Transformative Power Of Photography As Self-Expression

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Photography is a creative medium of self-expression involving much more than merely pressing the shutter button. When you think about enhancing your self-expression by taking pictures, you want to find ways to convey your narrative. 

You may install technologically advanced cameras on a variety of gadgets, including laptops, camera phones, tablets, tablets, mobile phones, and many more. The cameras on each of these devices have different specs, but they can all take and store pictures. Therefore, it doesn’t really matter if you are an amateur or a professional.

Today, taking pictures has become a must-do activity. These days, individuals with smartphones can use many tools to leverage their images and videos in order to tell a story and make significant use of them. You can gain a fresh perspective on the world through the artistic medium of photography. You can share and retain the beauty of our environment by preserving a moment in time. Photographing the world lets you capture its essence in its entire splendor, from the majestic surroundings of nature to the colorful landscapes of our metropolitan jungles. Photographs that capture moments in time, such as a breathtaking sunset or portrait, have the power to inspire strong feelings and enduring memories.

Having the right camera and perspective can greatly improve your life through photography. It may lift your spirits in difficult times, enable you to see past the setbacks life occasionally brings, and inspire your inventiveness and creativity. One kind of art that has existed since the beginning is photography. Memories are passed down to future generations in this way. But among all of photography’s many wonderful qualities, one sticks out above the rest: the ability to express oneself. People have learned to communicate their emotions and views about a certain topic through drawings.

Photography Unleashes Your Creativity Through Images

With photography, you may express yourself via techniques you never would have imagined and let your creativity run wild. You may experiment with new forms of self-expression and challenge the limits of your artistic abilities by playing with various styles, approaches, and themes. You begin to consider the feeling you wish to identify, comprehend, and convey using the pictures that have been taken. Photography allows you to explore your inner self and think creatively, whether by catching the captivating splendor of the natural environment or producing abstract photos that defy your expectations. You’ll start to satiate your thirst for knowledge and dare to try out new photographic subjects.

Creating something simple is a big part of feeling satisfied. Regardless of age, you are inclined to allow others to experience the thrill of creating. And don’t worry, it doesn’t matter how creative you think you are; what matters is that you do it. You will, therefore, discover a wealth of knowledge to be gained from a broad perspective on photography as you delve deeper into the world of taking and browsing through photos. Naturally, you don’t have to judge on expert or skilled positions because there are countless opportunities as long as you are content and happy with your work.

Photography Helps You Explore Unique Perspectives

Stepping out of the standard is the initial step towards self-expression in photography. You can produce beautiful, intimate photographs by experimenting with different philosophies that showcase your perspective. With photography, you can discover beauty in your everyday life. Everything is easy, from the commonplace things around you to the individuals you spend time with. You can get a new perspective on things by using your camera to capture the beauty in whatever is around you. Photography can help you pause and reflect on all the amazing things you have to be grateful for. This is a wonderful therapeutic effect of photography. It reminds you of the wonder and broadness of the surroundings and the opportunities that have shaped who you are.

Photography helps you explore unique perspectives as you dive into the world of perfect image capture. Well, there is really no “perfect” subject to capture, and that’s what’s great about photography. Every single image you want to take a shot with and every photo you develop is already a way of getting to know what you genuinely think about yourself and the world around you. You begin to focus on finding the beauty around you and start to fall in love with your life in general. This positive association with photography and self-expression through images allows you to cater to a broad perspective where you will learn to understand the story behind a particular story.

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Photography Documents Your Journey Through Life

 Photography can assist you in reflecting on and reliving your life’s journey. Personal communications are captured by photography that might have been lost indefinitely. You can reflect on your life since it may transport you to that same moment in time. The images you’ve acquired through photography can serve as a nice remembrance of past experiences. Additionally, your brain will automatically tell you to grin and be joyful just by gazing at the pictures. With photographs, you may express yourself, retain thoughts or memories, and gain different perspectives of humanity. Isn’t that a fantastic way to improve the way you feel?

Other than stories, photography is the best way to capture the stages of your life from childhood to adulthood. This is a generation-to-generation kind of action. This lets you relive your life’s finest and terrible days using a picture-based experience. The pictures remind you of how you overcame the most difficult times in your life and inspired gratitude for every good thing you have experienced. They can also demonstrate to others how you have chosen to live life to the fullest. You can learn to value who you are through photography. It may persuade you that you possess the courage necessary to meet life’s obstacles.

Photography Can Help With Mental Health Struggles

You might spend some time looking at the most stunning photos to soothe your spirit when you’re feeling stressed out or have had a demanding day at your job. An individual’s concentration is naturally drawn to beautiful pictures. It’s okay to linger and enjoy a beautiful photo of a butterfly, a cat, or the sun setting. As they say, a photograph is worth more than a thousand words, so take time to cherish it. You could get a sense of fulfillment with these amazing objects that you don’t see very often. The pictures include a message that suggests life is nothing more than amazing things.

Even if you believe that worry and stress steal your life, you can actually improve your general state of mind and emotions by perusing the pictures of the lovely things in your surroundings. You may stay motivated by being inspired and put all of your worry and tension behind you just by making an effort to take worthwhile and positive pictures. Emotional control and cognitive realignment benefit greatly from photography.

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Photography Allows You To Connect With The World

Every photographer has a unique perspective on the world, and your unique vision and style are reflected in every image we create. Through photography, you can engage with others more deeply and share your life’s events with them. By making your photos public, you may build a network of like-minded people who appreciate photography as much as we do and encourage people to find beauty everywhere they look. It simulates the way the cognitive system functions during significant events. It depicts the incident as well as the motivations and backstory. Photography lets you change how you see everything around you and get insight into other people’s perspectives. Photography possesses the ability to unite individuals, increase consciousness of significant matters, and foster understanding and sympathy among other individuals.

What makes a photograph really powerful is how well you are able to establish a connection with the subject of the photograph and grasp the essential sentiments, emotions, and narrative. As you capture and examine photos, you’ll discover that they have the power to arouse feelings in others and foster empathy and compassion for the subject of the shot. You start to recognize how you perceive the world significantly from other people and how they see it differently. Through this engagement, you’ll feel more connected to the world and find beauty everywhere, even in the most difficult situations. You’ll also get the need to delve farther into the stories of others’ narratives and start looking for the purpose of life. You start to consider developing a healthy relationship with yourself and increasing your level of self-awareness. You start to realize that one of the things that renders photography an effective instrument for connection and communication is its ability to stimulate emotions.

Final Thoughts

There is more to photography than merely aiming and clicking a camera. It’s something that takes time, effort, and understanding. Everyone can take beautiful pictures that tell a story and make a statement with the correct tools and techniques. Photography is an art form that demands meticulous attention to detail and an acute sense of substance, from selecting the ideal angle to modifying the exposure. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so cherish it.

 

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Creative Therapy Techniques That Supports Mental Health

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A comprehensive, holistic health treatment, creative arts therapy uses artistic expression to promote physical and mental wellness. It’s a type of treatment where the patient is encouraged to use art-based exercises to solve their problems. It works particularly well for those unable to express their inner selves through words alone. Individuals can express themselves through the various creative arts mediums.

Using artistic mediums, creative therapy helps heal certain medical conditions. Individuals with a variety of psychological, emotional, and physical problems can benefit from creative therapy administered by licensed therapists. It doesn’t require any artistic talent at all. Using artistic abilities in one’s thoughts and feelings is a component of creative therapy. These factors suggest that creative therapy could be helpful for those who struggle with verbalizing their emotions.

Using a variety of creative mediums to express their inner selves, clients are encouraged to use creative therapy techniques. These mediums include painting, drawing, photography, clay or sculptures, music or theatrical performances, role-playing, poetry, dance, and movement.

In creative therapy, several components of creative arts therapies are multimodally integrated into counseling and psychotherapy. Numerous mental illnesses and psychological suffering can be treated with creative therapy. In many situations, it may be combined with other psychological methods, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or group therapy.

An individual may benefit from a variety of creative treatment approaches. For certain conditions, some creative therapies could be more beneficial than others. Creative therapy has been shown to dramatically lessen the symptoms of anxiety and depression in adult survivors of trauma. Creative therapy’s effectiveness was demonstrated by how it improved the quality of life and reduced a range of psychological symptoms for patients receiving medical treatment. In older adults, it also contributed to a decrease in depression and an improvement in self-esteem.

An individual should consult a psychotherapist or another medical expert to find out which creative therapy is most beneficial for them.

