Have you heard about the benefits of art therapy? It’s not just for individuals with severe trauma— it can be valuable for people with all types of mental health struggles. Find out if you should begin investing in your own peace of mind through art therapy sessions.
1. Anxiety and Stress
Are you constantly nervous or stressed? Do you find yourself panicking about simple things or small threats in your life? Do the challenges you face every day seem insurmountable? With art therapy, you can find relief from the stress you feel. You can make pieces of art that give form to your fears and help you face them.
2. Depression
An overwhelming sense of sadness, despair, and darkness can leave you feeling like your life is over. If you’re struggling with depression, art therapy can help you learn to express those feelings, push through them, and find light and hope on the other side.
3. Anger
Do you frequently feel rage rising up inside you? Maybe it scares you, but you’re not sure what to do. Dance, musical performance, or other forms of art can be a valuable outlet for your pent-up anger. When you write a song, perform a dance number, do a sketch, or shape a piece of pottery, you’re channeling that negative energy into something positive and healthy.
4. Trauma
Have you been through a severe traumatic event? Perhaps you experienced it recently, or maybe it occurred a long time ago. Even if it’s tough for you to talk about it, you can express some of what you feel and think through art. Finding some relief through art therapy may help you feel more ready to start talk therapy, develop coping systems, and find peace, in spite of what happened to you.
5. Dementia
Perhaps you or someone you know is entering their final decades. The years have taken their toll, and the mind isn’t as sharp as it once was. Having trouble speaking or finding the right words can leave older people feeling trapped inside their own minds. With art therapy, elderly patients with dementia or memory loss can find new ways to express themselves.
6. Psychosis
Sometimes, reality may seem confusing for people with specific mental health challenges. Delusions, visions, voices, and a sense of disconnect from reality makes it difficult to face everyday life. With art therapy, people can learn to visualise or express what their minds perceive. They may also become more grounded in reality as a result.
7. Blocked Emotions
Are you having trouble accessing or expressing your emotions? Do you feel disconnected from your emotional centre? Art can help you tap into those feelings, even though they may be buried deep in your subconscious. With art therapy, you can start to express more emotion and connect with others on an emotional level again.
Remember, art therapy is often most effective when combined with other types of therapy. To sign up for art therapy in Singapore and to gain the help of a trained Singapore psychiatrist or therapist, contact Adelphi Psych Medicine Clinic.