The Importance of Art Therapy for Addiction
Art plays a massive role in healing, and art therapy plays a large role in helping people overcome issues such as depression, bipolar disorder. Art is creative self-expression and allows people to express their deepest feelings and thoughts without fear of judgment, as well as playing a therapeutic role for many. In this article, we’ll be looking at the benefits of art therapy for addiction, as well as for depression and mental health disorders.
There’s been an increase in mental health disorders in the past ten years, and many have looked at solutions. Some have argued for psychiatric medication, which in many cases tends to be necessary but comes with a whole host of side effects and, in some cases, even makes the problem worse, whereas others have looked at lifestyle changes, such as diet, activity levels, or meditation. Art therapy for addiction is one of the ways that people can express their mental health issues in a safe space.
What Causes Addiction?
Addiction has many causes, and unfortunately no one can quite pinpoint the exact one but we have a rough estimation, some of the causes include a troubled childhood with abusive parents and the trauma from this environment leads to these people growing up and becoming enticed and drawn to drugs to ease the mental anguish that they feel. Many hard drugs found on the black market are highly addictive, making it difficult for the people taking them to get off them, and this, unfortunately, leads to the worsening of their condition.
Unfortunately, we can do a lot to help people but addiction can be quite a serious problem to overcome, and many addicts are unwilling to admit that they have a problem which makes it doubly hard for them to improve their situation as its impossible to improve anything when one thinks that there isn’t anything wrong.
Another cause of addiction for some people is just being in the wrong crowd of influences, and being misguided into impulsively doing drugs that could lead to addiction.
The Mental Health Crisis Of the 21st Century
We live in a very fast-paced society where we often neglect our own mental health, trauma, and conditions due to the simple fact that just to survive, many of us need to work two jobs, leaving no time for us to focus on ourselves and improve our health. Let alone our mental health. Many of us suffer from mental health disorders, in some cases diagnosed, in others undiagnosed.
The problem with treating mental health is the fact that, unfortunately, even many doctors do not quite understand the severity of certain disorders and how much they affect people. Many are given advice that does not even fully suit them, or drugs that greatly worsen things.
BIPOLAR: Art & Addiction By Blackbird Singing
Let’s take a look at a person who suffered her whole life from addiction and found her way forward through art. Blackbird Singing is a woman who has gone through a lot in her life, and could not find her way, which led to her engaging with drugs. A memoir written by a woman who has suffered greatly from addiction, bipolar disorder, as well as generational trauma. Blackbird singing suffered from a myriad of mental health problems from a young age, and through her art, she managed to cope and thrive. She would take the pain and the horror of her mind and transform it into beauty.
The Role Of Art In Mental Health
Art plays a vital role in helping people live with whatever mental health disorder they might have. Art improves self-esteem as it’s a creative endeavor that allows the person to create something from how they feel, and in many ways, this is a very empowering activity that allows people to transform their fears, anxieties, and insecurities into a beautiful work of art. Art also assists with improving focus and emotional processing. Art also allows the person to become much more mindful of what they’re doing.
Can Art therapy for addiction help
Art therapy for addiction can definitely play a big role in helping someone on their journey to recovering, healing, and gaining control over their addictive behaviors; however, it is merely one method in a larger rehabilitation program for someone suffering from severe addiction. Other forms of therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, are also needed.
Conclusion
Mental health disorders such as addiction are not easy to overcome; many people struggle with them their whole lives, and they end up relapsing time and time again. Art therapy for addiction is a great way to let go of built-up stress, anxiety, depression, and even serves as one method to help a person recovering from addiction.