Creative Therapy Techniques That Supports Mental Health

Writing: To express feelings, thoughts, events, sentiments, goals, strengths, and other types of inner experiences, creative journal writing can use words, drawings, collages, or images. When writing, you search for more expressive phrases and words that are able to convey the ideas you have in your thoughts. This aids in developing a framework that will improve your ability to articulate and convey difficult concepts more efficiently. Writing improves your ability to think and communicate. It conveys your personal identity. Additionally, it permanently and visibly changes the way you think and learn. Writing helps you get better at refining and explaining your thoughts to both yourself and other people. You are able to safely express your true voice and practice genuine self-expression by writing about your ideas and discussing your feelings.

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Painting And Drawing: When it comes to conveying feelings, states of mind, or the dynamics of relationships that are hard to put into words, intuitive painting and drawing with pastel colors, chalk, acrylic paints, and watercolors can be helpful. Unlike any other human activity, drawing and painting allow you to connect with what you’re feeling on a very deep level. Through that process, you are able to intellectualize the feelings you are currently experiencing to a certain extent by trying to understand the reasoning behind it once you have managed to make sense of it. Furthermore, this surge might make us feel good, especially when we’re having self-esteem issues and can easily accomplish tasks that others find difficult.

Sculpting: Because clay can be molded and remolded, sculpting with it throughout an entire session can be highly therapeutic. It can be utilized to portray emotions by being stretched out, beaten, and squashed. A self-image, other individuals, and abstract thoughts and feelings can all be represented by sculpting with clay, which can withstand a lot of pressure. Since there are no precise instructions for creating sculptures, the emphasis is on creativity and self-expression. Additionally, it strengthens the left and right hemispheres of the brain, increases hand skills, teaches shape evaluation, and encourages improved focus and concentration. Sculpting is an excellent therapeutic technique that enhances hand-eye coordination and soothes the overactive mind.

Photography: When utilized for therapeutic purposes, photography is frequently referred to as phototherapy or therapeutic photography. Individuals’ appreciation of their surroundings and the things they enjoy about their everyday lives can be strengthened by phototherapy. It can also document the healing process following a loved one’s passing or trauma from unanticipated events in a journal. Photographing includes increased creativity, consciousness, movement, and interpersonal connections. Since a single snapshot has the ability to instantly transport your memories of the images, sounds, and even scents of a particular moment, it can serve as a mental lift.

Body Movement: Using movement to self-express, one is able to interact with the body’s awareness and inherent ability to heal. Dancing may or may not be a part of this. Your body can function at its best when you use your joints for high-quality physical exercise. This is because the joints are trained to support a variety of joint movements. You can keep doing activities that involve quick movement if that’s what you enjoy. Movement is incredibly beneficial to your physical health, psychological state, and overall well-being. Endorphins, sometimes called the “happy hormone,” are released more frequently during deliberate movement and exercise. You can now approach your day with an improved mental state.

Poetry: Creating poems is a key component of creative therapy, which uses symbolic meaning, expressive language, and poetry as a springboard for self-expression. Poetry enables you to enjoy the beautiful qualities of words by emphasizing the selection of words, rhythm, and connotations. In addition, the text encourages creative thinking by using figurative language, symbolic meaning, and imagery. Knowing what’s going on in your body, mind, and heart can be aided by poetry. Poem exploration is facilitated by reading. So, poetry reading can still be mentally beneficial even if you are not a writer. It offers a distinctive method of looking at and comprehending feelings, difficulties, and lifestyles.

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Collage: Using cutouts, pictures, paints, and felt pens, collage artists can create visually striking images. Working swiftly and impulsively while avoiding internal verbal commentary is crucial for this practice. Collages aid in the organization, development, analysis, and presentation of visual concepts that are challenging to put into words. Collage has the unique benefit of letting you arrange and reposition objects without depending on your own artistic talent. The purpose of the expressive collage-making practice is to improve self-acceptance. Making the craft with this much attention to detail and effort will improve your cognitive flexibility and help you use your brain’s capabilities better.

Role-Playing: In your life, you take on several personas in social settings, the workplace, and your personal connections. Role-playing offers real-world examples to aid in their learning. Develop real-world skills (debating, cooperation, teamwork, bargaining, and persuasion). Offer opportunities for peers to be critically observed. You are, therefore, accustomed to exploring roles and expressing challenging emotions. You can learn about the objects around you by identifying real-world circumstances through role-playing. You gain knowledge of practical skills like cooperation, teamwork, bargaining, debating, and persuading. Since role-playing offers possibilities for thoughtful evaluation of both yourself and others, it is essential to improving your mental health.

Effectiveness Of Creative Therapy Techniques

Although there is evidence to support the potential benefits of art therapy, there are conflicting results about its efficacy. Further research is required to determine how and when creative therapy might be most helpful, as studies are frequently tiny and inconsistent. Treatments that incorporate artistic endeavors into therapy sessions are called creative and artistic therapies. A qualified expert provides help during these sessions.

  • Enable you to express ideas and emotions that you find challenging to express
  • Assist you in better understanding yourself and making sense of the world
  • Help you in discussing complex emotions or challenging situations
  • Offer you the opportunity to make connections with others.
  • Provide a secure environment for you with a person who won’t pass judgment.
  • Assist you in developing fresh perspectives on issues or challenging circumstances.

Things To Consider

You don’t have to be artistic. People of all ages, including toddlers, teens, and adults, may benefit from creative therapy. Participation in it can be done without creative ability or exceptional talent. According to some studies, the mere existence of art might improve mental health. People frequently ask how a creative therapy session and an art lesson differ. Art therapy is mostly about allowing clients to focus on their inner experience instead of art classes, which are more concerned with teaching techniques or producing a certain final result.

People can concentrate on their thoughts, imaginations, and emotions when doing art. Instead of making art that illustrates the outside world, individuals can make art depicting their inner world. However, you must realize that only some are a good fit for creative therapy. Art therapy doesn’t require highly creative or artistic people, although many adults who think they need to be more creative or artistic may be reluctant to or doubtful of what is involved. Also, note that not every psychological problem has been reported to respond well to creative therapy.

 

FAQs

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Top Benefits Of Artistic Therapy

What are the benefits of art therapy?

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Top Benefits Of Art Therapy

What exactly is art therapy? What are its advantages to one’s mental health? Let’s talk about it and how it can be a tool to aid the physical, mental, and emotional healing of all sorts of people of all ages.

Art Therapy Definition And Other Benefits

Art therapy is not just a tool for self-expression. It can also be incorporated into mental health treatment plans by expressing individuality. Its primary goal is improving the person’s overall well-being with the help of art therapy sessions with an art therapist. In fact, achieving mental healing is among the primary beneficials of art therapy.

It is a specialized area of mental health that uses creative materials and creative process to explore emotions, reduce anxiety, increase self-esteem, and resolve psychological conflicts. — Douglas Mitchell, LMFT

The Power Of Art Therapy

The creative and artistic process and expression when making art aid people in freely communicating emotions that are often difficult to verbalize or convey on their own. The benefits of art therapy are just as effective as visiting mental health facilities for treatment, according to the American Art Therapy Association credentials board.

Aside from that, the individual can also resolve their personal issues while managing their feelings, boosting self-esteem, and reducing stress and pressure through self-expression that comes as a result of talk therapy, which is a component of the art therapy session.

Beneficial Treatment Requirements

Art therapy requires one thing – to articulate your deep thoughts and feelings in your art when you feel overwhelmed or just want to express thoughts. You are not required to have a creative or artistic background as long as you can communicate and allow expression to accompany you throughout your healing process – your output is your therapy art.

In addition, you need not worry about the therapy sessions because they are being managed and facilitated by credentialed art therapists who hold a master’s degree, at least, and have proven a lot of times that it works by constantly creating art.

It can also help in promoting physical health and physical well-being – even with cancer patients. Through self-discovery and artistic expression, patients can use painting and drawing as a means to reduce pain and process traumatic events. Moreover, it helps in reducing symptoms associated with depression and addressing substance use disorders.

With the vast array of arts and artistic materials and outlets available, there are many ways to reap the advantages of the aforementioned treatment. At face value, it increases self-awareness and improves social skills, and its techniques even reduce symptoms associated with emotional trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and physical illness.

a blank canvas surrounded by flowers, getting benefits from art
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Recipients

Art therapy in the time of covid-19 is not for everyone, although it can be good for anyone who tries it. The world is brimming with multitudes of methods to express oneself, and this treatment is just one of them.

