The healing power of art

Other than making random doodles in the margins of a page while you're killing time, if you're like most adults, you don't express yourself with art like you did as a kid. You may not think you're any "good" at creating art, or you may not think it's worth your time, but art is actually a valuable pastime, even for those who don't consider themselves artistically inclined.

There are many reasons that art is a great stress-relief tool, even for those who don't consider themselves to be artists.

Some people are deeply talented artists who can create lifelike paintings, amusing cartoons, powerful pointillism drawings and other pieces of art with relative ease. Others struggle to draw stick figures. But when it comes to stress management, the end product doesn't really matter; it's the process of creating a piece of art that counts.

Many people who are artistically inclined say that the creation of their art is a wonderful stress-reliever. In fact, the creation of art can provide a distraction from stressful thoughts and experiences, and a chance to get into a meditative-type state that can be restorative in many ways.

Local artist and author Dennis McGregor understands why art is therapeutic for him.

"Being engaged in the creative process brings a sense of well-being that's unlike any other of life's rewards," McGregor said.

Studies show that art therapy, coloring mandalas, and drawing in general can minimize anxiety and combat negative mood. Most of the studies have people drawing or coloring for about 20 minutes, so it's really not necessary to be a gifted or serious artist for this stress-reliever to be helpful; no artistic ability is required.

One reason the art of creating, such as coloring, painting, writing or sewing may be helpful for stress is that the act itself brings us to the present moment - it can be a wonderful exercise in mindfulness.

There are many ways you can engage in artistic activities to soothe stress, or just to deepen your inner peace and express yourself, and each has its own appeal, based on your personality and needs.

Carl Jung was one of the original advocates for creating mandalas as a therapeutic tool, and a lot of therapists and art enthusiasts have joined in recommending this practice in the decades since.

Mandalas are circular designs that often include intricate patterns and symbols within them. One study found that creating mandalas minimized the symptoms of trauma in PTSD patients a month after patients engaged in this activity three times. It allows you to root yourself in the moment as you create a piece of art, and somewhat frees you from concerns about whether the pictures look "good" or even realistic. Your mandala can look however you want it to look, and it can be rich with meaning or just a bunch of shapes and squiggles that look good to you. All you need to do is have fun!

Participating in art can take your mind off what's stressing you, at least for a few minutes. It's difficult to keep about your problems when you're focused on creating. When you're finished being engrossed in your creative process, you should have a clearer head with which to tackle your problems again.

Artist Jean Rouas, a registered art therapist, NLP practitioner with a bachelor's in psychology, practices art therapy with clients in a mental-health facility in Angwin, California, and believes that engaging in art can release past traumas.

"Most of us go through some kind of trauma in our lives, and scientists have found that past traumas are stored in the right side of the brain," Rouas said. "The left side of the brain is the logical person who sits down to do his annual taxes, and the right side of the brain is our artistic or creative side. We need expressive arts for healing. Being involved in creative writing, listening to music, or coloring/painting can be really helpful..."

There's a certain quality of being called "flow" that experts say is very beneficial for us. This refers to a state of being completely engaged in something to the point of being in a near-meditative state. It carries many of the benefits of meditation, leaving you much less stressed when you're done. You can also experience "flow" when you're doing creative activities like writing, art, and gardening.

Just having a hobby can make you feel more balanced. Sometimes, with all of life's responsibilities, we forget that we need down-time. Taking even a few minutes on a regular basis to devote to a creative endeavor can give you more of what you need in this area. And with something artistic, you have the additional benefit of being left with something beautiful to show for it!