Benefits of Therapeutic Art

Art Heals In A Holistic Way.

Doing or observing art helps us heal emotionally, mentally, and even physically by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system (our bodies heal, repair, and detox when the PNS is engaged.)

Emotional Relief

Art helps release tension and soothe stressed minds. It increases our happy feel good hormones, like serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine, and endorphins. Art has been very helpful in helping people suffering with a wide range of emotional conditions such PTSD, depression, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, fear, and more.

Self-Discovery

Art is a great way to learn more about yourself, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and also to challenge perspectives and limiting beliefs.

Lowers Cortisol Levels

Creating or observing art helps lower our stress hormone, cortisol, helping us to feel more relaxed and peaceful.

Art has many benefits for the mind and body. If you go to PubMed and search "Art Therapy", 54,832 results come up. There is a vast amount of subjects for these studies, helping people suffering from all kinds of conditions, from Alzheimer's to schizophrenia, to cancer, to Autism, to various mental health issues, to PTSD, to chronic pain, to TBI, and so much more.

How is it possible for art to affect the body in such ways? Like, isn't it just something to do as a fun pastime?

While it is a fun pastime, creating and even observing art actually affects hormones and neurotransmitters, gut bacteria, and even your nervous system.

Art engages the parasympathetic nervous system, also called "rest and digest". This is the opposite side of the nervous system than when we are in "fight or flight". When we are stressed in "fight or flight", our body shuts down certain functions, like digestion, because, well, you wouldn't need to eat while running from a bear and fighting for your life... that energy is more important for your legs and arms at that moment instead of breaking down our food. Your blood flow is affected, too. Your body takes blood flow from many organs and moves it to muscles to help you run and use your strength in the battle.

While this is great when there is really a fight, it isn't so helpful in our day-to-day lives. Not only that, but our bodies only heal when the parasympathetic nervous system is engaged. If we are stuck in "fight or flight" often, we will struggle to repair, heal, and detox. That would go on to cause us a lot of physical issues.

While creating art is fun, as you can imagine, if art is kicking the body over into a healing state, many physical conditions will be getting addressed while we sit there and have fun relaxing.

That isn't the only way that art works on the nervous system. It can literally change the shape and electrical pathways of our brain! Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of our brain to learn and adapt, and even rewire its pathways to allow our mind to grow and meet our new wants and demands.¹ And art can really get the neuroplasticity rolling.

Art also engages both sides of the brain, connecting thinking with feeling. This can lead to communicating thoughts and feelings that could be difficult to put into words, and also stimulate new creative solutions and ideas.

Some forms of art, like music, actually stimulate almost every part of the brain. That means that music can help work out the brain and increase the function of nearly all other brain activities. Art helps with cognitive function, memory, concentration, and so much more.

There really are so many ways art helps with healing on a very wholisitc level, mentally, emotionally, physically, and even spiritually. Really, there are too many ways to list here, but I hope this benefits list is an eye-opening introduction.

Pain Relief

Art has been useful at helping to alleviate not only emotional pain, but also physical pain. Many pains can be from suppressed emotions and stored painful memories within the cells and tissues throughout our body. By doing therapeutic art and writing, you can work on releasing the suppressed emotions and pain. You also have the healing aspect from the nervous system that will help your body to heal damaged tissues, too.

Improve Communication and Resilience

Art is a very useful tool for expressing things that are hard to put into words. It can cultivate resilience, strengthen social skills, provide healthy self-expression, and help people work through stressful and traumatic events.

Help Overcoming Addictions

Studies have found art to be helpful for people dealing with substance abuse. The benefits of art with stress and mood improvements carry over to other areas of life. Many people use substances when anxious or upset in some other way. When you lower stress and improve mood, then the substances won't be desired as often.

DISCLAIMER: The content, views, or advice expressed on this page and site are not meant to substitute medical advice or services, but are meant for educational and informational purposes only. It's not intended to serve as medical advice or to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.

I can confidently say that since the addition of Art Therapy I have felt more peace, more collected, and more calm in the midst of adversity or day to day unknowns/turmoil. I am so glad I met Kaleigh and began Art Therapy. I'm excited to see healing and positive strides as I continue incorporating art into my everyday life.

Crystal Lubinski

★★★★★

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