When the fear and worry feelings are prolonged, that’s when the anxiety becomes a problem. Its symptoms interfere with the daily activities and anxiety becomes a mental disorder affecting life.
Anxiety comes in various shapes and the most common are the following:
Anxiety types:
- Social anxiety
- General anxiety
- Selective mutism
- Panic disorder
- Isolation anxiety disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Anxiety as a side-effect of medication
This problem shouldn’t be taken up lightly because it could result in serious health problems. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help.
How to Calm Your Anxiety With Creative Expression
Can art therapy help with anxiety? Yes, for many of us, it can. It’s been in practice for more than 70 years and many mental health professionals have found it helpful in reducing anxiety symptoms. From kids to adults and from cancer patients to graduate students, a lot of people have experienced significant, measurable improvements to their levels of anxiety after indulging in different creative activities.
Understanding Art Therapy
The creative expression is helpful for us in some way, but when it comes to art therapy it takes things to a whole new level. It is not just about spending an hour with your adult coloring book, but much more than that. It’s a proven treatment option that has been practiced professionally for quite some time now and is already helping thousands of individuals in hospitals, schools, military bases, and where not. Performing different creative and artistic activities with an experienced and compassionate therapist can be helpful in better processing of emotions. It also promotes a sense of calmness and helps us learn a lot about ourselves.Studies have found art therapy helpful for individuals of all races, ages, and backgrounds. It helps them effectively handle and heal from emotions like worry and fear. Parents and kids suffering from leukemia actively request this type of therapy as it helps them in staying positive through the difficult procedures they receive at the hospital. Art therapy has also helped many aging adults by reducing their anxiety levels by up to 70 percent. It has also been helpful for those struggling with trauma.
How Creative Expression Helps In Healing Anxiety?
The creativity that goes into art therapy can have many potential benefits. The American Art Therapy Association says that the creative exercises that are part of art therapy can be helpful in fostering self-awareness and self-esteem, promoting insight, cultivating emotional resilience, and reducing distress. Here is how it helps in healing anxiety.
Calms Your Nervous System
Creative activities are quiet, meditative, and calming. As a result, they help in soothing out stress, irritability, and nervousness. A calm mind can better process those difficult experiences and emotions. According to mental health professionals, art therapy can help resolve those deeper inner conflicts with meaningful calming moments. As a result, you start feeling more peaceful over time.
Encourages Self-Expression
You may be struggling with anxiety surrounding your thoughts, events, or feelings which you can’t speak about or just don’t want to talk about them. With art therapy, you can be able to express yourself safely. Many thoughtful exercises included in the therapy can help you learn how you should express yourself in a creative manner. Creative expression helps you to connect with the emotions and experiences in a healthy and rewarding way.
Boosts Self-Awareness
Engaging in creative pursuits allows you to discover many new aspects of your own personality. The meditative, idiosyncratic, and expressive exercises involved in art therapy allow individuals to get more self-awareness than ever before. When focused on some creative activity, we can explore our inner-self better and much more closely.So, if you have ever struggled with anxiety or feelings of stress, try creative expression is a way to cope. Start creative activities at home or participate in an art therapy session to calm your anxiety.