Art Lovers discussion

De-Stress with Art

Feeling Overwhelmed? You might want to bust out that pack of colored pencils stuck away in a drawer. A new study found that after caregivers took part in a free-flowing coloring session or a guided art therapy workshop with access to a variety of art supplies, they reported feeling better, more confident, and less stressed and anxious. "When we create, we're using our senses and engaging in a form of problem-solving" says study author Girija Kaimal, Ph.D., associate professor at Drexel University and president-elect of the American Art therapy Association. This gives us a sense of accomplishment, she adds, and lets us express emotions we can't put into words. In fact, researchers see so much potential in art therapy that they're even investigating virtual reality software that allows people with cognitive, sensory, or motor disabilities to draw, paint, or sculpt virtual masterpieces.

Womansday.com
April 2020

I just want to add my own experience with this. A couple of years ago I broke my foot and had to have a bone graft and a screw put in my fifth metatarsal. It was painful and left me pretty incapacitated. I live in a single-wide mobile home and even those scooters that you kneel on to get around without putting weight on your leg would barely go down my hallway. So it was difficult to even get around my trailer.

I spent most of my time on my front room couch. I was bored to death! I had to take a leave of absence from work and was only paid after two weeks leave and then only paid half of what I was making. I couldn't pay my bills and I was stressed about a lot of things while laying there doing not very much.

My aunt sent me several adult coloring books and a big pack of coloring pencils. I've never done this before but I loved it! I was addicted immediately and colored the whole time I was healing. Even after I was off the couch and back to work I still colored when I felt overwhelmed and stressed out. It really did take my mid off of things and I took pride in my 'art'. I would send pictures of it to my aunt. She commended me. Of course she would, she's my aunt! lol. But it was fun and it really works as the article says.

So that's my experience with this kind of art therapy. Does anyone else have any experience with using some kind of art to relax, take your mind off of problems, etc.? Please share!

I like to do fine, obsessive work. I also like to snack, especially while watching TV. I thought adult coloring books would be something to keep my hands too busy to snack. I was too bored to even finish the first drawing.

Ruth wrote: "I like to do fine, obsessive work. I also like to snack, especially while watching TV. I thought adult coloring books would be something to keep my hands too busy to snack. I was too bored to even ..."

Well, you're right about keeping your hands too busy to snack. It does do that. So you made the right choice to not get into that.