Posted March 14, 2024 by Bassey Ijoma, MSN, RN, BSN, Manager, Quality & Clinical Improvement
Not only can art add beauty and meaning to your life, but research shows it may be essential for your health and well-being. Think of art as creative fitness for your mind and body! Studies show that expression through art and creativity can boost your mood, reduce stress, relieve pain and improve memory.
In fact, many hospitals and clinics use art therapy as an effective tool to support healing from depression, anxiety, traumatic events, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health disorders. The idea is art can be a powerful tool to work through thoughts and feelings, while expressing emotions. Art therapy also is used to help in the treatment of dementia in older adults.
Getting involved with the arts can have powerful and lasting effects on your health. Fortunately, art is something everyone can participate in, and the benefits are extended across any medium that interests you. No art skills or experience is necessary to benefit from the arts!
Engaging in creativity allows you to interpret, express and resolve emotions without using words. Drawing, sculpting or building a collage based on a traumatic experience, for instance, allows you to release negative energy through expression. Research shows that art is a great way to process pain and negative emotions that facilitates the healing process.
Taking an art class, visiting an art museum or attending dance lessons are all great ways to increase your social interaction and broaden your support network by making new friends. It can expose you to people with common interests in the arts, and give you a sense of community and connectedness.
All of these things can lead to lower risks of depression, anxiety and feelings of loneliness. In fact, research shows your body releases endorphins during positive social contact, similar to the physical response after a hard workout, which gives a boost of happiness, while reducing stress.
Research shows that engagement in the arts reduces the body’s levels of cortisol — the stress hormone. Just like breathing exercises, meditation and aromatherapy can relieve stress, so too can drawing, doodling, coloring, singing, dancing and the list goes on.
What’s more, when you’re writing poetry, drawing or watching a play, for example, it forces you to focus on the task at hand — and is a great distraction from life’s stressors.
Focusing on creating improves concentration and stimulates the brain, which strengthens neural pathways to fight off cognitive decline. Just as your muscles get stronger when you exercise and lift weights, so too do our brains when we use them to develop skills and creativity. In fact, art has been linked to improved memory, reasoning and resilience in aging adults.
Practicing art can build a sense of accomplishment. Creating something new, whether writing a new poem or knitting a new hat, makes you feel good about yourself and proud of your ability to turn an idea into a work of art. Taking time to craft builds your sense of self-worth and confidence in your abilities.