Art therapy is just what its name says. Therapists use the expressiveness and creativity inherently found in art to help patients improve their mental, emotional, and psychological health. Participating in art therapy has been shown to help people manage behaviors, reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and increase awareness. Many people also use art therapy to gain a deeper understanding of who they are.

Ways to Use Art Therapy When Your Worst Emotions Caught You

Art therapy can be used professionally with a therapist , or casually at home through your own art projects. It is well known that doing something you enjoy will help boost your spirits and relax your mind.

Here are 18 ways to use art therapy when you are feeling stuck in a very upset emotional state or faced with a difficult problem.

1. If you are tired, draw flowers.
2. If you feel angry, draw lines.
3. If you have pain, shape something.
4. If you are bored, cover a sheet of paper with various colors.
5. If you feel sad, paint a rainbow.

6. If you are afraid, knit something.
7. If you feel worried, make a doll.
8. If you feel outraged, tear off paper and make a mosaic.
9. If you are anxious, make origami.

10. If you are tense, draw patterns.
11. If you are disappointed, copy a painting or portrait.
12. If you are in despair, draw a way out.
13. If you are confused, draw a mandala.14. If you need to restore strength, paint a landscape.
15. If you can’t make sense of your feelings, paint a self-portrait.
16. If you need to organize your thoughts, draw squares or honeycombs.
17. If you feel stuck in a rut, draw spirals.
18. If you need to calculate a goal, draw the destination symbols.

Try these quick art therapy tricks and see how they work for you. We could use a little extra time to relax our minds and enjoy personal art therapy.

By Dr. Eric Jackson

Dr. Eric Jackson provides primary Internal Medicine care for men and women and treats patients with bone and mineral diseases, diabetes, heart conditions, and other chronic illnesses.He is a Washington University Bone Health Program physician and is a certified Bone Densitometrist. Dr. Avery is consistently recognized in "The Best Doctors in America" list.

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