Art therapy can profoundly impact people of all ages, and utilizing different forms of artistic expression can enhance its effectiveness. For instance, sculpting and music training are two examples of how people learn to engage their brains in new and unique ways. These activities can have particular advantages for those who have experienced cancer, as they promote relaxation, reduce stress, and boost mood.

The difference in this therapeutic treatment process, though, is that it’s mainly beneficial for those who are unable to openly and positively articulate what’s bottled up inside. It is helpful for those who are primarily incapable of speaking out loud due to certain limiting illnesses. Clients who are just starting out will do much better with a professional guiding them.

The Art Therapist

There are professionals who are trained and experienced in both therapy and art. These credentialed professionals are insightful and well-rounded in disciplines like theories of psychology and healing using artistic, spiritual, and multicultural traditions.

These therapists have developed their own unique artistic self-expression and artistic process so you can guarantee they know what they’re doing.

Beginning treatment is an important step toward recovery for a patient who needs to cope with various challenges. This article highlights its importance for individuals seeking to improve their mental and emotional health. For example, it can help patients develop coping strategies that allow them to manage stress and anxiety. Through

They utilize artwork to assess, treat, research, and supply information to allied medical professionals. In fact, their recommendations help the medical field improve their medical treatment.

We all carry unexpressed emotions in our bodies and we even express them with phrases like “butterflies in my stomach” or “a pain in your neck.” We also use colors when talking about strong feelings: “red with rage,” “green with envy,” or “feeling blue.” — Lucia Capacchione, Ph.D., ATR

Are Art Therapeutic Benefits Worth It?

Art therapy is tagged as the most common treatment modality, especially when dealing with children because they have limited abilities to express their frustrations. They haven’t fully developed their vocabularies yet, so it’s necessary to find other avenues to let them express their feelings.

Adults who also have difficulty in efficiently airing out their grievances or sentiments highly benefit from it. That said, the other benefits of artistic therapy are:

  1. Aside from being a treatment that provides great psychological benefits and opportunities to express feelings and thoughts, art therapy can promote self-confidence, especially with the help of an art therapist.
  2. It contributes to the facilitation of positive perspectives about one’s life and dissolves past trauma left unchecked.
  3. It gives children a chance to explore emotions they have left unsaid due to societal expectations and pressures.
  4. It engages the mind in improving skills in problem-solving and decision-making that can benefit a person’s self-reliance, self-sufficiency, and independence amid the hectic world.
  5. After a stressful experience, it can constructively help individuals facilitate coping techniques in alleviating traumatic memories caused by substance use disorders, relationship issues, and other adverse mental health problems.
  6. Aside from coping mechanisms, it is also capable of scrutinizing and managing traumatic experiences to find relief and other forms of expressing strong emotions.
  7. For children, it is a strategy to develop and promote gross and fine motor skills, speed and dexterity, and hand-eye coordination.

Art psychotherapy engages a person in nonverbal processes such as dreams, movement, sound, video, or mixed media, entering a client’s inner world where meaning was attached to events and where coping strategies have become fixed. — Barbara Mosinski, LCAT, ATR-BC, MA, MFA

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Final Thoughts On Art Therapy’s Benefits

Indeed, art therapy is an excellent form of treatment that can aid in exploring one’s most profound emotions, managing addiction, and improving a person’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

On the other hand, children can fully benefit from creative therapy techniques, especially those who are struggling with developmental impairment, through art creation. It could be in the form of performing arts or visual arts.

Besides, art therapy is not just an artistic expression; it is also a relaxation technique that not only the mind but the soul as well. Check the services in your area. You may find some good programs there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Benefits The Most From This Form Of Treatment?

How Does It Affect The Body?

How Does It Help With Your Mental Health?

Does It Actually Work?

Has It Been Proven Effective?

Is It Good For Mental Illness?

What Are The Cons Of Art Therapy?

Can It Help With Anxiety?

What Is It And How Does It Work?

What Does This Form Of Treatment Entail?

The Uses And Benefits Of Art Therapy

Art therapy
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What Really Is Art Therapy?

Art therapy uses and creative process.

Art therapy benefits?

Art therapy’s downsides?

Art therapy instructions?

Art therapy session as an alternative?

Nowadays, people with mental health conditions can seek the assistance of a professional counselor or mental health therapist or board-certified art therapist to help them feel better about themselves.

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Going through a rough time can be challenging and heartbreaking all at the same time.

Fortunately, if you decide to seek the help of a counselor, there are already several forms of treatment that you can take advantage of.

Art Therapy Benefits

What’s art therapy and how do creative therapy techniques work with art therapists?

Both art therapy and creative therapy are not so popular compared to other forms of psychotherapy such as counseling.

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This method involves encouraging patients to become more expressive arts about their feelings and emotions through a creative process, including art making. It involves self-expression to work on your mental well-being.

Being More Expressive With Feelings And Emotions Through A Creative Process

According to the Art Therapy Credentials Board, the persons subjected to the art therapy treatment with an art therapist from the American Art Therapy Association are encouraged to get involved in drawing, painting, coloring, and other related field activities to improve their health.

The American Art Therapy Association in the City of Alexandria, VA state that [it] can be an effective mental health treatment for individuals who have experienced trauma, trauma symptoms, depression, medical illness, eating disorders and social work difficulties. — Douglas Mitchell, LMFT

Art Improves Your Mental Health

Is expressive arts therapy beneficial to our well-being?

How do therapists or credentialed art therapists work?

Art therapy is necessary for those who want to improve their mental health problems, especially clients healing from post-traumatic stress disorder, with the help of art therapists or a social worker. There are no educational requirements to try creative therapy and other artworks.

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If you are having some troubles at home or feeling too much stress in any aspect of your life, the best thing to do is to explore creative psychotherapy treatment, which can be beneficial for your mental health. Promise, art therapists work!

These Are Some Of The Advantages That You Can Get From This Treatment Focusing On Creativity:

  • It allows you to become more aware and in touch with how you feel and what you are thinking.
  • It will inspire you to become more confident about yourself, work more on boosting self-esteem, develop self-awareness, and how you handle all the issues that come your way.
  • It will enable you to let go of all the negative emotions associated with it.
  • It will help you develop social skills with your interaction with other people with artistic experience.

Creative expression can help quiet the mind and open up new ways of looking at life experiences while allowing memories, feelings and emotions to surface. Engaging in creative processes of this treatment can help identify and transform those feelings and emotions on a deeper understanding level. — Barbara Mosinski, LCAT, ATR-BC, MA, MFA

The best thing about art therapy is that anyone can use it as a coping skill to recover from a traumatic experience or an unpleasant event. Try to look for a creative class around you or a formal program to create art.

Enjoying Creative Treatment

Suggestions For Things/Activities Under Art Therapy:

1. Dancing

2. Painting

3. Sculpting

4. Writing or Journaling

5. Acting

6. Completing DIY projects

7. Joining calligraphy and other related workshops

art therapy
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Finding A Professional To Help You With The Process

While creative treatment is something you can do on your own research, the process is still highly recommended by experts to find a professional to help you, especially children.

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A variety of exercises and activities are best performed by a board-certified art therapist with art therapy credentials. Otherwise, you may do them wrongfully, leading to more serious work problems in the future. But, remember that creative treatment can help foster healing from emotional trauma.

Despite the current movement to establish art therapists as a distinct license-drive professional credentials, over the past decade art counseling education has married its master’s degree in art and curriculum to the field of counseling. This marriage has been one of convenience so that therapists could qualify for counselor licensure in as many states as possible. — Cathy Malchiodi PhD, LPCC, LPAT, ATR-BC, REAT

A Form Of Treatment That Is Fun And Easy

Since art therapy is a form of psychotherapy or therapy that involves art, the process can be fun and easy. Just make sure to participate with your trained professional.

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Do not give her a hard time during the art-making sessions. Instead, try to give her a chance to help you with music therapy or art therapy sessions.

Keep in mind that if you want to heal, you have to allow others to help you do it.

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To know more information about counseling via this treatment, check BetterHelp’s website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Difference Between Art Therapy And Therapeutic Art?Art therapy involves the guidance of a mental health professional using creative processes to treat mental conditions, whereas therapeutic art is personal artistic creation without necessarily the direction of a therapist, often used for self-expression and well-being.

What are the 4 types of art therapy?

