Sometimes the best way to take your mind off your troubles is to do something fun. Being creative is a pleasurable positive coping tool you can put into practice to divert your attention away from stress and onto something you enjoy. Engaging in a hobby or artistic pursuit can create a meditative state, helping suspend that uneasy inner dialogue as you concentrate on what you’re doing in the now.

A study published in the Journal of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) reported “that art making resulted in statistically significant lowering of cortisol levels”: that’s the hormone that regulates your stress response. It also found that whether or not you have previous experience, creating art generates “feeling relaxed [and] feeling free from constraints”. So set aside any doubts about your creative ability, get curious about what you want to do, and dive in!

Coloring books may be what leaps to mind when we think of using our creativity as a coping skill. They became all the rage during the pandemic and for good reason. A separate study published by AATA found that coloring for 20 minutes helps to lower anxiety levels. It also activates the brain’s reward center releasing the “feel good” neurotransmitter dopamine, which gives you a natural mood boost and reinforces positive behaviors. Coloring books are fun, they’re engrossing, and no matter what level of artistic talent or ability, everyone can play.

Expand on that idea by taking the pens, pencils or markers you use for the books to explore free drawing. Whatever pops into your head – landscapes, pets, people, abstracts. Try painting the same on canvas using brushes with watercolors or pastels. Remove perfectionism from your process by reminding yourself that anything you create can be for your eyes only.

Stretch beyond selfies and expand your photography skills. Use your pictures to create collages, combining them with favorite images and sayings. Write poetry or short stories, flip through your journals and expand on your entries. Sculpting can be very therapeutic, shaping and molding clay then mushing it up and doing it all over again.

Try your hand at textiles: make a pillow, knit a sweater, crochet a hat, embroider a favorite cartoon character on a jeans jacket. You might want to give crafting a whirl by learning how to découpage or starting a scrapbook. Baking has all the ingredients necessary for a coping skill. It requires focus on the recipe and concentration on mixing properly which keeps you in the moment. You can take it a step further by decorating your creation before enjoying the results with a cup of coffee or a friend.

Nurturing your creative spirit opens the door for you to discover interests and activities that will engage and challenge your mind in a good way. A way for you to forget about your concerns and create a sense of peace. And as you continue to use this positive coping skill you may find that you’re so proud of what you’ve created you’ll want to show it off to everyone you know.

Explore all the wonderful ways you can add a creative touch to your de-stress régime by working with a member of our Mental Health Coach Team. For more information, have a confidential conversation with Cindy via phone at 631-921-4085 or reach her directly via email here.

Whatever stage of mental health recovery you are in, whatever level of support you need, a member of our coaching team can guide you through assessing your strengths and developing goals for next steps. The Recovery Coach NY honors all paths of recovery with years of experience and a vast array of resources that can support those in need find the way to the life of joy and purpose they deserve. We come with an empathetic ear and solution-oriented actions that can begin to bring the relief you or your loved one seek.

We provide Recovery Coaching, Mental Health Support & Coaching, Sobriety & Mental Health Companionship, Executive Function & Accountability Coaching, Academic Coaching & Scholastic Support, Safe Transport, Case Management, Psychedelic Integration Coaching, Intervention and Emergency Services. For more information and additional services, go to our website.

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