The Healing Power Of Art | Georgette Huston

THE HEALING POWER OF ART

Georgette Huston

Question…Have you ever found yourself lost in a daze while admiring a group of colors combined together for your viewing pleasure? Have you ever felt the joy and/or pain in one of your favorite songs? Have you ever cheered on the protagonist of your favorite book? If so, you’ve experienced pieces of the wonderful world of art.

Art is such a versatile subject that branches out into so many different mediums, and what I love most about is the Healing Powers that one obtains from using art as a form of therapy. As a therapy, art helps one properly process their feelings, it relieves stress, and it also helps with anxiety. With all that is going on in the world, art is definitely needed….especially right now.

Ever since the first onset of Covid back in 2019, many people have developed certain fears and anxieties as the death till was on the rise. As an artist, this affected me heavily. So, I decided to do some research on ways art can help others heal. Processing One’s feelings is often easier said than done. Many do not know how to properly express their emotions. Drawing, coloring, and painting are just a few creative devices people use to release their emotions. Writing and playing music are also thought to be cathartic exercises to help one release whatever emotion one is having trouble expressing.

Another way that art acts as a healing agent is that it helps one Relieve Stress. When one engages in releasing any pint up emotions they have through an art related task, dopamine, a neurotransmitter compound found in the body is activated. Dopamine affects the flow of the blood pressure, and we all know how stressful having high blood pressure can be. Something as simple as walking through an art gallery can help relieve stress. Studies also show that the higher the dopamine levels are as people become more engaged in art, the better the chances of them feeling and acting happier. Different hands on crafts can be used to achieve such bliss.

Ever been so ticked off on a job, that you wanted to scream…but you couldn’t, because you’d more than likely be told to take the proverbial “time off”? Well, indulging in something creative could keep you from flipping your lid. Yep, you guessed it…art helps heal ANXIETY ISSUES too. Instead of exercising that scream on the outside, jot those emotions down on a sticky not and throw it away. Use your favorite pen and scribble little smiley faces all over a page or two. Try this simple exercise for a good 5 minutes, and I guarantee you’ll feel ten pounds lighter and so much better. Writing is my second favorite go-to medium of art, and from experience…Journaling helps.

The idea for this article is for the reader to gain insight on the benefits of using art as a healing device. Painting saved my life when my blood pressure was at an all time e high. Even with the medication I was taking, I just couldn’t seem to get that number normal for nothing. I’m really glad I was able to find my way back to creating. I take my rest and reset days when needed. I have a created a regular writing routine and I’m dabbling in different color techniques to stay in alignment with everything. Suffice to say, my dopamine levels are on fleek.

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of art check out the article below

https://www.rtor.org/2018/07/10/benefits-of-art-therapy/