National Family Caregivers Month: The challenge of caring for Veterans
Providing for the needs of injured Veterans and military service members can be emotionally taxing. The daily stress, physical demands and emotional toll of caregiving can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues among caregivers. Specifically, empirical studies show that informal caregiving for another adult is associated with higher levels of loneliness and social isolation for the caregiver.
Loneliness and social isolation are more than just negative feelings. Research demonstrates strong links between loneliness, social isolation and chronic health risks, with impacts on a person’s long-term health as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes per day.
Expressive writing as a bridge to community
“After Ken was wounded, my writing days almost vanished,” she said. “In fact, I almost vanished. I was exhausted dealing with the red tape Ken experienced with his health care.”
When she heard about “We Carry On,” a series of expressive writing workshops held by Community Building Art Works in partnership with Wounded Warrior Project, specifically for caregivers of Veterans and military personnel, she was ready to reconnect with her love for the written and spoken word.
“It wasn’t like a normal caregiver workshop,” she said. “They focused on helping us write. I unearthed some pretty raw emotions during that time.”
While Katter says the experience of writing and sharing her story was raw and emotional, it led her to a place of healing and greater happiness.
“I began thinking about all of the hard crap I went through,” she said. “Little did I know [it was] the first step of… being able to actually do what I wanted to do, which was write, [and] was to start giving me that light I needed again.”
When practicing writing together with others coming from similar experiences, however, caregivers can choose to share their words out loud, giving them an outlet to say what might be otherwise inexpressible in their daily lives.
Caregivers who write better understand their emotions, develop resilience and maintain their mental health.
“I finally took my spiritual, mental and physical health into my own hands” after sharing her story, Katter said.
The power of art making in healing
Engaging in various forms of art—such as painting, sculpture or music—can serve as a non-verbal way to process their experiences and emotions. Art can provide a sense of achievement and self-worth, helping caregivers regain confidence and control over their lives.
Art making in community with others can also be an effective tool for relieving caregiver stress and enhancing their overall well-being. Community Building Art Works hosts a weekly visual arts workshop every Wednesday at 7 p.m. EST. In the workshop, military family members and Veteran caregivers can reduce feelings of isolation and connect with others through shared creative experiences. Workshops like this can be a form of self-care, providing respite from the constant demands of caregiving.
The importance of supportive communities
Caregivers can find solace in peer support groups that provide a safe space to share their writings or artwork. These communities not only validate their experiences but also offer an avenue for building connections and camaraderie.
National Family Caregivers Month is a reminder of the crucial role that caregivers play in the lives of Veterans and military service members. Their selfless dedication often comes at a high personal cost, affecting their mental health and well-being. Expressive writing and art making offer a path to healing and self-discovery, allowing Veterans and caregivers to process their emotions, regain a sense of control and connect with a supportive community.
As we celebrate caregivers this month, let’s remember that their mental health is just as important as the support they provide. By embracing these creative outlets and nurturing a sense of community, we can help Veterans and caregivers not only survive their challenging roles but also thrive in them, ultimately promoting better mental health for all involved.
About CBAW
Ben Weakley spent fourteen years in the U.S. Army, beginning with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and finishing at a desk inside the Pentagon. He writes poetry and prose about the enduring nature of war and the human experience for veterans, their families, and anyone who would help them bear witness to war and its aftermath.
A believer in the power of words to empower and heal, Ben leads writing workshops for Active Duty Military, Veterans, their families and caregivers, as well as Frontline Health Care Workers and other communities of ordinary people bearing witness to a difficult world.
Ben lives in the Tri-Cities of Northeast Tennessee with his wife, two children, and a well-meaning but poorly behaved hound-dog.