Arts, whether you’re engaging in them or just appreciating them, can bring enjoyment and encouragement, but expressing oneself through art can also have physical and mental health benefits. Art therapy, a form of psychotherapy, offers a unique way to express emotions and experiences that words often can’t capture. It’s not about the final artwork; it’s about healing through the creative process.
Importance of releasing feel-good hormones
Creative expression is a powerful therapeutic tool that includes activities like dancing, singing, drawing, painting, pottery, and acting. Numerous studies show that creating art engages the brain’s reward system by releasing feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin while simultaneously reducing the level of cortisol. This dual mechanism not only promotes relaxation but enhances our mood and overall well-being.
Benefits of therapeutic art
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
There is evidence to suggest that art therapy can increase dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine, often low in people with anxiety, depression, and stress, helps improve mood. Because art therapy boosts dopamine, it is an excellent choice for those with chronic depression and anxiety.
Enhance your quality of life
Art gives us meaning and helps us understand our world. Scientific studies have shown that appreciating art enhances our quality of life and boosts our mood. Creating art elevates our mood, enhances problem-solving skills, and opens our minds to new ideas. The mood-boosting effect of art broadens our attention and helps us see more potential solutions to creative problems.
Build your resilience to cope with pain
Studies have shown that Art Therapy has played a vital role to those suffering with chronic illnesses. Through creative process individuals had a clear understanding in identifying their triggers and patterns and areas for improvement in their health management while enhancing their well-being and fostering a healthier environment.
Stimulate your Brain function
Increasing evidence shows that art boosts brain function by affecting brain waves, emotions, and the nervous system. It can also raise serotonin levels, which improves mood. These benefits come from both making and experiencing art. Simply observing art can create new neural pathways and inspire new ways of thinking.
Art therapy offers profound benefits for mental and physical health through creative expression like painting and dancing. It reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, boosts dopamine levels, enhances brain function, and promotes resilience in managing chronic illnesses. Embracing art therapy means embracing a holistic approach to healing, harnessing creativity to nurture mind and body.
References:
- Zaidel, D.W. (no date) Creativity, brain, and art: biological and neurological considerations. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4041074/.
- Acrm (2020) How the brain is affected by art – rehabilitation medicine, ACRM. Available at: https://acrm.org/rehabilitation-medicine/how-the-brain-is-affected-by-art/.
- The power of healing: New who report shows how arts can help beat noncommunicable diseases (no date) World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/azerbaijan/news/item/15-11-2023-the-power-of-healing–new-who-report-shows-how-arts-can-help-beat-noncommunicable-diseases.
- Kaimal, G., Ray, K. and Muniz, J. (2016) Reduction of cortisol levels and participants’ responses following art making, Art therapy : journal of the American Art Therapy Association. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5004743/.
