There’s a new type of help for American heroes in Southern Colorado who are suffering. They're dealing with the stress of deployments; some of them have post traumatic stress disorder.

An organization called Military Creative Expressions is in Colorado Springs. They’re using art to help our veterans and retired military personnel heal.

Sunday, they held an exhibit in Old Colorado City. 11 News talked to one artist who's dealing with PTSD, and she said this is the only way she can cope.

After more than 17 years in the military, Juliet Madsen was forced to retire. An explosion in Iraq caused her to come home with a traumatic brain injury, and she developed PTSD.

"They don't have a lot of female PTSD programs," Madsen said.

She tried medications, other therapies including yoga, but she said none of them seemed to work.

"When I am having a bad day I can close the door and do my own thing and kind of purge some of the bad feelings and get them away," Madsen said.

She paints and quilts. Several of her quilts have been featured in the Library of Congress, the Pentagon and several other military installations.

Sunday, her work was featured in a gallery in Old Colorado City. She shared a space with the gallery's featured artist.

"I think her work is excellent. Especially since she wounded her brain. I think what she's expressing is just wonderful,” featured artist Kang Lee Sheppard said. “We just love to see this.”

"The more I painted, the more I quilted, the better I felt, the more calm I felt,” Madsen said.

Right now, there are 30 active artists in this program. Organizers said they're working on starting something for family members who are supporting those with PTSD, so that everyone can start to heal in a way maybe few imagined.

Sunday, 15 galleries in Old Colorado City showed the work of 10 artists. All the money from selling the artwork goes back into the program.

If you’d like to help, make a donation, or for more information, you can contact Aspen Pointe program manager Kim Nguyen (719) 572-6450 or Fine Arts Center director Tara Thomas (719) 477-4314.