The four common types of art therapy are visual art therapy, verbal art therapy, movement-based art therapy, and digital art therapy.

What is considered art therapy?

Art therapy is considered when a trained therapist uses creative processes to help individuals address emotional and mental health issues.

What are the 3 uses of art therapy?

Art therapy is used to treat mental health conditions, promote self-expression and self-awareness, and enhance quality of life through creativity.

How do I train to be an art therapist?

To become an art therapist, you need to earn a degree in art therapy, complete supervised practical training, and obtain certification.

Is art therapy good for mental illness?

Yes, art therapy can be effective in treating various mental illnesses when guided by a professional.

Can art therapy help with anxiety?

Yes, art therapy can help reduce anxiety by providing a means to express and process emotions.

What is the goal of art therapy?

The goal of art therapy is to improve mental and emotional health through creative self-expression and problem-solving.

What makes a good art therapist?

A good art therapist should be compassionate, empathetic, creative, and have a strong background in both art and psychology.

How long are art therapy sessions?

The duration of art therapy sessions can vary, but they typically last 45 to 60 minutes, similar to traditional therapy sessions.

Why Crafting Can Be A Great Therapy Alternative

 

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Crafting can get rid of symptoms of depression, loneliness, dementia, and anxiety. Below is a list of ways that crafting can be a beneficial therapy alternative.

 

Crafting Has Been Utilized For Decades To Help Alleviate Anxiety. Crafting short courses is recommended to individuals in occupational therapy, with basket weaving used to decrease anxiety and physical conditions in veterans of the First World War. Additionally, pottery is a simple yet effective distraction for keeping PTSD patients off their negative thoughts and behaviors. They claim to find it very calming, and it decreases their anxiety. Generally, those who regularly join art workshops experience a substantial rise in their overall mental and emotional states by reducing anxiety and stress.

Furthermore, though seemingly dissimilar, activities like knitting, gardening, and baking share characteristics that make them suitable for self-care. These all assist in enhancing mood and reducing stress – the multi-sensory engagement, satisfaction, and the effort entailed in creating something are linked to the discharge of neurotransmitters that cultivate happiness and well-being while lowering stress hormones at the same time. These activities also induce a sense of meditation because of their repetitive nature while requiring attention and focus, which can serve as a healthy distraction from all the negativity.

With the complete engagement of the sense organs, these constructive practices can definitely help people instill mindfulness, keep them grounded and present in the moment, and ultimately benefit their mental health by stimulating areas of the brain involved with dampening activity in the regions of the brain amygdala and controlling emotions.

Crafting Brings Us Together. Current studies found that textile crafting helps people cope with anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions while providing healthy relationships and social support. In the United Kingdom, craft organizations are rising in popularity, especially those focused on improving mental health. Most of these organizations teach crocheting and knitting. Some members with anxiety and depression claim that the clubs are the only places that they go. Others also state that joining their corresponding groups enabled them to get a sense of meaning and belongingness.

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One document describes an activity called Knit and Natter, a connecting activity offered by voluntary and community organizations. Another paper describes how art-based programs can help encourage the youth to participate in the community and develop vision and hope for the future.

There Is A Positive Correlation Between Crafting And The Intellectual Skills Of Dementia And Stroke Patients. Stephanie Bunn, an anthropologist, works in hospitals to observe how the gestural and spatial practices of basket making are vital for developing intellectual skills. She states that in cases of stroke rehabilitation, which she has been observing, basket-making can repair neural networks and enhance brain plasticity. The activity can also do the same for those who are suffering from dementia as well as stimulate the recollection of memories.

A study of dementia risk and community involvement in the British Medical Journal recommends that community involvement and especially cultural activities may lower the risk of dementia. Another study examines how art activities might be helpful for people who have dementia. It suggests a model for social return, which is a form of cost-benefit exploration and can capture the value of art and craft interventions.

Engaging In Arts And Crafts Improves Mental And Emotional Well-Being. Several studies have shown that engaging in crafting apparently lowers anxiety levels and that visual arts like visiting gardens and museums protect against dementia onset and development. These activities decrease social seclusion, reduce inflammation and stress hormones like cortisol, and enable slow and gentle movements.

Crafting and other forms of art are also related to dopamine release, encouraging intellectual flexibility, and lowering the risk of dementia, and numerous studies support these findings. Indeed, activities inspired by creativity and done regularly are connected to positive mental functioning, whereas increased involvement with cultural events, museums, and historical tours is associated with enhanced life contentment.

Crafting Helps Forget Hurts And Painful Experiences. Chronic health diseases are prevalent among numerous seniors. They are frequently accompanied by pain, anxiety, stress, and depression. Take your senior loved ones to craft classes like knitting, pottery, or basket weaving. This way, you are helping them escape their health conditions for a while – and perhaps even for a long time.

Source: pxfuel.com

Conclusion 

Crafting can certainly be an effective therapy alternative in helping people suffering from all kinds of mental and emotional conditions while encouraging positive experiences, helping them convey their true emotions, building their identity, and encouraging positivity.

Learning craftings, such as crocheting, knitting, pottery, embroidery, and woodcraft, are healthy alternatives for children, adults, and the elderly. Whether you are crafting to learn something new, escape the stresses of today, polish a former passion, or eliminate the negativities of the day, the health benefits of engaging yourself and your loved ones in crafting are widespread. Begin today – rewire your mindset and enhance your health.

 

 

 

Self-Therapy Photography Ideas That Can Help Improve Mental Health

 

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Often, taking pictures may be more than just collecting selfies and memories or considering it an art form. Capturing pictures can also be really beneficial for your mental health. During the mid-70s, as the emergence of the small novice cameras was gaining popularity, Judy Weiser, a renowned psychologist, invented the word phototherapy to describe the impact that photography has on people. In short, photography as self-expression has since been proven to be effective in overcoming stress, depression, phobias, low self-esteem, and anxiety.

Presently, the World Wide Web is a great source that subsists as proof for the therapeutic powers of simply capturing your favorite photographs and can be used as creative therapy techniques.

Before anything, here are the essentials: a notebook for writing down important notes, any camera, comfortable clothes if you’re going outdoors, a Twitter, Facebook, or other types of social media account, and at least 15 minutes of your time each day.

Phototherapy needs a competent supervisor, but this type of photography is something anybody wants to de-stress, add happiness, and enhance his life every day. Why don’t you try it today?

Activities that you can do while doing phototherapy or image therapy include taking pictures, viewing old pictures and reminiscing, sharing your old and new photos with loved ones, and hearing wonderful feedback about your photos.

Committing time and energy to these activities and considering photography as an instrument for healing and empowerment, you will most certainly benefit from it sooner rather than later.

Below is a list of some self-therapy photography ideas that you can try to help improve your mental health.

  • Take A Selfie Every Day And Share It To Others. Capturing selfies can be beneficial because it increases self-confidence. This is especially true when applying a more artistic and ingenious touch to mirror our self-perception. Selfies encourage us to embrace and care for ourselves better, as well as know more about ourselves. Eventually, selfies can be an instrument for unraveling your own transformations. Devote a little time for a selfie once daily for two to three weeks at least, and you will be amazed at how much you’ll discover about yourself.

Source: rawpixel.com

  • Capture Photos Of Things That You Feel Pleasant Or Unpleasant Feelings Towards. We are not often aware of what is troubling us and why. Our brains are inclined to contain unpleasant experiences and shield us from hurtful memories, though they can trigger phobias and other complexes. Taking pictures of things you may have emotional connections with can help you identify, neutralize, and accept various experiences. These experiences are most likely linked to your childhood.

 

  • React To Upsetting Thoughts By Capturing Your Favorite Sceneries. If you are looking for an easy way to get rid of a frustrating thought or mental state, try picking up your camera or smartphone and take pictures of your favorite scenery, like your nearby lake or your beautiful garden. Make sure that your remedial photo activity is likened to a flow and engages your thoughts. Find a graphic metaphor for your upsetting thoughts or situation as well as for its potential outcomes.

 

  • Create Stories About Your Latest Snaps. Online programs help instill positivity in photography by teaching smart storytelling strategies, and these are proven effective strategies. Photography helps you channel your experiences and begin conversing about them as things that are unattached to us. Still, words provide us an opportunity to identify our emotions and seek solutions. Take pictures while strolling down the park today and when you get home, write whatever enters your mind when you review your photos.

