10 Types Of Art Therapies that Relieve Stress & Reduce Depression

Stress is one of the most significant health issues in the world, contributing to fatigue, burnout, depression, a low immune system, or even organ destruction. Stress is the most pronounced wellbeing risk in the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).  

Many people who are artistically inclined claim that art is a stress reliever and can reduce depression. The development of art will offer catharsis for challenging feelings, a diversion from traumatic emotions and memories, and an ability to get into a “flow” state that can in many ways be restorative.

Plus, it finally creates a stunning work of art. Artistic production will also help even those who are not artistically inclined.

Pen tablets are a great device to start drawing, sketching and conducting other photo activities digitally that help you release your stress and make effective use of time. Pen tablets are made for every person who wants to sketch and love drawing.

It is not necessary to be a professional artist or sketcher to use the pen tablets. You can easily release your stress while making art on the pen tablets just like you would on a paper and feel good. 

Because of today’s society’s growing versatility, resilience, and success expectations, it is expected that the vulnerability of people to stress will rise further in the future.

Studies show that the impact of different types of art therapy on tension and mood do not examine the subjects’ ability or the nature of their works, only the impact on how they feel afterwards, and these effects are overwhelmingly positive!

So if you are looking for a better way to ease tension, you may also want to continue to dive into an art activity. To get you going, here are some brilliant ideas.

- Stress Relief Painting & Colouring

It is believed that art and drawing treatment, colouring mandalas, and drawing in general can minimise stress and combat depression.

Most studies have individuals drawing or colouring for about 20 minutes, so for this stress reliever to be helpful, it is not necessary to be a talented or serious artist; in fact, no artistic ability is required! 

- Draw Stress-Relieving Drawings

One research separated slightly depressed people into two classes and found that anxiety and decreased negative mood were relieved by drawing an image.

They preferred to use charcoal pencils, oil pastels, or even standard coloured pencils in this study, and the sketches themselves, only the anxiety levels and mood of the participants after they were finished, felt stress management drawing helped them a lot. 

So if you are someone who already loves making art but doesn’t make time for it, or you’re someone who questions their creative ability, let go of results; create something that’s just for you in a drawing notebook, a canvas, or whatever you have handy.

- Try Colouring Books 

Try colouring. In your life, take a cue from the kids and get an adult colouring book. You don’t have to see a blank page; all you’ve got to do is start colouring  and let the stress melt away with stress-relieving colouring

- Learn Mandala Art

Drawing a mandala enables users to share some of what you’re feeling by including the symbols that represent what you’ve been doing in your life, the disappointments you’ve had, the challenges you’ve faced, or anything else that’s important to you, without getting into the “tale” of it, and potentially triggering meditation. 

Training also helps you to ground yourself at the moment you make a work of art, which will liberate you from anxiety over whether the pictures look “good” or even practical and known to be the best stress relief drawings.

Your mandala can look just as you want it to look, and it can be rich in meaning, or just a bunch of shapes and doodles that you like. All you need to do is have some fun.

- Paint or Draw Your Mood

Each mark conveys the energy. How are you feeling about that? What kind of energy have you got? What kind of mark are you going to make to express that energy?

A short-dark mark or a long-running figure. What kind of shape are you feeling? Sharpened shapes with sharp edges, or rounded curvilinear shapes? Just draw your heart out on a piece of paper. No foundations or specifications.

- Watch YouTube Videos & Learn

YouTube is full of some satisfying art related videos as well as tutorials, watch them and see if you want to try making something. Learning something new always boosts one’s confidence.

If you don’t feel like trying it out, just watch them and you might feel better.

- Practice Viewing / Drawing.

This is a kind of meditative drawing called a blind contour drawing, in which you draw very slowly while looking at what you draw rather than at the surface on which you draw.

It slows down time and lets you see the beauty of the object you’re drawing.

- Join An Art & Craft Class

The value of a class is that it cements the practice to your timetable; you don’t have to work too hard to find time to draw when you’ve already had time to prepare it on your timetable.

Also, if you’re worried about your artistic abilities, it can help you improve your abilities and make them less distracted.

While you can do all of this on your own, it can be even more beneficial to get together with other people, helping to make relations that will serve you well the next time you feel stressed and could use a friend.

- If Nothing Suits…just Doodle!

If you don’t have time for art lessons, and a 20-minute drawing session seems like more than you’ve got time for, you should still indulge your inner doodler.

Although there is not a lot of specific research on stress-relieving effects of random doodles, there’s still enough information on drawing and art, in general, to recommend that it can be at least kind of helpful and that it can certainly not hurt.

- Make Stress Relief Drawings on a Canvas

Make a collage of spirit or soul. On the standard size of cardboard or a matte board (4″x 6 “or 5″x 7”), make drawings of figures and words that speak to you.

Don’t plan ahead of time what you want to do, but let the image come out organically. These drawings can reveal a lot about your subconscious needs and feelings.

Benefits of Stress Management Drawing

Studies showed that just 45 minutes of creative practice would relieve tension, regardless of artistic experience or talent. Here are some benefits of Stress Management Drawing

• Serves as a means of self-care :
  Often, with all our life’s commitments, we forget that we need, and deserve, downtime and self-care. Taking a few minutes regularly to devote yourself to a hobby can give you more of what you need in this area. In art and drawing, you have the bonus of being left with something stunning (or at least interesting) to show for it.
  
  
• Allows you tap into a “state of nature” :
  Some psychologists describe the flow as being profoundly engrossed in an operation. Similar to meditation, flow can enhance performance and reduce stress levels. You may feel flow when learning an instrument, playing sports, planting, blogging, painting, or drawing.
  
  
• Keeps your mind off things :
  Making art will keep you away from something that makes you stress, at least for a few minutes. It’s hard to keep ruminating over your issues when you’re focused on making them. If your issues linger with you, you will make them part of your designs. When you’ve done it, you should have a better mind to face your issues again.

FAQ's

1. How art is a stress reliever and can reduce depression?
- Art can be a stress reliever and reduce depression by offering a creative outlet to express emotions, promote mindfulness, and boost self-esteem.

2. How is art therapy used for mental health?
- Art therapy is used for mental health by trained therapists who guide individuals in creating art to explore and communicate their feelings, promoting self-awareness and healing.

3. What is the art method of therapy?
- The art method of therapy involves various artistic techniques like drawing, painting, sculpting, or even digital media to help individuals process and address emotional and psychological challenges in a therapeutic context.

Conclusion

Mental health experts have been recommending different types of art therapy to boost self esteem and stress relief drawing to create a safe outlet relieving emotions and providing you sense of control as art is a stress reliever and can reduce depression. 

In case you’re someone who likes creating artworks digitally, all the above therapies apply too. It’s just instead of the canvas, books and colours, you’ll be using software like Photoshop and a graphic tablet (preferably XP-Pen 😉 ) Check out our range of  display tablets and graphic tablets which are most chosen tablets by professional artists and designers. 

Do let us know if you’ve been using any art therapies that have worked for you in the comments section and we’d probably add it in our next article.

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