Soldiers' Art: What traumatic brain injury feels like

Active-duty military members suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries made these masks in an art therapy group at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, located at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

This mask was created by an Airman who was exposed to multiple blast injuries in combat while working on a bomb disposal unit, called EOD -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal. The mask incorporates the laurels, shield, and lightning bolts of the EOD insignia.

The soldier who created this mask is suffering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The constant pressure of a vice symbolizes the pain he feels as a result of his injuries.

This mask, made by a wounded soldier, represents the feeling that he needs to camouflage himself to fit into civilian society. He said that art therapy was one of the few times he felt he could truly express himself.

A Marine created this mask to show his "split sense of self." His happy, civilian side exists alongside his injured, military side that's been affected by the traumatic experiences of war.

This mask was made by a Navy service member to show his inability to talk about his war experiences because of the stigma associated with mental health issues. The sailor chose metal eyes to represent his feeling of being a robot.

This mask shows what it feels like to be over-medicated, which the soldier depicts using the actual colors and shapes of the pills he had taken.

This mask, entitled "The Shock of Death," is about a traumatic incident this soldier remembers. It represents a wounded Iraqi, who walked up to the service member's Forward Operating Base seeking treatment after having been in an explosion.

Scenes and memories from a Marine's deployments play out across the face of this mask. On the chin is a drawing of the Marine's family to represent how, he says, they "took the brunt" of his problems after he returned home.

This mask was created by a U.S. Army flight medic, and the words on the mask read, "I have destroyed my life and myself, so that others may live." The mask represents our country shedding tears for our military on one side, and our military shedding tears for our country on the other.

This mask represents the injuries of the soldier who made it and how difficult it is for him to talk about his experiences. The patient included three stitches to symbolize that he felt he was beginning to heal.

A U.S. Marine made this mask to say: Although the world may see a service member's "outer warrior," that person may be hurting inside.

This mask represents the men who were killed in action while this Marine was in command. He represents death but also shows his attempt to resuscitate the wounded. The Marine's fingerprints can be seen on the nose and chin from CPR and he also created a breathing tube.

The Navy service member who made this mask says it shows how he's broken on the outside -- but still passionate about his military career on the inside.