Stress not only affects the brain but also has physical manifestations. After an event that could be stressful, a person’s body is still full of physical or mental tension that might make one feel heavy, anxious and restless without any obvious reason why.
Art therapy is a simple and creative way for such a process. Unlike conventional talk therapy, it provides an avenue for an individual to express his/her feelings through drawing, painting, using colours and even participating in creative activities.
The emotional healing through art is an effective process that allows one to express emotions that are difficult to put into words. In this sense, art therapy is an important support for the mind and body to relax, to analyse emotions and to let go of stored stress.
Table of Contents:
- What does it mean when people say “the body remembers”?
- Why is talking alone sometimes not enough for emotional healing?
- How do drawing and painting help process emotions?
What does it mean when people say “the body remembers”?
“The body remembers”- this phrase refers to the concept that not only does the brain store traumatic events, feelings or negative experiences, but the body itself can hold on to those memories.
Even if the person doesn’t consciously recall a specific past event, the body still responds to it with physical symptoms like muscular tension, fatigue, anxiety and even discomfort. This is because the brain and the body interact very intensively, and a strong stress reaction may become a pattern in the nervous system.
Because of the above, the stress related to emotions can manifest in physical or emotional discomfort later. This is where art therapy may help as a tool that allows one to express emotions without just verbal expression and in a safe environment. You can get help with art therapy counselling in Mumbai only at The Movemeant Stories.
Why is talking alone sometimes not enough for emotional healing?
Some of the emotions are not verbally expressed: When a person experiences fear, trauma, sadness or emotional pain that is difficult to describe in words, either because it is too complicated or too intense to be described.
The body remembers stress and emotions: An experience is not only a mental phenomenon. It can be stored in bodily form. A person’s body may still hold on to stress, tension, fatigue, or discomfort even when he/she had already verbalized his/her concerns and understood them.
Communication focuses primarily on thoughts and awareness: Communication enables an individual to gain better insight into his/her problems; however, emotional healing requires more than that. Some emotions remain in the body and thus require non-verbal methods.
Some memories cannot be put into words: they may not have been linguistically encoded, perhaps because they are experiences from very early childhood, or even trauma. In such cases, verbalisation may not be able to reach the level of such strong emotions stored in the body.
How do drawing and painting help process emotions?
Drawings and paintings help people to perceive and deal with their emotions easily and safely. Through the use of colours, forms or images, an individual can communicate emotions that may be difficult to describe verbally, for instance, sadness, anger, fear, or stress. This, in turn, reduces the emotional pressure that the brain and body experience.
Similarly, creative actions like drawings help the brain to relax and stay focused in the here and now. This will prevent you from overthinking and getting stressed out emotionally. Sometimes a person expresses his/her feelings by drawing without forcing it.
This activity is performed in a safe setting in art therapy. This will help you to relax, to understand the emotions well enough and to release the accumulated stress as well.
Conclusion
Art therapy allows one to express emotions that are not easily expressed through words. Great for healing emotional wounds, and for feeling relaxed and self-aware, is art therapy. Join The Movemeant Stories’ gentle art therapy sessions if you’ve been struggling with stress or emotional issues.
FAQs
Can art therapy work if I am unable to describe my feelings?
Yes, art therapy is really helpful when you have trouble expressing your feelings. You can use a simple form of non-verbal communication using pictures, drawings or symbols.
Can I take this session alone?
Yes, you can take this session in private as well if you are not comfortable in group therapy.
Who can get art therapy?
Art therapy will be beneficial for children, teens, adults and the elderly who have stress, anxiety, emotions, grief and trauma.
