Stress Relief Through Doodling, Drawing And Art Therapy

There is no denying the fact that right now is a stressful time in the world. Countries are and have been fighting for years. Sickness and mental health issues are common. Living expenses are creeping higher than incomes for many professional fields. The average college debt is very high. Social media can be more hurtful than it is helpful.

To deny the stress that is occurring would be like denying the weather: pretty difficult.

This is why, more than ever, we need to be identifying and practising interventions for managing stress and to promote wellness.

Stress management comes in many different forms. It is person-centered to the individual experiencing stress. Many people exercise, read, write, spend time with loved ones, and do a variety of other healthy activities to cope.

And many people draw or engage in art.

Surprised?

Doodling, drawing, and participating in art therapy is actually a health coping mechanism for stress.

Creativity is good for the brain and for the soul. It isn’t just something to pass the time like we may think of our doodling during meetings. It is truly something that makes our lived experience richer and less anxiety provoking. This is why for the past few years adult colouring books have become so popular.

So why exactly should we doodle and draw more? Let’s explore.

How Does Doodling And Drawing Help Us?

Doodling has been found to be very helpful for memory. Research has found that individuals who doodle while receiving information had an easier time recalling the information than those who do not. Memory issues, of course, can be very stressful. Doodling can combat the stress experienced by having gaps in memory or confusion about past events.

Doodling also helps us to pay better attention. It prompts the brain to be more alert and prevent us from falling asleep or shutting down. It helps us to maintain interest and stay present longer. This is likely why it is such a helpful tool during professional meetings, in trainings, or in classes. Doodling helps to fill in cognitive gaps.

Doodling and drawing also have an impact on our psychological stresses. When we draw, we often tell a story. Sometimes drawing helps us to make connections, come to conclusions, or identify our feelings. This kind of reflection can help us feel more secure in our thought processes and less confused or stressed by not knowing exactly how we think or how we feel. This helps us to feel more relaxed and comfortable in our meaning.

What If I Want To Draw Or Doodle But Do Not Feel Confident Or Comfortable Doing So?

If you want to get started doodling but feel a little anxious about it, do not feel bad. It might be helpful to you to use an adult colouring book and simply begin by filling in the spaces.

Often times once we begin a creative process, it can prompt more. You may find that soon you begin drawing without the need for the colouring book.

Find the perfect colouring book for you by searching “adult colouring book” on Amazon or any other retailer’s site. You can also find them in many stores or at malls.

What Is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a creative form of therapy where individuals process their emotions through any kind of art. This could include painting, colouring, sculpting, sketching, or other forms of art.

While art therapy is very helpful for children, it is equally as helpful for adults.

It has been found to help improve self-esteem and relieve stress. It can help to improve anxiety and depression and cope with different illnesses, especially disabilities.

Art therapists provide support in various settings, typically depending on the comfort of the individual being seen. This could include private sessions, group sessions, at wellness centers, in jails and hospitals, in community and senior centers, and privately at homes.

The goal of art therapy is not to create art but rather to form connections to identify conclusions about oneself and their world view. This can help improve relationships with their self and with others.

Art therapy, much like doodling, helps to bring thoughts to the conscious mind and to identify thought processes and patterns in thinking.

The art therapist will prompt you in your creation of art. They will know information about the colours, patterns, textures, and shapes and their processes in therapy. They understand how this can help you to identify thoughts and beliefs. They will utilize psychotherapy processes as well, so someone should be prepared for this kind of hybrid therapy.

This is not simply creating art and it will be uncomfortable at times – like traditional therapy can be. Remember to lean into the discomfort as this is often where wellness starts.

Beginning to understand ourselves and how we process the world can be extremely helpful in reducing the stress that we experience. Experiencing stress is normal but it is not always necessary. We can develop tools and strategies to mitigate it.

Art therapy is a very good option for some people. It may be especially helpful for those individuals who struggle to identify why they are stressed. Art therapy may help them to bring the information to their consciousness.

How Can I Get Started With Art Therapy?

If you are interested in art therapy, first you should identify a therapist. This person will be a professional with at least a master’s degree from an accredited institution.

It may take a while to find the right therapist. Remember that you may need to meet a few before you find someone you click with. This is a good thing. You want this relationship to be trusting and feel right.

Next you should explore if your insurance will cover these services or not. Always understand what your financial responsibility is prior to agreeing to services.

Finally, you should have an understanding of the process that you will embark on with this therapist. Be sure to ask questions and get the support that you need from them along the way.

If it becomes difficult, this may be a sign that it is helping. Remember that therapy can often prompt us to feel worse before we feel better. This is because we are exploring feelings and experiences we may have been repressing.

Should I Have Feelings About The Art That I Create?

You will likely have thoughts and ideas about the art that you create. You may assign goodness or badness to it. You will be tempted to judge it.

Your art therapist will help you navigate these thoughts and feelings. They will ask you questions that are helpful in processing such as what was difficult to create and what wasn’t difficult to create? They may ask you about what you thought about during creating art or if any memories occurred?

Remember that the art therapist is there to help you process and explore. They are not there to judge or complete the work for you.

Conclusion

Whether you try the occasional doodle – maybe in your journal, if you keep one – or you want to attend formal art therapy sessions, there is no doubt that some form of art can be very relaxing, and, as a consequence, helpful with reducing anxiety and stress.

And as with creative writing (see our guide on this), you don’t need to let anybody else see what you create if you don’t want to.

Additional Resources

These are suggestions for those who wish to delve deeper into any of the above:

1. Art Therapy Techniques
2. Doodling
3. Drawing Courses
4. Finding An Art Therapist