Do you ever feel stuck in your own web of thoughts? tangled up so deep that some days it feels like there is no way out of it. This feeling is common among people whose emotions, traumas, and feelings often go unaddressed. There are many individuals like you that find it difficult to talk about their feelings and uncover their layers of emotions. But what if I tell you a different solution may lie in creating art.? Through depression art therapy one can express almost any emotion without having to verbalize it. It is a safe space for free expression to begin the healing process.
In this blog, we will explore the different angles of art therapy and how depression art can lift the heavy cloud of sadness, help you explore yourself more deeply, and help you feel more centered, connected to yourself and peaceful.
Let’s start with understanding the science behind the connection of depression with art therapy. It helps get feelings, emotions and sensations that are stuck inside, and out into the artwork.
Science Behind it:
Art for depression helps individuals externalize their internal struggles, making them tangible and more manageable.
Art is known to access areas of your brain that words often can’t let me explain how: if you are a painting, you may use colours that you might associate with your feelings, or symbolize the experiences that relate to your sadness. if you are drawing you might sketch your thoughts through different representations, lines, thickness, and colours. Drawing depression art is a form of art therapy that works to encourage self-expression in a different way than talking does.
From the story posted in the Guardian, scientific studies reveal that creative activities such as painting and sculpting activate brain regions that help regulate emotions and mood, and reduce the stress hormone cortisol. Depression mental health art does more than provide emotional release, it also helps us to understand better allowing us to react better emotionally. Art therapy helps individuals with trauma, anxiety, and grief. In such depth that the person discovers deep insights into the burden they have been carrying around, Sometimes the at made is a surprise and it illuminates a deeper issue, memory or experience that has been carried around with us.
To understand the connection better of how art can help with mental health, read How Art Therapy Helps with Trauma.
Now let’s move on to the story of Jonas Thrysøe, and how he battled depression and isolation with Art Therapy:
Jonas Thrysøe’s Story Of Isolation
An example of art changing the life of depression is the story of Jonas Thrysøe – a man, who was diagnosed with agoraphobia and depression. To Jonas, the world beyond his home was terrifying, he felt so completely disconnected from civilization. Until Kulturvitaminer, a Danish program opened Jonas’ eyes to depression art with meanings and creativity in artistic cultural activities that transformed his life.
Initially, Jonas engaged in simple activities like drawing depression art and exploring depression art images that resonated with his feelings of isolation. Over time, he joined group sessions that focused on collective art experiences, eventually finding solace in music. Jonas started singing in a choir as part of the program, and this activity gave him a sense of community and belonging.
There is Art that expresses one’s depression that can be found in stories like Jona’s. For him, art healed and fostered connection. Jonas never knew that he could love singing along with a group of people diagnosed with agoraphobia. Art therapy helped life Jonas find new strength.
[(Russell, H., 2019) linked: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/31/upside-denmark-culture-mental-health-singing-theatre ]
The Role of Art in Group Therapy for Depression
In Jonas’s case, choir participation helped him find his voice—both literally and figuratively. Singing along with others helped him reconnect with society, breaking through the isolation brought on by his agoraphobia. Similarly, in art therapy sessions, sharing art that represents depression can lead to collective understanding and mutual support. This could be with an art therapist in one-on-one sessions or in group art therapy.
For additional information on the benefits of art, check out Why is Art Good for Mental Health?
What Can We Conclude?
Art has an impact beyond imagination, it heals, supports, and empowers. Art may be the bright light at the end of a dark tunnel, that brings hope when you’ve lost it all. You’re done trying to vent out your feelings through words? Try Art therapy! It never limits your imagination or your creativity, allowing you to express even more freely.
Art Therapy Guelph
At Art Therapy Guelph, we have come across many clients who found solace and a sense of quiet peace in therapeutic brushstrokes and creating. Many feel a sense of accomplishment when they see their artwork. Colours themselves can lift our spirits. The choice is yours as to which art materials you use for creative expression. Book your consultation today to begin your journey of healing with us!