 

  • Make A Photo Map. Self-therapy through photography is an interesting practice that may also include your family, friends, and significant others. Let them join a photo tour within your neighborhood or somewhere you are familiar with. Capture pictures of things that may have caught your attention and then make a map of your destinations, keeping note of the therapeutic and stimulating areas for you and what you perceived when you took those photos.

 

The Takeaway

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Self-therapy photography is accessible to anybody and everybody, regardless of creativity, equipment, and professional level. But all of these things can be increased by committing at least 15 minutes of your day to techniques wherein photography can be a therapeutic tool. Do not concentrate too much on the final goal because photography is an interesting journey.

A vital part of self-therapy photography is showing your pictures with someone who understands – family, friends, and community – or depicting them verbally as you make reflections of your work. The journaling and reflecting parts of this technique may also be very beneficial if you have problems communicating your emotions and thoughts into words.

Often, spontaneous interesting activities can turn into love projects. Remember that your distinct photos can also become part of your own portfolio. Self-therapy photography and any photography, for that matter, are beneficial not only for those who are looking to heal and thrive in this world but also for those who desire to explore and improve the way they live their lives.

 

 

Art Therapy In Counseling: Helping People Heal

 

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Utilizing artistic techniques to manage psychological conditions and improve mental health is called art therapy. This type of treatment has arisen from the concept that creative expression can promote wellness and healing.

Art, both seen or created, is utilized to assist individuals in learning how to unravel their feelings, coping with their anxieties, increase self-esteem, and foster self-awareness.

You may be alarmed when you learn that art can potentially be a powerful tool in counseling and other mental health treatments. How could art possibly benefit psychotherapy? As a medium for expression, art could help individuals manage stress, communicate effectively, and discover various areas of their personalities.

Art Therapy Defined

Art therapy incorporates techniques used in psychotherapy with the ingenious process of enhancing well-being and mental health. According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is a method in mental health that uses the process of making art to enhance one’s physical, emotional, and mental wellness.

Art therapy aims to use this creative therapy techniques process to enable people to express themselves and eventually discover new means to acquire personal insight and learn new coping strategies.

Methods used in this specific therapy involve painting, sculpting, drawing, or coloring, among others. As patients or clients make art, they may evaluate what they have created and how it affects them positively. By scrutinizing their art, individuals can find themes and disconnections that may impact their feelings, attitudes, and opinions.

We do not essentially have to possess artistic abilities or special skills to join art therapy, and everyone, even children and adults alike, can take advantage of its uses. Some reports suggest that by creating art, an individual can heal and recover.

Art Therapy History

We have often relied on various art forms when we communicate and heal for hundreds of years. However, art therapy did not emerge and progress into a legit problem up until 1940.

Physicians observed that people who have mental conditions frequently conveyed their feelings through drawings and other art forms. This led many more to discover the role of art as a tool in therapy or counseling. Since then, it has developed into a vital aspect of therapy and is utilized in several evaluation and treatment strategies.

Art Therapy Uses

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Art therapy can be utilized to manage an array of mental health disorders, including psychological conditions. In many situations, it has been used along with other therapeutic techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy and group counseling sessions.

In some instances, art therapy can also be used in:

  • Kids who have social or behavioral issues in school or at home
  • Adults who are suffering from extreme stress
  • Adults and children who have gone through traumatic experiences
  • Kids suffering from learning abnormalities
  • Adults and children with mental health disorders
  • Adults and children with past and current brain injuries.

Some issues that art therapy may also be beneficial for include:

  • Anxiety
  • Eating disorders
  • Depression
  • Cancer
  • Medical problems
  • Family conflicts
  • Emotional problems
  • PTSD
  • Substance use
  • Stress
  • Psychosocial problems

Restrictions

Research claims that art therapy can also be helpful, but some outcomes on their efficiency are varied, although studies performed have often been inconclusive and small. Hence, more research is required to examine when and how art therapy produces the most benefits.

How Art Therapy Works

The art therapist may utilize various art techniques, including painting, drawing, collage, and sculpting, with clients extending from young kids to seniors. Those who have gone through domestic abuse, depression, anxiety, physical violence, trauma, and other mental health problems can tremendously take advantage of the benefits of art therapy and from artistically expressing themselves.

Private mental health facilities, inpatient clinics, community centers are all potential environments that are accessible for art therapy services. Certain settings where this type of therapy can be done include:

  • Universities and colleges
  • Hospitals
  • Art studios
  • Community centers
  • Private clinics
  • Wellness centers
  • Facilities for seniors
  • Women’s centers
  • Group shelters
  • Homeless shelters

People frequently ask how art therapy or counseling sessions vary from the usual art classes. While art therapy sessions are centered on teaching strategies or forming a particular finished project, art therapy is more inclined to allow clients to concentrate on their internal experiences.

In producing art, determined individuals have claimed that they could focus on their personal feelings, views, and imaginations. They are encouraged to do art that opens up their world from within – much more than creating something that expresses their outer world.

Source: rawpixel.com

Becoming An Art Therapist

If you wish to become a therapist for the arts, begin by assessing your mental and emotional state to know more about the required training, credentials, and education necessary to practice it. In a lot of circumstances, you might initially need to become a qualified clinical psychologist, social worker, or professional counselor so that you can provide therapy or counseling services.

In America, the Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. provides credentialing programs that enable art therapists to be board-certified, registered, or licensed art therapists, but this is dependent on the status of their careers or their way of living.

Additionally, the American Art Therapy Association, there are two minor requirements. You have to have an art therapy master’s degree, or you’ll need to complete a master’s degree in counseling plus additional courses in art therapy as well.

Art therapy is classified under the group known as recreational therapy. This also includes professionals who use sports, performance, and other leisure and amusement activities to promote mental wellness.

 

 

 

Benefits Of Photography Therapy

Photography is not only an aspect of world art but an avenue for expressing emotions through therapeutic photography techniques. Pictures have a kind of calming effect when oftentimes, expressing AND UNDERSTANDING feelings verbally may not be very easy. This is when therapeutic photography comes in. Taking pictures can be a healthy tool for therapy and for one’s mental health as well as physical and psychological health.

Therapeutic Photography

A person holding a camera for photography
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How can photography be therapeutic? How can therapeutic phototherapy techniques calm or make someone feel better? How can a technique of taking pictures be healing for a sad or depressed person? When does one see therapeutic benefits? Does phototherapy really help with a person’s mental health?

Just before we move forward with a clearer explanation of photography, let us examine some instances where taking pictures effectively shed light and helped someone stand back up after an emotional event or a mental illness – how it can be therapeutic.

The Therapeutic Use Of Photography Signifies Stories.

An Inspiring Story Of A Reporter Who Created A Club For Mental Health Purposes

A reporter in New York, influenced by the work of Judy Weiser, utilizes therapeutic photography techniques to manage the panic attacks caused by traumatic memories of a terrorist attack while doing a live report.

As a form of therapy process for his mental illness, he created a photography club for reporters, a minority group, and other media men for mental health purposes. This club used to post their members’ work on a rehabilitation counseling bulletin.

So far, the club has done a great deal for many of its members. The members of the club have mostly stated that they feel more relaxed, calmer, and feel better during and after the social creative therapy techniques process. It has become a form of self-expression and a health care intervention for them.

Even their physical health has improved eventually. Thus, the photography club has become a therapeutic tool for them. It even grew to become an international journal.

Two Types Of Therapeutic Photography

Photography
Source: pexels.com

There are essentially two forms of phototherapy and therapeutic photography that can be utilized as counseling or treatment tools.

Note: These types of imagery or self-therapy processes do not need professional skills, education, or training.

It does not even need the full guidance of mental health techniques professionals or art therapists. Phototherapy refers simply to the therapeutic use of taking photographs or creating photo albums of one’s positive life experiences as well as family albums.

This therapy practice and technique which encompasses self-expression uses various photos, ordinary snapshots taken by other people, photo collections, and photo-based activities of individuals who need treatment (this may also involve group treatment).

Mental health professionals agree that photos guide and assist people in increasing their self-esteem, learning how to open up about their thoughts, lowering the stress hormone cortisol, and even recalling crucial events that are not easy to discuss verbally.

Phototherapy techniques and photo-based activities provide them with a solid foundation that may not be learned from a photography teacher or trained therapist but by using a camera, taking pictures, and relating these pictures with life and the world.

Any photography can be utilized in a therapeutic form, especially in this digital age, just as in it, and this could involve videos and movies both in manual and digital forms. You don’t necessarily need to have prior training to learn photography.

