Everyone encounters stressful situations, and their effects vary among people. Every experience of stress is valid, but the stress level of individuals with disabilities can double. For instance, people with disability encounter difficulty manoeuvring assistive technology devices such as braces, canes, or wheelchairs. Aside from that, there are other elements at play that could also be applying additional stress.
The most common interventions for stress are mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy. Mindfulness assists people to become fully present and aware of what is going on around them at the moment to prevent being overly reactive or overwhelmed. It focuses one’s attention on the present and accepts current thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgments. On the other hand, cognitive behavioral therapy helps alter disruptive behaviors or thinking patterns. Disputing these negative thought patterns and transforming them into healthier and more positive feelings can improve well-being. One intervention that can mirror the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating trauma-related issues is art therapy. Making arts has been found to improve mental health aspects and reduce the effects of stress.
One misconception about art is that it is only for those who can create aesthetically good art. However, arts, including other expressive therapies such as music, drama, or movements, do not require a deep understanding of the medium.
Art expression is a form of visual language used to express people’s thoughts and feelings that they cannot put into words. It is also a great way to communicate complicated emotional experiences, such as trauma, physical or sexual abuse, or grief that are difficult to verbalize. It is a helpful tool in overcoming emotional distress, reducing problematic behaviors, achieving insights, resolving conflicts, and increasing a sense of well-being. Engaging in arts has various benefits. For instance, painting feelings can increase self-awareness. On the other hand, creating clay sculptures can be used as a form of relaxation and stress reduction, while drawing helps in relearning motor and perceptual skills. Assembling photo collages can empower individuals. The act of making art taps the universal human potential to be creative—a capacity associated with wellness.
Other benefits of using arts
- Provides a safe space for self-expression
- Reconciles conflicting feelings
- Reduces symptoms of anxiety or depression
- Improves cognitive and sensory-motor functions
- Fosters self-esteem and self-awareness
- Cultivates emotional resilience
- Develops social skills
- Increases self-awareness
- Generates a stronger sense of control
- Provides a less-intimidating form of expression
- Promotes internal and external self-reflection
- Provides diverse coping mechanisms
- Develops concrete solutions to problems
- Decreases feelings of loneliness and isolation
- Increases socialization in group activities
- Improves attention and concentration
- Cultivates a sense of pride and satisfaction in the finished product
- Provides emotional support
- Facilitates change in one’s identity
Among the identified benefits, the most common use of arts is for self-expression. It serves as an outlet to release feelings and thoughts related to physical ability. It is easier for individuals to express their emotions and thoughts through arts because of its indirect approach to issues. It uses metaphorical expressions and nonverbal interactions. Its indirect approach makes it less threatening to express feelings than traditional talk therapy.
Moreover, the tangible manifestation of their thoughts and feelings allows them to embody their worries and experiences, setting a clearer direction of goals instead of thoughts being left loosely in the head. The physical nature of art assists individuals in examining and manipulating their feelings and thoughts, allowing a greater sense of control over their experiences. Through art making, individuals can also make sense of their experiences, change maladaptive perceptions, identify various coping methods, and develop concrete solutions to issues.
Difficulty expressing emotions can contribute to stress and hamper the recovery process, but art can remove this barrier. Instead, art creates an opportunity to convey feelings and thoughts that are difficult to express, decreasing stress.
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REFEFERENCES: Brennan, K. (2020). Reducing Stress in Creative Spaces: Art Therapy with Adults Living with Physical Disabilities, A Literature Review.
Schreefel, E. Y. (2015). The Role of Art Making in the Recovery from a Physical Disability due to Trauma.
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