Is Art Therapy Effective In Helping With Anxiety?
Millions of people across the globe deal with anxiety. While symptoms can vary, there is one “silver lining” to the condition’s popularity – it has many treatment options.
Because anxiety impacts everyone differently, different types of therapies and methods of treatment have come to the forefront over the years. What helps one person with their worries and anxious thoughts might not help another.
Some people, for example, might not enjoy a typical talk therapy treatment option. Maybe you’re more of a creative individual and used to expressing yourself in that way.
If that’s the case, you might want to consider art therapy to help with your anxiety.
What Is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is the use of the artistic expression to alleviate your symptoms and feelings of anxiety.
There’s no denying that art, in general, has therapeutic benefits. Simply looking at a piece of artwork can help you feel more relaxed and let your mind wander into more positive places.
Art therapy takes things one step further.
Instead of simply appreciating the artwork of others, you create your own art to express your thoughts and feelings. Things like painting, drawing, or even sculpting can help you become more in tune with your innermost feelings and express them in ways that might otherwise be hard to talk about.
What Are the Benefits?
You don’t have to be a perfect artist to reap the rewards of art therapy. If you’re willing to tap into your creative side, you will stop ruminating on the root cause of your anxiety. You also won’t feel the pressure of having to talk about your feelings.
Instead, you can sit in a comfortable, stress-free environment and express yourself through your art. Some of the benefits of art therapy for anxiety include
It serves as a distraction
It regulates your nervous system
Your focus will be on one thing
Reduced stress
You can also boost your self-esteem, improve your concentration, and have an easier time solving problems with art therapy. You’ll gain more insight into yourself than ever before, and when you have a fuller understanding of who you are, where your anxiety is coming from, and who you want to be, your anxiety will have less power.
Is Art Therapy Right for You?
Art therapy is often used in conjunction with other treatment options for anxiety. Many people already involved in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or even group therapy use it as a supplement to make it easier to tap into their emotions.
If you’re having a hard time connecting with your inner thoughts and struggles, art therapy can help. If you’re not great at expressing yourself through words alone, it can also make a big difference.
How to Get Started
Again, you don’t have to be an accomplished artist to reap the benefits of this type of therapy. There’s nothing stopping you from picking up a pencil or paint right now and engaging your creative side. Even on your own, you can use art to reduce stress and serve as a distraction.
However, if you want to get the most from art therapy, consider working with a qualified professional.
A therapist can guide you through various artistic exercises. You’ll still be able to let your creativity shine, but in a way that can help you better understand your emotions and eventually release the negative ones.
Interested in learning more about art therapy? Feel free to contact us for information. Art therapy might not be for everyone. But, whether you’re a creative person or you’ve just always appreciated the artwork of others, it could be a great solution for managing your anxiety.