Research states that those with learning disabilities may also benefit from photography as therapy. It is indeed a mental phenomenon.

 a woman doing some therapeutic photography
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The method entails self-initiated, and self-planned photo-based tasks and events wherein an individual or an organized group of individuals take photos, take self-portraits, or create a self-portrait as a way of achieving therapeutic settings to experience and for them to relax and recover from their mental health problems.

In these circumstances, there is no trained work therapist or someone with counseling skills who works with the ones who seek therapeutic photography – perhaps only a solid foundation of the basics of photography.

Hence, no real therapy session transpires – it is only the photographs and the image therapy itself that provide the healing. It is vital to remember, on the other hand, that it is not only limited to taking photos.

It can merely be photo viewing or appreciating one’s own photographs for self-expression, improved self-esteem and mental health, and reduced social exclusion. You can explore social media and visit a phototherapy center for more options, and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out via email address.

Source: pixabay.com

Therapeutic photography could also involve posing for the camera, visualizing photographs, or discussing or providing personal opinions of the presented photography techniques.

If you feel social exclusion, are currently chemically dependent, or lack focus or will in life, try taking photographs or start talking to people who are also interested in mental health nursing through photographs.

You will realize that truly, photography can greatly impact your mental health and transform your human mind. It can change many lives through the practice of phototherapy and therapeutic photography.

Therapeutic Photography: Who Should Give It A Shot And Why?

Why Try This Technique?

A lot of people are intimidated by learning therapeutic photography techniques to help with their mental health because of its technicality in capturing beautiful photos.

However, here are some reasons for you to try and focus on photography:

This Technique Is A Way Of Expressing Oneself.

Photography can successfully show someone’s true mental and emotional information. It can also present an individual’s real feelings.

This means that the clients heal to get a better perspective of themselves and of life, and this is therapeutic as it helps free the person from things that he used to feel confused or anxious about.

Therefore, photo interactions can reveal a person’s truth.

Therapeutic Photography provides an opportunity to see the world neutrally.

Source: pixabay.com

It presents us with photos that portray the way we actually experience live in the world, not just show the often-protected feelings and opinions that we conceal from others, even from family members.

Hence, using photography helps one become more aware of the things surrounding us and what is actually happening, in contrast to what we believe is happening.

According to the current literature, practicing mindfulness in photography is beneficial because photographs reveal the realities of the world that we thought we had full knowledge of.

Thus, reality is shown through the camera and photographs.

Therapeutic Photography helps one discover creative and innovative skills.

Teenagers with cerebral palsy, for instance, may find it hard to express themselves in words fully, as mentioned in a qualitative study.

However, if they are presented with photos through therapeutic photography, they could express how they feel and things more clearly.

Being aware of your capabilities amidst your sufferings and challenges is absolutely therapeutic.

Therapeutic Photography

Enables One To Be More Perceptive And Responsive

An individual learns to ask questions that will usually provide him with more information about the things he used to be anxious or worried about.

Therapeutic photography is helpful because it allows for greater learning and comprehension through photographs, which is one way to heal and recover.

A woman taking photos using her mobile phone
Source: rawpixel.com

How can you therapize yourself by using a photo instrument and taking photos of everything around you?

Therapeutic Photography helps enhance daily experiences.

What was previously mundane for you can change once you’ve used your camera and taken photos of it from another angle.

For instance, an ordinary sunflower can transform into a treasured find after you have photographed it while it is blooming.

The simple things become special and meaningful, and this healing photography provides a general sense of…

“Positivity And Happiness”

Do you think healing imagery is for you?

Overcoming life challenges? Photograph the blessings around you and contact with the social work

FAQs

1. What Are The 4 Styles Of Photography?

The four main styles of photography are portrait, landscape, wildlife, and macro photography.

2. How Is Photography Healing?

Photography can be healing by providing a creative outlet, promoting mindfulness, and allowing individuals to express their emotions.

3. What Are The Health Benefits Of Photography?

Health benefits of photography include stress reduction, improved mental well-being, enhanced self-esteem, and increased awareness of one’s surroundings.

4. What is the difference between therapeutic photography and phototherapy?

Therapeutic photography focuses on personal expression and well-being, while phototherapy involves the use of photographs in clinical settings, often under professional guidance.

5. What is phototherapy in counseling?

Phototherapy in counseling refers to the use of photos as a therapeutic tool to explore emotions and facilitate discussions with clients.

6. What is the connection between art and mental health?

The connection between art and mental health involves art therapy, which uses creative expression to address psychological issues and promote healing.

7. How is photography connected to psychology?

Photography is connected to psychology through fields like clinical psychology, where images can be used in assessments and therapy.

8. What are the negative effects of photography?

Negative effects of photography can include addiction to social media, privacy concerns, and unrealistic beauty standards.

9. What are therapeutic photos?

Therapeutic photos are images that individuals create or view for emotional and psychological well-being.

10. What are 5 different types of photography?

Five different types of photography are portrait, landscape, wildlife, macro, and architectural photography

11. Is photography relaxing?

Photography can be relaxing for many people as it allows them to focus on the present moment and express themselves creatively.

12. What are the 7 elements of photography?

The seven elements of photography are line, shape, form, texture, pattern, color, and space, which are fundamental in creating compelling images.

Frequently Asked Questions About Depression

My father got involved in a car crash that took his life five years ago. Before passing away, he told the paramedics not to revive him and make sure that his kidney would go to me because I needed a transplant. I did not have time to mourn for him because the surgery had to be done immediately. And when I woke up, he was already six feet underground.

The kidney transplant turned out to be successful, and my mother and sisters wanted to throw a party for me, but I did not feel like doing it. In my head, there was no reason to celebrate. I kept thinking, “Did Dad refuse to be resuscitated so that he could save my life?”

When the doctors released me, my mother insisted that I should go back to my childhood home so that she could look after me. However, I said that I would feel more comfortable in my own space. She reluctantly agreed, so I told her that she could come on weekends when I had no work.

A woman who is standing while looking at a distance
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The thing was, I only made my family members believe that I went back to my everyday life. On weekdays, I would spend most of my time at the cemetery, sitting by my father’s grave. On weekends, I would pretend to be my old self and hang out with my mother and sisters. I still could not do physically taxing activities due to my previous surgery, so we would mostly stay in the house or dine out at the nearby restaurants.

When I Got Diagnosed With Mental Illness

Despite my white lies, I still did not think that anything was wrong with me mentally. I was in the mourning phase; I thought it was only normal for a grieving daughter to skip work and practically do nothing else. Unfortunately for me, my sister’s friend worked at the same publishing company I was employed at, and she raised her concern about me not going back to work even after my leave ended two weeks ago. 

I went home from the cemetery one Wednesday and found my entire family in my living room. I was not surprised that they managed to enter the house because they knew where I had hidden my spare key. I was surprised by their appearance because it was far from the weekend. But based on their serious faces and how they sat in a semi-circle and left the middle seat for me, I got nervous.

“Hey, what’s up? You should’ve told me you were coming. I would’ve—” 

“Sit down, honey,” Mom cut me off firmly yet gently.

It was a cold winter evening, but it felt like I was in a hot seat as they stared at me with those unreadable eyes. 

“Is there anything wrong?” I asked.

“Diane called me,” my sister started. “You said that you had gone back to work, but she said you didn’t. Where have you been going?”

I sighed. Looking at my feet, I replied, “Dad’s grave. I had been going there every day because I didn’t get to say goodbye as you all did.”

“Do you think Dad would be happy to see you wasting your career like this? He gave you a new life – you should live it,” my mother uttered, her voice shaking.

Her words felt like a smack on the head. I did not think of it that way in the past. I did not consider how Dad might feel sad about my actions. After agreeing to see a psychologist – and eventually getting diagnosed with depression – I returned to work. This time, I asked my manager if I could handle the blog department to start writing depression articles about my own experiences. She readily agreed, and that’s how my healing journey through writing started.

Writing And Seeking Therapy

For the following weeks, I dedicated my time to writing and seeking therapy such as electroconvulsive therapy or talk therapy. I would come up with blog ideas, take notes during my sessions, and talk to my family about my progress. Slowly but surely, I felt that I was getting better. I was no longer spending my days at the cemetery, but I was still sad and felt that I was walking on eggshells around people and my family. My pen became an extension of my thoughts and feelings, so I never felt the need to bottle everything up again.

