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Incorporate art therapy to revive mental health; 10 creative ways to soothe depression, anxiety

Incorporate art therapy to revive mental health; 10 creative ways to soothe depression, anxiety
Image Source: HT
Including creative arts in your everyday life, regardless of your level of experience, can have a profound positive impact on your mental well-being. Painting, sculpting, journaling, and clay work are all useful tools for de-stressing and squelching negative emotions. They can also help prevent anxiety and stress and promote peace of mind. Research indicates that art therapy can enhance cognitive function, lessen distress, and raise self-esteem. It can also help you become more resilient and achieve harmony between your body, mind, and spirit.

In an interview with HT Digital, Brittany Hunt, a therapist and the head of the quality, innovation, and research department at Clinic Les Alpes, stated the advantages of art therapy for depression and anxiety.

5 ways to incorporate art therapy to soothe anxiety

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1. Mindfulness with colors: By allowing people to remain in the present, mindful painting helps reduce anxious thoughts.

2. Clay art and modelling: The tactile nature of the material can help divert focus from worrying thoughts and direct energy toward the creative process.

3. Collage making: By combining different elements to create an abstract collage, one can convey emotions that are difficult to put into words.

4. Scribbling and doodling: Scribbling or doodling can be an easy and quick method to reduce anxiety. It’s a behavior that helps calm tense energy and divert attention from unsettling ideas.

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5. Photography: It promotes awareness and can be a potent tool for managing anxiety via artistic expression. It can help focus on the beauty of the outer world and divert attention from internal stress.

5 ways to incorporate art therapy to soothe depression

1. Painting with rhythm: The synergy of music and visual art may be very uplifteding for those going from depression, as it can improve mood and spark creative thought.

2. Sculpture work: Sculpting is a physical and symbolic means of communicating feelings.

3. Relax with journaling: Maintaining an art journal is an ongoing, personal practice that frequently facilitates the expression of feelings. People who engage in this technique can monitor their mood throughout time and process their feelings on a regular basis.

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4. Fabric artwork: Crafts involving textiles and materials, such knitting or quilting, are not only calming but also give one a sense of pride and accomplishment.

5. Finger art with colors: This can be a lighthearted and impromptu artistic endeavor that revives happiness and spontaneity, which are sometimes stifled by despair.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only. 

Sneha Sengupta

Entertainment and Lifestyle news writer at MangoBunch.in