How Art Can Help Us Heal
Art helps us heal?
It forces humans to create a connection between their body and mind. Unlike physical workouts that focus on your body, physical workouts target your body. Meditation brings clarity to your mind. Art engages both body and mind. This dual engagement accelerates healing.
When mixed with traditional treatment, art therapy can be noteworthy in treating mental issues. It helps in self-discovery. The activities of art allow people to uncover deep buried emotions. They can then acknowledge these feelings in the sub-conscious mind. It also uplifts our self-esteem as creating an artistic piece of work instills confidence and appreciation.
WHAT EVIDENCE DO WE HAVE ABOUT THIS RELATIONSHIP?
Drawing, coloring, doodling, or painting has been scientifically proven to help people overcome traumatic situations in life. As individuals create art, they analyze what they have made and how it makes them feel. Through exploring their art, we can find themes and conflicts influencing their behaviors, thoughts, and emotions.
A research study ‘The Connection Between Art, Healing, and Public Health’ shows that art enables people to express their experiences. These are experiences that couldn't be easily put into words. An example is the painful treatment of cancer.
SITUATIONS WHERE ART THERAPY CAN BE UTILIZED
Adults experience severe depression and anxiety for several reasons. It is due to the loss of a loved one or a job. It also results from failure in relationships, financial hardships, health issues, or any traumatic event.
Children suffering from social and behavioral problems at home or at school.
People experiencing brain injury or mental health issues.
There are a range of conditions that can be effectively treated by using art therapy. These include aging-related issues, eating disorders, and emotional difficulties. Art therapy can also help with family problems, substance abuse, psychological issues, and self-esteem issues.
ART THERAPY EXERCISES TO ADD IN YOUR SELF-CARE ROUTINE
Here’s a list of art therapy exercises that everyone should look for.
1. Create an art journal
Journals don’t just have to be around words. You can create your own art journal as well. Use this journal to visually express your emotions.
2. Go on a nature walk to get inspiration
Incorporating nature into your art practice is a win-win situation. Nature soothes our five senses and provides relaxation. Go for a walk and collect things you find interesting like stones, pine, leaves, and other objects. Use these objects to create a magazine, sculpture, or an art wall. Now answer this; what drew you to it?
3. Create art in the dark
Not being capable of seeing what you are making can be very relaxing. Not having to think about whether it’s not the right can also be calming.
4. Draw visual image of your good qualities
By making drawings of your positive traits, you’ll feel more optimistic and confident about yourself. This is your any good habits like helping older people with their daily chores or feeding birds etc.
5. Create a stress painting
In this art exercise, you’ll focus entirely on painting what you’re feeling inside. Pick colors that represent your stress and anxiety.
6. Doodling
Doodles are abstract patterns or designs but can also include phallic scenes, cartoons and comic characters.
7. Just color
So many times, the simple act of drawing shapes and coloring them is the only relaxation you need. Find a coloring book, or create your own favorite characters or shapes and color them.
8. Make response art
We all have a song, poem, or quote that we connect with in some way. Choose any one and use it as a foundation to create art. Respond to it through coloring with color pencils or crayons.