Healing Through Art: The Power of Creative Expression

In its myriad forms, art has crafted human existence in one way or the other. In a world with so much stress, pain, and challenge, art has timelessly helped individuals in so many ways. Art, basically is a subjective expression of every individual. It serves as a means of communication enabling individuals to bear their ideas, thoughts, emotions, experiences, etc. Art remains a powerful tool in idealizing, expressing, assessing, and healing individuals. Art has many different forms: dance, music, writing, drawing, sculpting, photography, and much more. It includes a huge range of expressive, receptive, and applied arts. Each individual has their way of using, processing and healing through art. This article briefly covers the realms of art in the process of healing.

Psychology and Art

Art plays a significant role in interpreting emotions, helping individuals better understand themselves and others, and also aiding in modern health sciences. Art and creative expression have been One doesn’t need to be an artist to make or create art but the only need is the desire of an individual to liberate oneself through art. Psychology and art have combined to dwell in the world of understanding individuals.

Art has evolved in the field of Psychology as a distinct one featuring Art therapy and or Expressive Art therapy. Therapy is nothing but the act of caring for someone. As medicine is to physical health, therapy is to mental health. Art as a therapy can explore and heal individuals. There are various types and techniques under art therapy which includes

• Dance therapy
• Music therapy
• Drama therapy
• Writing therapy
• Expressive arts therapy

Read More: Healing Verse: The Therapeutic Benefits of Writing Poetry

Healing

Art is something that can soothe the individual’s thoughts, feelings, and actions. It has been proved that art plays a major role in the promotion of good health and the prevention of various health ailments. Art has been combined in many health institutions for the process of healing and rehabilitation. Art can enrich one’s life. Art can heal in many ways:

• Improve awareness
• Reflect a calm and focused attention
• Increase in self-esteem and self-acceptance
• Ability to communicate
• Improved trust in oneself and others
• Enhanced quality of life
• Increased sense of control

And so much more.

Valuable support can also be gained by an individual through the creation and expression of various art forms.

Self-Care

Engaging in artistic activities on a daily routine can promote well-being. Art can enhance individuals by letting them know themselves and aid in efficiently expressing them. Art can help individuals in dealing with the stressors of everyday life. Spending time every day performing any of the art forms like dance, music, and writing can heal individuals in many ways like

1. Lowers anxiety
2. Being creative
3. Help individuals deal with difficult situations
4. Aid in promoting mental health and well-being

Colour your Emotion

Colours have significance in our everyday. The world we sense is full of colours. Colour has a highlighting impact on our emotions both intentionally and unintentionally. Colour is vital to experience. Colour in its art form can be used to evoke and understand the emotions of individuals. Each colour has its significance. Colours tend to liberate human emotions. For example: Purple is often associated with luxury and power. It can bring a sense of relaxation and stability alongside creating good sense.

Trauma Recovery

Trauma is a response to a situation set of deeply disturbing situations or circumstances. It could be described as a long-lasting effect of any unprecedented situation or accident. Art therapy helps individuals recover from traumatic experiences by unleashing their trauma completely thereby helping them recover.

Mindfulness

Art is one of those natural ways to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of having a focus or awareness of emotions, sensations, and feelings. Having awareness of what is within and around the individual is Mindfulness. Practising mindfulness helps individual enhance their self-awareness and better reflect their everyday life. There is a therapy called Mindfulness-based Art Therapy– a technique to improve your inner self and emotions. This has numerous benefits improving psychological stability, improving awareness and enhancing the Quality of life of individuals.

Identity

Art helps in introspecting individuals on knowing and understanding oneself. Engages in self-discovery, aids in uncovering hidden talents, potentials, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities and gains insights reflecting the depths of one’s identity.

Art Community and its Connection

Community-based treatments have expanded and have helped in many disorders. Performing in groups, taking part in workshops, and collaborating in group projects in art forms can enhance the experience and support each other. Participation in art community or art therapy groups has been found effective in multiple ways.

Art Therapy for Mental Health

Art and art therapy have collaboratively been found to be a successful healer in improving the conditions of many mentally ill patients. The varying mental illnesses include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, dissociative disorders, sleep disorders, phobia, Dementia, Depression, Schizophrenia and also in childhood disorders like Autism. It has also helped in enhancing the minor stressors of everyday life.

Art and Grief

Grief is an intense feeling experienced by an individual after the loss of someone lovable especially by death. Art can help individuals heal from their grief. This art can help in coping with the avenue of expression of loss.

Resilience

Resilience is the individual process of bouncing back from a failed or critical situation. Art can build the individual from scratch after going through adverse situations. It can help transform the nature of creative expression.

Art and Emotional Intelligence

Art can enhance emotional intelligence. It can sharpen the ability of an individual to recognize and understand emotions and strengthen oneself. With improved emotional intelligence, the lives of individuals can get better both personally and professionally. Art is a mirror reflecting all the complexities of humans. It can explore the varying intersections of the human psyche indeed helping them heal and grow.