Whether you’re doodling, coloring, painting, sculpting, or simply putting pencil to paper, creating art can benefit your mental health. Discover how art can serve as a simple yet powerful tool for alleviating anxiety and promoting emotional well-being.
Lower Stress
Several studies have shown that art has a positive effect when it comes to stress management. In a 2007 study, for example, participants listed 10 of their most significant worries and then spent 20 minutes either drawing or sorting through art prints. Participants who spent time drawing reported greater improvement in negative mood symptoms compared to those who simply viewed art.
A 2016 study found that adults who participated in 45 minutes of art therapy, such as sculpting with clay, drawing with markers, or creating a collage, felt more relaxed and had lower cortisol levels after the exercise. Research from 2018 also suggests that coloring activities may help relieve students’ test anxiety. Focusing energy on the artistic process, such as choosing colors and what to draw, diverts attention away from your anxiety.
Interrupt Thought Processes
Coloring or drawing can distract or interrupt harmful thought processes, often associated with anxiety and depression. Anxiety often causes rumination, or repetitive looping thoughts. These types of thought loops often increase anxiety, rather than alleviating it. Drawing, coloring, sketching, or doodling provides a grounding activity that can help you refocus your attention and calm racing thoughts.
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Promote Mindfulness
Mindfulness refers to a person’s ability to remain present and in tune with the sensations in their body. Though it may seem counterproductive, being mindful and acknowledging your anxious feelings can make it easier to release them and improve emotional regulation. Creative activities such as art provide the opportunity to clear your head and be in the moment.
As you draw, distracting thoughts pop into your head, but you continuously divert your attention back to your artwork. Focusing on grounding sensations, such as the texture of the paper or the sound of your pencil scratching the page, allows you to disengage from anxious feelings and engage in self-reflection.
Find Flow
A “flow state” refers to an optimal state of mental focus that completely immerses you, causing you to forget about outside distractions. Experts suggest that this state could promote creativity and emotional well-being by helping to relieve stress. Activities such as drawing or coloring are just a few of the many ways that a person can enter a state of flow.