When symptoms of anxiety arise, it can feel challenging to find coping strategies at times. One approach that helps many people find relief from anxiety symptoms is art therapy, more specifically, painting.
While many people think activities like painting are supposed to create aesthetically pleasing results, this is not always the case. Painting to relieve anxiety is about the message in the art and how someone can express themselves without words. So, how exactly can painting help anxiety?
Serves as a Distraction
Painting can be a distraction from ruminating thoughts or overwhelming emotions. Taking the time to stop and focus on one thing helps many individuals overcome anxiety symptoms in the moment. While this can be achieved through various other activities, painting is often an easy, accessible way for someone to distract themselves.
Helps Gain Insight and Understanding
Painting can help individuals gain insight and understanding through self-expression. The fears and other emotions that accompany anxiety can be hard to express with words at times. The creative process of painting can help individuals tap into and express deep feelings behind anxiety symptoms.
Promotes Stress Relief
Anxiety can often stem from stress. Painting can help people find an emotional release that allows the mind to relax and forget about problems for a period of time. When a person creates something through painting, they stimulate the creative mind while relieving mental strain.
Boosts Mindfulness
Mindfulness refers to the ability to stay present, engaged, and in tune with thoughts, emotions, and sensations in the body. Spending some time with anxious thoughts can make it easier to release them. Mindfulness can help individuals learn to accept the painful feelings behind anxiety and let them go. As an individual paints, the focus on the artwork, the movement of their hands, the texture of the paper, and the brightness of any paints used can help an individual stay present in the moment.
Finding coping strategies to handle symptoms of anxiety is crucial. However, finding coping strategies that work can be a challenge at times. Painting is a skill that many people use to help themselves overcome their anxiety symptoms. Painting can help you overcome anxiety symptoms in various ways. Painting serves as a distraction, helps you gain insight and understanding, promotes stress relief, and boosts mindfulness. If you are struggling to manage your anxiety or other mental health concerns, The Guest House is here to help. Call us today at (855) 483-7800 to learn more about our treatment options.