Kim:

Finally, how does creating fit in with your overall treatment?

Art therapy has been a favorite part of my treatment.  I found such comfort in the art therapy sessions as an inpatient and then later as an outpatient.  Both therapists were very different.  At inpatient treatment, the therapist had us approaching our feelings with a variety of activities that usually started out as a way to touch base with feelings and then we'd write, draw, paint, etc.  I learned a lot about how to get to the truth of things, then to create something.  I'd like to get back to trying some more of this approach on my own.  Another thing this therapist did was to start each of us out with an Art Journal.  I still have mine!  I work with it anytime whatever I'm working through needs to come out in a non-narrative fashion.

In the outpatient program, art therapy was set up the same each week.  A bounty of art supplies were made available.  A theme would be suggested.  Then it was a two hour free for all.  It was a good time to get to know my fellow patients because we talked about everything in our lives, not just our eating disorders.  I saw some inspiring work in there.  One patient in particular created a series of self portraits that provided a remarkable lens on her journey.  I mostly made messy, globby, paint covered pages of swirls.  It was soothing to get to just sit there and do whatever I wanted.  It got me into playing with painting.  I now have a stash of watercolor supplies to play with at home :)

Right now I don't have an organized approach to art therapy.  I'd like to though.  This is something I will be writing about on this blog.  I want to share what works for me.

And lets not forget the value of creating for creating's sake. It's so soothing to make something no one ever needs to see, but when I look at it the thing I was working through totally resonates through the scribbles and paint blotches.

You mentioned in your last post it can sometimes be a big challenge to hit publish or to start writing or making — is it a *good* kind of challenge these days?

Yes, it is a good challenge.  For so many reasons, so many things can get in the way and poison the will to make/create and the confidence to share.  I've been having this battle forever, now it's a lot less of a struggle.