Worrying is something that almost all people have experienced. It’s the feeling of fear or rumination over something that you feel you need to check up on. Worry can manifest in a mother who has a fear of her child getting lost on the way home from school. Or it could be a businessperson fearing that they won’t be able to complete their job tasks in time for the end of the day.

No matter what you worry about, it’s essential to understand that it’s okay. Even children worry and experience anxiety. If your worrying has become difficult to handle and negatively impacts your life, you may have an anxiety disorder. Over 40 million adults in the US do, which is why more and more sites are talking about ways to combat anxiety.

One of these ways is through art therapy, a modern form of therapy meant to assist others with mental illness or concern by creating art.

Here are some ways that art therapy can help you cure your worries and stress if you’re someone who deals with chronic worrying or anxiety.

Art Therapy Gives You a Voice
For many, art therapy is one of the most healing forms of treatment because it allows them to express themselves in an environment that doesn’t feel so pressuring. Art therapy allows patients to use art as a form of communication.

Many people also feel more comfortable describing their symptoms and feelings to a therapist if they have something to work on and focus on while they talk. Since traditional talk therapy is done in a conversation-type setting, it can feel like you absolutely have to speak on cue and that your therapist is analyzing you while you speak.

With art therapy, you can take the pressure off of eye contact and social norms and put your focus on whatever you’re working on. There isn’t as much pressure to speak on cue, either. You can respond or talk when you’re ready to. Often, your therapist will work on art at the same time as you, so you’re both busy doing something while you speak.

Sometimes, clients will even communicate through their art by drawing how they’re feeling or creating a poem or art piece that describes their worries. This type of art therapy can help an art therapist start the conversation with you if you don’t know how to.

Art Therapy is Calming
Not only is art a way to communicate, but it’s also incredibly calming. Many studies show that art and art therapy are amazing tools for helping those with mental illness. Even if you don’t have a diagnosis and simply struggle with worry in your everyday life, you can use art, and it will help you.

Many art therapists will stock their office up with plenty of supplies of different kinds, so you can experiment with the medium you like. You’ll often find:

• Paints
• Pencils
• Pens
• Paper
• Clay
• Sculpting tools
• Sandboxes
• Stickers
• Stencils
• Canvas

Your art therapist may also ask what type of art you’re interested in, so you can work on something that inspires you. Since art is a form of mindfulness, it can help you get out of your head and work on something without a lot of pressure. Since worry is often caused by self-pressure, being distracted and working on a mindfulness activity is extremely valuable for those who struggle with it.

Art Therapy Gives You Control
Art therapy is much different from regular talk therapy. It gives the client much more control over the session and the conversation. If you’re not comfortable talking for the first few sessions, that’s okay. You don’t have to.

The therapy session is structured around what works for you. The art therapist will know how to remove tension and make you feel more comfortable, and you’ll be busy working on your art piece for the majority of the session.

If you do feel pressured by your art therapist, you don’t have to ever stick with the same person. The beauty of finding a therapist is that it’s your choice. Therapists are people too. Like with regular social interactions, sometimes we don’t click with certain people, which is totally fine.

Conclusion
If you’re struggling with worry, give art therapy a try. You might find it’s precisely the thing you were looking for. You can also check out BetterHelp’s advice section on worrying.



Marie Miguel Biography

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.