PTSD and Photography

[raydm6]

The recent thread and Don McCullin article got me thinking about photographers working in dangerous, high-stress situations - war theaters, political/civil unrest, violent confrontations - and as an result of that, some may be suffering from PTSD; and, how prevalent this might be?

McCullin had many traumatic experiences as a child growing up during the war and experienced bombings first hand. This certainly had an influence on his style and approach.

Interesting article addressing this issue:

War Photography: The Physical and Psychological Costs

Exploring the lives and careers of 12 extraordinary war photographers, Anthony Feinstein, PhD, underscores the grave danger these visual historians encounter when covering conflict and raises our a…

www.jhrehab.org

All war journalists are exposed to grave danger, but the degree of exposure is highest amongst the photojournalists. This is inevitable given the nature of their work. You cannot hang back from the fray and get a good photograph. The risks, high to begin with, increase with close proximity to the event. This observation led me to explore, in greater depth, the lives and careers of 12 extraordinary war conflict photographers. The project was supported by the Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper and the series may be found at Shooting War: Paying homage to 12 conflict photographers.

Shooting War: Paying homage to 12 conflict photographers

 

[raydm6]

On the flip-side, photography is being used to heal PTSD:

These Veterans Are Using Photography to Cope with Trauma

The Visions of Warriors movie poster At the Menlo Park Division of the VA Palo Alto Health Care System in California, veterans learn photography as a way of coping with…

www.featureshoot.com

At least for me, photography is therapeutic.

 

[p.giannakis]

I have worked with adolescent who have experienced traumatic situations and neglect in their lives and I have used photography as a means for basic affect regulation, grounding them to the here and now. The results were very encouraging although I am unsure as to how many of them continued with it.

I remember a patient with a brain injury - at the end of our 16weeks sessions I asked him what did he find most useful. He said that now he was more careful when walking in the streets and avoid stepping on sh1t. For him it was a big deal as he could cope better with dissociation.

 

[Out to Lunch]

More often than not, an 'admit to it, and be relegated to a desk job' problem, or in some cases, "you're stressed, you're fired". Cheers, OtL

VA.gov | Veterans Affairs

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

www.ptsd.va.gov

 

[CLAdictic]

I have had PTSD since 1964-65. Been receiving treatment from the VA since 2000. Started photography in the mid 70's, turned 'pro' in mid 80's. When I am making images I am wholly involved in what I am doing. No in my case it's not a cure or reduction in symptoms, but an amount of time where I feel free from the effects.

 

[Freakscene]

PTSD is a real risk for anyone going into, or unfortunate enough to get caught up in, conflict environments. In the current conflicts the lack of separation between combatants and civilians mean that whole generations will be traumatised. To me it’s the worst part of all of it.

 

[Freakscene]

I’ve done a lot of volunteering with people with head injuries, some of whom were injured in conflicts. The lasting effects of this type of injury are an enormous weight on individuals and the communities they inhabit.