Stress has become a big and overwhelming element of our daily lives. It is one of the world’s most serious mental health issues, resulting in burnout, weariness, a weakened immune system, anxiety, and even organ damage. Every day, we are plagued by stress at home, at work, in meeting various deadlines, and so on. Our stress is affecting our work, homes, and families. However, there is no escape from stress. Stress not only disturbs our physical health but causes mental illness.
Reducing stress and anxiety
Art therapy can be an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety by providing a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to express themselves creatively. Through the process of creating art, individuals can learn to cope with difficult emotions and gain a sense of control over their thoughts and feelings.
Improving self-esteem and self-awareness
Art therapy can help individuals develop a greater understanding of themselves, their emotions, and their behaviours. It can also help to build self-esteem and self-worth by allowing individuals to explore and appreciate their unique talent and abilities.
Processing difficult life experiences
Art therapy can be an effective way to process difficult life experiences such as trauma, loss, or grief. By expressing emotions and experiences through art, individuals can gain insight, understanding, and closure.
Enhancing cognitive function
Creating art can help to enhance cognitive function by stimulating the brain and promoting problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking skills.
Improving communication and relationships
Art therapy can be a helpful tool for improving communication and relationships by providing a medium for individuals to express themselves and understand the perspectives of others.
Addressing specific mental health conditions
Art therapy can be used to address specific mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, and addiction. It can also be used in conjunction with other.
Here are few guidelines as how different art therapies can help people to live better
Drawing/scribbling
Scribbling is great, too particularly for those who are looking to relieve any stress they may be feeling. Try choosing a handful of colouring pencils and simply creating a rainbow of colour on a piece of paper, with no real direction or intention. Following this, try turning your creation into something recognisable, for example, to create a scene/person/memory that springs to mind.
Make a personalised collage
Take some time to gather together some favourite items, whether it could be magazine cut-outs, items like childhood photographs, textures/colours you like and meaningful quotes and arrange them onto a canvas, before sticking them down. You can arrange them in a particular order if you wish, or overlap them in a way that looks aesthetically pleasing.
Motivational collage
If you have any phrase that is motivating you, cut the words out of magazines and arrange an encouraging display. Don’t have a “go to” phrase? Find generic words, such as “happy,” “joy,” “inspire,” and start with a general display of words.
Gardening
Gardening is definately not an art form, still you can consider plants as paint and your hands as tools. Whether you build your garden in a small tabletop bowl, or take over an entire hillside for your colorful creation. This is one of the best way to deal with stress.
Crafts
Yes, crafts can be stress-burster especially when you spend more time doing it. It can be paper cups, plates or coconut shell you can prepare many things, and keep it in your showcase.
Stress is unavoidable, but definitely we can have stress bursters infront of them, so that you can win the battle.