recent trends in mental health treatment suggest that creative writing, as a form of art therapy, has the power to heal.
Because creative writing has helped me to understand and connect with my new identity as a combat veteran, I developed a creative writing workshop for veterans entitled “Veterans’ Voice”, a 9-week creative writing workshop to help veterans explore, support, and celebrate their military experience across literary genres. For veterans, creative and expressive writing about their service can help them understand and connect with their identity as a combat veteran. By sharing their experiences and telling their stories, creative writing can serve as a means of gaining a true sense of personal redemption. In an attempt to address the epidemic of suicide among veterans, recent trends in mental health treatment suggest that creative writing, as a form of art therapy, has the power to heal. For veterans having difficulty processing the traumatic experiences and events of combat, having the opportunity and platform to express themselves creatively is crucial. Focusing on meaning and finding significance in the traumatic memory can help veterans endure the onset of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. From poetry to prose, fiction to memoir, the mending power of creative writing is therapeutic in moving our veterans along the continuum of readjustment and personal transformation.
If you are interested in sharing your story or know a Veteran who is, please reach out.
For more information about Veterans’ Voice, I can be reached at [email protected] Mansa Lamont Bey