The Proven Mental Health Benefits of Creating Art
What Do The Stats Say?
Source: Benefits of Viewing Art – by inValuable
Relaxation & Meditation
The current happenings of the world together with the increasing pace of life, has led to an increase in stress for many of us. Thankfully, making art reduces negative emotions like anxiety and stress. Creating is an experience akin to meditation providing a much-needed break from the happenings and busyness of life.
Eases the Difficulty of Health Conditions
Creating has often been used a form of therapy to help us forget about develop a mindset that supports healing. Creating can also help to manage the effects of our illnesses by lowering high stress levels on the mind and body, allowing for better healing.
Increased Brain Connectivity
A study completed by Bolwerk et al., examined how art changes your brain. Creating proved to increase our psychological resilience, our ability to adapt to changes. Studies also show that when engaging in creative and complex activities, the brain creates new connections between the right and left hemispheres.
Restored Focus & Concentration
Leonardo da Vinci said, “Painting embraces all the 10 functions of the eye: darkness, light, body and color, shape and location, distance and closeness, motion and rest.” Thus, creating helps to notice detail and pay more attention to our environment. Our creative thinking and problem solving transcend into a greater ability to focus and concentrate.
Improved Quality of Life in Dementia Patients
Creating has often been used as a form of therapy for dementia patients. Creating enhances cognitive abilities and memory, in addition to aiding symptoms of depression and anxiety.