How My Life Started To Change

One day, I received a call from my boss. She said that people had been reading my blogs and had given me positive feedback. She also mentioned that one of the readers had shared my article with a mental health support group and within a few days, my blog had gone viral. 

The positive response I received was overwhelming. People from all over the world shared their stories and gave me words of encouragement. I felt like I was not alone in my battle against depression. I also saw that I had a platform to reach out to those who were going through the same thing and support them. 

Life Only Got Better After That

That was the moment I realized that severe depression for people with depression was not the end of the world I had gone through a difficult period, yes. Although it was tough, I had come out stronger. I was grateful to my dad for not only giving me a second chance at life but also for allowing me to help others. He taught me that life is a precious gift and that we should never take it for granted.

For the following months, I dedicated myself to writing and helping others. I continued to share my story and created a blog page where people could read about my journey and find resources and support. I also started to volunteer at a local mental health center and helped organize support groups for people suffering or those who experience depression for at least two weeks.

With time, I started to understand what my father had done for me. He did not give up on me, even in his last moments, and I will forever be grateful for that. His death was a heartbreaking loss, but it also allowed me to use my major depressive episode experiences to help others. His legacy will live on through my work, and I’ll continue to honor his memory by helping people through their struggles.

How I Am Doing Now

Today, I’m living a life that my father would be proud of. I’m a successful writer and mental health advocate, and I’m doing my best to make a difference in the lives of many people. I’m also in a much better place mentally and emotionally. I’m still mourning my father’s death, but I’m no longer living in the darkness of depression. I’m living my life to the fullest, and I’m thankful for everything that my father has done for me.

What Are The Four Major Causes Of Depression?

Depression can be caused by several different risk factors depending on age, gender, and more. The four most common causes of depression are abuse, illness, genetics, death, or loss of a loved one. These four common causes of depression have been found to cause a significant portion of the depression rates.

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What Are The Most Effective Ways To Treat Depression Research Papers?

There are several research papers published on the matter of depression treatment. Studies delve deep into different ways of treating depression and its effectiveness. Studies show that the most effective treatment methods for depression are counseling one-on-one, CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy, social skills therapy, psychodynamic therapy, supportive counseling, behavioral activation, and problem-solving therapy. Of course, you must consult with a doctor to determine the best treatment that is most effective for you.

What Are The General Methods Used In Treating The Condition?

Depression is mostly treated through therapy, counseling, and medications. It is highly recommended that we have a strong support group of our closest family and friends who can support us during this time, especially when dealing with treatment and symptoms. It is also important to do what we used to love and be happy with as a slow transition into everyday life. Talking it out will help heal from depression, so make sure that you reach out for help from healthcare providers when you know that you need it. 

What Is The Primary Cause Of It?

There is no one primary cause of depression. It can be caused by many different external and internal factors that may differ from person to person. There are cases caused by hormones and chemical imbalances in the brain, and there are cases caused by trauma abuse. Generally speaking, depression can be caused by many things without really being able to identify a specific one.

What Is The Most Significant Cause Of Depression?

There are many causes that researchers point to when it comes to depression because no one is sure what causes it and why it happens the way it does. Sometimes, in severe conditions, depression can cause substance abuse, death or suicide, and other medical conditions. However, there are only a handful of causes that reoccur. These causes are Trauma or abuse, genetics or family history, illness, chemical imbalances in the brain, and hormonal changes. 

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What Are The Four Types Of Depression?

The four types of depression are Major, Chronic, Manic, and Persistent. Major depression is the most severe of all four types where you most likely are constantly in a depressed mood, and you might have lost interest in daily life. On the other hand, chronic lasts the longest as it can stay with you for an average of a year. Manic is also known as bipolar depression, where you might feel extreme manias and extreme lows or both at the same time. Lastly, seasonal is a major depression that happens seasonally.

Does Depression Count As A Disability?

Yes, depression counts as a disability because it causes a person to be unable to do any task physically or even enjoy daily life. Under the Americans with disabilities act, depression is also considered a disability. Depression (even if it is mild depression) affects your moods and your ability to work or live life as normally as possible. 

How Do I Know If I’m Bipolar?

It is always best and most recommended to have a doctor’s consultation because going on the internet looking for signs and severe symptoms might lead to a self-diagnosis that can further harm you. However, to see if you need help, look out for depression symptoms of high mania periods and extremely low periods of depression, or it can also happen when you are thrilled yet extremely sad.

Other symptoms commonly found in individuals with bipolar disorder, as well as various mental disorders, may include impulsivity, anger management issues, difficulty in controlling emotions, difficulty concentrating, and more. When experiencing these symptoms or other concerning signs, it’s crucial to consult a health professional, especially if you have known risk factors for depression or other mental health conditions

What Are The Two Types Of The Mental Illness?

According to the diagnostic and statistical manual, there are multiple types of depression; however, two of the most common types are major and chronic depression. Major depression is the most severe of the kinds where you are feeling very down in the dumps, and your ability to live daily life as usual as you used to, particularly your mental health, is put to a stop. Chronic depression lasts the longest as it can go on for a year or more with the same experiences.

What Part Of Your Brain Is Affected By The Condition?

Three brain areas are affected by depression, your prefrontal cortex, your amygdala, and your hippocampus. Your prefrontal cortex is responsible for emotion regulation, decision-making, and memories. Your amygdala facilitates emotional responses. The hippocampus is responsible for cortisol production, which can cause many issues once there is too much of it.

What Does A Mental Breakdown Look Like?

As we are unique individuals, a mental breakdown can look different for different people. It can be a person crying their eyes out for hours; it can be a person drinking to death, drug addiction, or just sudden bursts of emotions such as anger and frustration. This means that your mind is shutting down because it can no longer handle the pressure and the stress that they are going through. It is best to ride it out, and it is a sign for you to take a step back and relax.

What Is A Simple Definition For The Condition?

According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression is a mental illness or mental disorder that negatively affects your mood swings, health, and daily life. It will cause feelings of sadness and a loss of interest in daily activities. This may lead to many emotional and physical symptoms and issues that can make things worse for you. So make sure that you can reach out and ask for help when experiencing symptoms of depression.

What Is A Fancy Word For SAD?

Seasonal Affective Disorder is also known as winter depression because some researchers refer to it as a hibernation of sorts. During this time, patients diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder grow colder and darker as if going through a fall and a winter phase. Make sure that you can consult with a doctor to help manage your depressive disorder and make your winter turn into spring once more.

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Can It Change Your Personality?

Yes, symptoms of major depression can change your personality. A person who was once happy and cheerful can turn into someone quiet and sluggish. This is caused by hormonal changes and chemical imbalances in our brains. Once we become depressed, we become isolated and quiet. We might be more withdrawn, and we would lose interest in many activities used to make us happy. 

How Do You Survive The Mental Illness?

Ensure that you can consult with a doctor to start with a treatment plan that is most effective for you. This will then help avoid further complications, both mentally and physically. Of course, it is also good that you can surround yourself with supportive people who understand that you need help and that you need them during this time of darkness in your life. Also, try and go back into what made you happy or look for a new hobby that can make you feel that passion again.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Some Good Questions To Ask About Depression?

What Are Some Sources Of Information About The Mental Illness?

What Is The Main Root Of Depression?

What Can The Mental Illness Lead Us To?

Why Is The Mental Condition A Major Concern?

Final Thoughts

I had gone a long way since my depression proper diagnosis. After my first blog about my experience, many readers offered their condolences and shared how they related to what I went through. The more blogs I posted, the more followers I got, to the extent that my manager suggested that I do a writing workshop for depressed or grieving people. I did it with my psychologist’s help, and it became a part of the company’s tradition to hold similar seminars every year.

Knowing that I could help other people made me heal faster. I could only hope that Dad’s proud of me.

Quiz On Anxiety Frequently Asked Questions

Quiz On Anxiety FAQs

It’s not always that we understand everything about our mental health. Yes, we may know some signs and symptoms, but we can only rely on the information regarding the specific thing we are dealing with once we experienced it on hand. Sometimes, even if we think we are okay, the warning signs tell us that we are not and that our health is in danger. Thus, we must also pay attention to the damaging symptoms that prove their existence despite knowing our mental health condition.

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What Is A Quiz On Anxiety?

An anxiety quiz is a tool used to assess the presence and severity of symptoms and possibly discover anxiety disorders. The test typically consists of a series of questions or statements that individuals answer to indicate the frequency and intensity of their symptoms. Anxiety tests are often available online or in printed format and can be self-administered. Usually, when answering questions in a test, you have to answer as honestly as possible so that a health professional can diagnose you for a disorder. You are also asked to consider how the situations apply to you last month or so.

