“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”
– Victor Hugo
Creativity is another way to transform depression into healing and well-being. Expressive arts such as painting, writing, sculpting, or making music can be cathartic ways of working through feelings of stress and depression. When words fail us, sometimes art can express ideas, thoughts, and emotions that we’re unable to verbalize. Various forms of art help us get “out of our heads” and allow us to explore deeper thoughts and feelings. Have you ever wondered how a great piece of art, music, book, or film can be so moving? Artists are able to connect with the audience by symbolically expressing their emotions through their artwork.
For the most part, therapy involves talking about issues in your life. Artistic expression can add to this experience by offering a rich way to explore deeper feelings and help understand what’s underneath all the “chatter” in our minds. You certainly don’t have to be a professional artist. Anyone can use art to express themselves, even if it’s as simple as drawing stick figures on a page, writing in a journal, or playing songs that say what’s on your mind. Art can be very cathartic since it allows us to express ourselves and communicate in a way that doesn’t require words.
On the other hand, art can serve as a distraction from stress in our lives. Reading a good book, seeing a movie, going to a concert, or visiting a museum can be great ways to escape the chaos of the day. We can escape into the lives of fictional characters for a while and forget about our troubles. These types of activities also encourage us to spend time with others which can be helpful when we’re feeling stressed or down.
Creative arts can be a great way to spend time with others, allow us to temporarily escape our stressful lives, and offer a venue for expressing thoughts and feelings. In therapy, it may be beneficial to talk about different ways creative arts can help you manage stress and feelings of depression. Tapping into your own creativity is another way to get your life back on track and to bring health and well-being into your life.
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