Let us begin this post by making it clear that nothing aside from modern medicine is going to have the best chance of helping any health condition you have. However, while that’s a scientific approach with rigorous testing, the emotional processing that comes with health issues aren’t always addressed. You may be prescribed an SSRI, or perhaps undergo therapy and counseling, and while both of these can help where appropriate, sometimes we need to go a little deeper.
Art is often a healthy and helpful way to process the human condition, even (and perhaps especially) the most difficult parts of it. But what do we mean by “art,” as that’s quite a broad topic? Well, any part of it that matters to you. For some, reading classical literature gives them a very notable and healthy escape. For others, it’s fantasy novels. Other people write poetry. You’re not limited to one practice, they’re all open to you, and it doesn’t have to involve the written word either.
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In this post, we’ll offer some healthy options to get started:
Self-Expression & A Place To Vent
It’s fine if you just need somewhere to put all those messy feelings that come with dealing with health issues, and creative outlets can be perfect for that. We’d suggest that writing in a journal, sketching random thoughts, or doodling while you’re waiting for appointments gives your brain a different way to process what’s happening sometimes. As you can see art doesn’t have to be a great big professional project, but a means to express your emotion. You don’t even need to be good at it or show anyone what you create.
The beauty of using art this way is that there’s no right or wrong approach, as maybe you write angry letters you’ll never send, or paint abstract colors that can capture how you’re feeling better than words could. It’s like having a conversation with yourself without having to make sense or be logical about everything, and sometimes you do need that. That’s how powerful art can be.
Art Therapy For Real Medical Conditions
Hospitals and treatment centers have started implementing creative activities into their programs because they’ve seen how much it can help people cope. Art therapy might seem like it’s there to help you better emotionally, and that’s definitely part of it, but sudies show that creative activities can actually help with pain management, reduce anxiety before procedures, and give people a sense of control during treatment.
So for example, you might find music therapy in hearing care programs that use rhythm and sound to help, or discover that painting helps you focus on something other than symptoms for a while. They’re not replacement treatments, but they really do work alongside medical care to help you feel more like yourself.
Community & Compassion
Sharing creative work with others who understand what you’re going through is pretty much perfect ground for connections that can be really meaningful. You can get this through different means, like joining an online group where people share their writing about health experiences, or finding local art classes specifically for people dealing with medical conditions. Those are just two examples, there are many more, and there’s great joy in not feeling alone in the struggle.
With this advice, we hope you can better process your health condition through art.
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