The questions in a test may focus on a variety of areas related to it, such as physical symptoms, thoughts, and behaviors. They may also assess specific types of mental health disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, or panic disorder.

It can be useful for individuals who suspect they may be experiencing it but are unsure of the severity or type. They can also be used to monitor changes in symptoms over time or as a tool for healthcare professionals to assess and diagnose these types of disorders.

It is important to note that while a test from a specific website can provide valuable information, it should not be used as a substitute for a professional diagnosis or treatment. If an individual is having trouble with their symptoms and wants to improve their mental health, they should seek help from a doctor or qualified healthcare professional.

Benefits Of Taking A Quiz On Anxiety

  1. Identifying Symptoms: A test can help individuals identify the symptoms they are experiencing and determine if they may be related to them. This can help individuals recognize when they are experiencing this and seek appropriate support.
  2. Assessing Severity: Anxiety tests can also help individuals determine the severity of their symptoms. This information can help determine the appropriate treatment and support needed.
  3. Understanding Anxiety: Anxiety tests can provide individuals with a better understanding of what it is and how it affects them. This can help individuals recognize patterns in their symptoms and learn effective coping strategies.
  4. Seeking Appropriate Treatment: Based on the results of a quiz, individuals can decide if they may benefit from seeking professional help or treatment for their symptoms.
  5. Monitoring Progress: Anxiety tests can be used to monitor changes in symptoms over time. This can help individuals track their progress and make adjustments to their treatment and support as needed.
  6. Cost-Effective: Anxiety tests are often free or low-cost and can be easily accessed online. This makes them a cost-effective way to assess symptoms.
  7. Privacy: Anxiety tests can be taken in the privacy of one’s own home or online. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals who may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable discussing their symptoms with others.
  8. Increased Self-Awareness: Taking this test can help individuals increase their self-awareness and gain a better understanding of their emotions and behavior.
  9. Improved Communication: Tests can be a useful tool for individuals to communicate their symptoms to healthcare professionals or loved ones. This can help individuals receive appropriate support and treatment.
  10. Normalizing Anxiety: Taking an assessment about this topic can help individuals understand that it is a common experience and that they are not alone in their struggles. This can reduce feelings of isolation and increase the likelihood of seeking support and treatment.
  11. Early Intervention: Taking an exam on this particular mental condition can help individuals recognize their symptoms early on before they escalate to more severe levels. This can help prevent anxiety from interfering with daily life and reduce the risk of developing more serious disorders.
  12. Personalized Feedback: Many tests provide personalized feedback based on an individual’s answers. This can help identify specific areas to focus on for self-care and treatment.
  13. Tailored Treatment: Based on the results of an exam, healthcare professionals can tailor treatment plans to meet the individual needs of the patient. This can increase the effectiveness of treatment and improve outcomes.
  14. Reduced Stigma: Anxiety tests can help reduce the stigma associated with mental health by normalizing the experience of anxiety. By increasing awareness and understanding of this mental health condition, individuals may be more likely to seek support and treatment without feeling ashamed or embarrassed.
  15. Improved Quality of Life: By identifying and addressing their symptoms, individuals can improve their overall quality of life. This can include improved relationships, work performance, and overall well-being.
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Can You Self-Diagnose Anxiety?

Though you can immediately recognize the signs and symptoms of anxiety, you cannot entirely self-diagnose just because you too an anxiety test. That is because a precise diagnosis can only be made through a series of clinical evaluations administered by a professional mental health expert.

Avoid self-diagnosing your condition. That way, you won’t end up miscalculating your mental health problems, and you won’t get stuck working on the wrong treatment for your anxiety. Always trust a reliable clinical method administered by a health professional.

How Do I Know If I Suffer From Anxiety?

Persistent worry, depression, and fear are fairly well-known symptoms of an anxiety disorder. However, there is an instance when you may be less familiar with the mental condition’s physical symptoms. These include the feeling of losing control, overthinking, and going crazy over unnecessary things. Anxiety can also cause heart palpitations, trouble relaxing, and trouble breathing.

But you also need to remember that every individual deals with the condition differently. Therefore, not because you might see other people laughing, doing their regular thing, functioning, and thinking appropriately does not mean they are not battling with it. It is essential to pay attention to the various symptoms each person deals with, because health conditions affect everyone differently.

What Are The Four Types Of Anxiety?

The most well-known types of anxiety are Social anxiety, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Panic disorder, and Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety are common, but the other two are also significant.

If you happen to experience some of the symptoms of these mental health problems, contact your therapist and seek professional advice.

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Did I Have An Anxiety Attack?

You can recognize these attacks if you start trembling, sweating, and experiencing shortness of breath. A choking sensation, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, and racing heart can indicate symptoms. The numbness, feeling nervous, feeling afraid of losing your mind, and fear of dying are included signs too.

But to be sure, learn more about panic attacks from a licensed professional. Ask a therapist about the common symptoms one experiences once the person has a panic attack. It is safe always to understand mental illness is a broad category.

What Is Bad Anxiety?

From a clinical perspective, it can be okay at times. It works in signaling the brain to avoid specific dangers. However, people with this type of disorder are different as they frequently have excessive, intense, and persistent worry and fear. Often their experiences involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of terror that reach into a panic state.

Honestly, for some people, it is their worst nightmare. And even if how much one tells them about its benefits, everyone will still look at the condition as a damaging state. Well, you can’t blame the people.

What Does Anxiety Physically Feel Like?

Usually, anxiety’s short-term physical manifestation includes increased breathing and heart rate. If the situation gets too intense, however, you might start to feel nauseous and lightheaded. You may also experience poor sleeping habits, hydration, and other physical symptoms.

Does Anxiety Go Away When You Ignore It?

No. Ignoring your mental health condition will never make it go away. The relentless thoughts continue, and there is no way to eliminate the mental health condition without proper medication and treatment.

Therefore, you should never ignore the signs and symptoms and consult a therapist as soon as possible.

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What Does The Bible Say About Anxiety?

A Bible verse from Philippians 4:6-7 says there is no need to be anxious about anything because prayer and thanksgiving get to God. It means that this mental health condition is not a sin, but the act of experiencing worries and fears that one wouldn’t experience if one showed commitment to God and followed His will.

What Are The Six Common Types Of These Disorders?

The major types of disorders are Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Specific Phobia, Separation Anxiety Disorder, and Agoraphobia.

How Do I Get Diagnosed With This Mental Health Condition?

A primary care provider or a health expert is the one to diagnose generalized anxiety or any other disorder. He or she checks for signs of an underlying medical condition by performing a physical exam or asking about a series of symptoms. The health professional also recommends a blood test to determine the needed treatment that suits the mental health problem.

How Do I Stop My Anxiety?

When you’re feeling anxious, you should consider taking time off for yourself. Get rid of the negative feeling by exercising, eating a well-balanced meal, getting enough sleep, and drinking enough water. You can also consider hiking, journaling, painting, and even watching a movie to relieve your current stress.

You must focus on getting better no matter what. Always practice self-care and self-awareness. Never ignore the signs and symptoms of your anxiety. If you are emotionally troubled, talk to someone and vent your feelings. If you cannot sit still, are easily annoyed, are irritable, or cannot control worrying too much about different things, a consultation with a mental health expert can also make a great difference. Never stop looking for ways to recover emotionally and mentally.

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What Do Psychiatrists Usually Prescribe For Anxiety?

Psychiatrists usually prescribe antidepressants for this type of mental health problem. They widely consider mental health problems are SSRIs or also known as Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These include Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, and Paxil.

What Is The Fastest-Acting Medication?

The known fastest-acting medication is Benzodiazepines or also known as tranquilizers. Drugs such as Klonopin, Xanax, Ativan, and Valium work quickly as well. These drugs typically bring relief within 30 minutes to an hour after an intake.

What Drugs Calm Your Anxiety Down?

Benzodiazepines are a well-known drug that can calm down symptoms. However, at higher doses, side effects can include feelings of isolation or euphoria, headache, dry mouth, slurred speech or stuttering, memory loss, impaired thinking, sleepiness, drowsiness, fatigue, confusion even depression.

How Do Doctors Treat It?

Physicians and other mental health experts address these mental health issues through specialized standard treatment. These involve psychological counseling and therapy. The treatment might include psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) partnered with medication.

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