Art and journaling helps provide a way to express emotions and experiences not easily expressed in words. It is not about the final product; it is about healing through the process of making art. Writing can help you to process your feelings on a subject. By writing, you can thoroughly explore what you are feeling and openly and honestly. This allows for further healing and even clarification on things that you may be struggling.
Psychologically, expressive writing appears to help people better cope with the symptoms of PTSD, such as anxiety and anger. 3 Physically, journaling can make a difference as well, reducing body tension and restoring focus.
Research has identified a range of physical and mental health benefits of art and art therapy. For example, a study of cancer patients found that four hour-long guided, creative art (drawing) therapy exercises improved participants’ psychological well-being by decreasing negative emotions and increasing positive emotions.
One six-month study of caregivers of people with long-term illness found that regularly taking part in a creative arts activity reduced stress, decreased anxiety and increased positive emotions among the caregivers. In hospital settings, art therapy has been found to reduce the need for sleep medication and to reduce the length of hospital stays.
The authors of a review of research, Heather Stuckey, D.Ed., and Jeremy Nobel, M.D., M.P.H., concluded that use of arts in healing “complements the biomedical view by focusing on not only sickness and symptoms themselves but the holistic nature of the person.”
A study of women with cancer engaging in different types of visual arts, including card-making, collage, pottery, watercolor and acrylics found four types of benefits: it helped them focus on positive life experiences and reduce focus on their cancer; enhanced their self-worth and identity through challenge and achievement; allowed them to maintain a social identity not related to cancer; and allowed them to express their feelings, especially related to chemotherapy. Another study of women with cancer found reduced emotional distress and decrease in physical symptoms with the use of art therapy.
A review of research over the past decade looking at art therapy for people with serious mental illness found it to be a “potentially low-risk and high benefit intervention to minimize symptoms and maximize functioning in individuals living with serious mental illness.”
Other creative pursuits, such as music, writing, dance and play acting, have also demonstrated emotional and mental health benefits.
For more information Contact us about our Art Journaling Class to get you started for 2024. Schedule coming soon! Remote and In Person classes will be available.
You can find a trained art therapist through the American Art Therapy Association, Art Therapist Locator or through an online directory at the Art Therapy Credentials Board.
2023 American Psychiatric Association