The 21st century is one of the best periods in the history of humanity. However, despite the luxury of advancements, factors like stress and anxiety have plagued our society. 

According to WHO, people with stress-related psychological issues face a life-span reduction of about 20 years on average. This is alarming. And we know it. Given which more and more people are becoming consciously aware of their mental and physical well-being.  

In this regard, art goes a long way in providing a therapeutic effect amongst people battling stress and mental exhaustion.

In this article, we’ll go through how art is a medium of addressing your feelings of stress, strength, pain, and positivity. We’ll take you back to the very origins of ‘art therapy’ and the strong correlation between art therapy and healing.. We’ll also introduce you to the benefits of art therapy techniques and how you can improve their life through them. 

Classifying Art Therapy

The ecosystem of art is vast and complex. No one term can be used to capture the entire niche of art. Thus, art therapists indulge in a range of exercises and techniques to help their patients deal with stress, overwhelm, and mental exhaustion. 

Additionally, these art activities vary from individual to individual based on their personality. Some individuals find their peace in carving, while others may find doodling as a means to get away from workplace-induced stress. Activities like finger painting, scribbling, pottery, sculpting, sketching, and even indulging in music are some of the different dynamics of art therapy.

Thus, in art therapy sessions, individuals indulge in one of these art forms. The exercise stimulates a wholesome and immersive learning experience for the individual. And efficient art therapists help individuals address underlying conditions like stress, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and attention deficit hyperactivity.

Benefits Of Art Therapy

Boosts Self-Esteem

You may have heard people saying that you won’t appreciate anyone else around you if you don’t respect yourself. This is especially true in today’s world, where social media has fueled issues like cyberbullying and body shaming. As a direct result, youngsters suffer from low-self esteem which impacts their social relationships, academics, and overall well-being. 

Thus, people who find it hard to open up in front of a group of people can experience a boost in self-esteem by indulging in simple activities like colouring, sketching, doodling, and even painting.    

Helps You Overcome The Past 

Traumatic experiences of the past can leave an everlasting impact on an individual’s well-being. The individual can’t help but get fixated on the traumatic remains of that incident. This has a detrimental effect on their social life in totality. These people experience a condition known as post-traumatic stress, which can be excruciatingly difficult to deal with. It requires intensive rehabilitation sessions and people suffering from this take significant inner-work and time to recover. 

To facilitate the healing process, immersive art activities are scheduled for these people. During these sessions, their full attention is directed towards the task on hand. Art therapy sessions help the individual realise the importance of living in the now and help them make peace with their past. 

Helps Break The Monotony Of Routine

The modern lifestyle is dedicated to monotonous routines and schedules. We often feel trapped, and this lack of freedom in one’s life gives rise to psychological inconsistencies and mental overwhelm. Art therapy techniques like pottery, painting, scribbling, and doodling gives you a sense of freedom and allows you to revisit your carefree childhood, something we all yearn for. 

Thus, indulging in arts using mud, pencil, colours, and brushes is a therapeutic experience in itself. Leveraging art therapy for mental health is sure to help you navigate your insecurities and emotions better. 

Also read "5 Best Books On Art Therapy. A Must Read"

Meditation 

Art is not only a means of entertainment and leisure, it’s also an activity that stimulates a meditative state of being. People often complain of being unable to focus on the task at hand for any substantial period. This reduced attention span leads to inefficient outputs at the workplace, which leads to work getting piled up, which then adds to your stress. And the cycle goes on.

By incorporating just 10-15 minutes of art activities within your schedule, you’ll experience a significant boost in your productivity. This will, in turn, positively impact your social relationships and amplify your productivity. 

Emotional Release

After indulging in creative art activities for a substantial period, you’ll start to experience a sudden outburst of emotions. These emotions can range from happiness and self-sufficiency to pride and acceptance. This, in turn, positively impacts your mood, which reduces stress and mental overwhelm.  

Allows You To Explore Your Creativity

Nobody likes a life that’s dull and monotonous. Art activities provide you with an opportunity to unleash your creativity and let it run wild. The different colours on your palette symbolise the vastness of your emotions, each stroke reflective of your current mood.

Thus, you can use art activities as a means to explore yourself and rejuvenate your mind. 

Also read "The Art of Making: Improve your Mental and Physical Dexterity"

Final Words

Isn’t it wonderful that you can rejuvenate your mind from the comfort of your home by simply picking up a colouring book? 

The best part about art therapy is that you can reap its rewards irrespective of your age or expertise. You don’t have to be a proficient artist to indulge in art therapy. Why? Because it aims to help you explore your emotions and stimulate a state of well-being rather than come up with a perfect piece of art. 

Art never judges you. It accepts you as you are. You can share your deepest darkest secrets on a canvas, and nobody is ever going to know. We, at Artisans, celebrate the healing power of art, its loyalty, and its friendship to humanity through ages.