PTSD Face Mask: My Combat Story
- Kiran
- Jun 23, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 1, 2020
*Trigger Warning: This art blog is a depiction of a realistic fiction story that is closely related to post-traumatic stress disorder, or more commonly known as trauma. As such, the created artwork on the face mask has been exaggerated with blood, fake wounds, words, and drawings which may be triggering to some individuals, in addition to certain triggering events in the narrative. Please feel free to click away from this blog post if you think that this may be a trigger for you. Remember, your mental health comes first.
Artwork by Kiran. This face mask was used as a part of a PTSD Exhibition that was held at the International Medical University, Malaysia on the 31st of May 2019. Feel free to interpret this mask based on your own individual perspective.
PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that is triggered by a recent or past terrifying or traumatic event, which results in flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, among a few other symptoms.
My name is Staff Sergeant Muhammad Kamil bin Abdullah. I served my country during the undeclared war of the Borneo Confrontation from 1963 to 1966. I returned home to my wife and children hoping to continue living a "normal" life, but that's not what happened. I was starting to lose my temper over the littlest things and I would constantly have weekly nightmares of me on the battlefield, facing the same life-threatening situation over and over again. Before I left to serve, I used to love sports, particularly football. When I came home, I had no interest in playing anymore. As a soldier, I enjoyed my training in the army and the first few weeks of serving, that is until my fellow Sergeant was shot in the head right in front of me. At that point, all I cared about was getting home alive, even if it meant killing others, civilians or not. I turned into a cold-hearted soldier. Where was the fun and cheery Kamil? Call it survivors guilt, or call it PTSD, but I made the choice to finally walk into the Veterans Affairs office for help; help that I desperately needed. From then on, I started my sessions of treatment and now I am spending the hours of my retired days reading and attaining some peace and quiet, instead of listening to deafening gunshot sounds time and time again. Have I healed completely? No. But then again, how do we define "completely"?
REMINDER: This story is a realistic fictional narrative, however elements such as symptoms and context in which the story takes place is based on true factual information.
1. If you would like to know more about PTSD such as the signs and symptoms, causes, treatment options, and how you can help individuals like Staff Sergeant Kamil, click on the link below:
2. List of PTSD organizations and resources:
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