Mental Well Being: How Creating Art Can Help
Art Corner: An Initiative to Spotlight Creativity in All Forms
Our team at Diabetes Education Services recognizes the powerful role art plays in healing, particularly in its capacity to improve mental wellbeing. Art offers a bridge between emotions and the mind, making it a valuable tool not just in personal wellness but also for healthcare professionals. By incorporating art into therapeutic settings, we can offer new avenues of expression and mindful connection to feelings.
New ART Corner to Spotlight an Artistic Contribution
To highlight and celebrate the importance of art, DiabetesEd Services will spotlight an artistic contribution in each issue of our newsletter. Art Corner is a new initiative that aims to highlight the artist in all of us and by exploring how art is a form of emotional and mental health support. We want to create opportunity for subscribers to share their stories through their artwork.
For our first submission, we are thrilled to feature Tiffany, one of our integral team members at DiabetesEd Services. Tiffany’s creativity extends far beyond her professional responsibilities. For her, creating art is not merely a hobby; it is a vital aspect of her mental health and well-being. She believes wholeheartedly in the healing power of creativity and hopes to inspire others to explore their artistic sides as well.
Tiffany specializes in oil painting with a focus on emotional depth and symbolic imagery. Her work explores themes of self-reflection and inner dialogue through vibrant colors and detailed brushwork. “There is healing taking place during the creative process that offers us a chance to unplug from our busy lives,” Tiffany states. “I know that it has made me more compassionate and engaged with the world around me.” Find out more about Tiffany’s Artwork by visiting her website www.raeanart.com.
The Intersection of Art and Healing for People Living with Diabetes
While traditional methods are valuable in managing mental health, creative outlets such as art, provide a unique opportunity for self-expression and healing. Engaging in artistic activities—whether painting, poetry, photography, drawing, dancing, sculpting, or even journaling—has been shown to reduce stress, promote relaxation, and foster mindfulness.
Creating art allows individuals to express feelings they may struggle to articulate verbally, which is particularly beneficial for those experiencing distress. For example, a person might create a painting to symbolize the highs and lows of blood glucose levels, using color and texture to convey their emotional experience. In doing so, they have an opportunity to externalize their feelings, which can help express the internal struggles and bring them to the light of day.
Art as a Tool for Coping
There are several ways in which creating art can help improve mental wellness for people living with diabetes and health care professionals alike.
- Emotional Release: Art provides an outlet for the frustrations, fears, and anxieties tied to diabetes management and health care delivery. By pouring emotions into creative projects, individuals can release built-up stress and gain a sense of relief.
- Mindfulness and Distraction: The focus required in art-making can serve as a mindful distraction from the constant thoughts about diabetes management. When someone is fully absorbed in a creative process, it allows the mind to take a break from the pressures of daily life.
- Self-Expression: People with diabetes and health care professionals, can experience feelings of distress and isolation. Art offers a way to express what words cannot, providing a sense of connection to one’s inner thoughts and emotions. This self-expression fosters emotional clarity and allows individuals to see themselves from a new perspective.
- Building Confidence: Living with diabetes or any chronic illness, can be associated with feeling out of control, especially when things don’t go as planned. Completing a creative project, no matter how small, can provide a sense of accomplishment and boost confidence, reminding individuals that they are capable of managing challenges.
Incorporating Art into your Lifestyle and Practice
You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from creative activities. Art is for everyone, and its therapeutic benefits lie in the process, not the result. Here are some simple ways to incorporate art into your routine:
Start a Visual Journal: Combine written entries with sketches or doodles to capture your thoughts and feelings each day.
Experiment with Color: Use paints, pastels, or even markers to play with color and texture, allowing yourself to freely express how you feel at any given moment.
Art Classes and Communities: Joining a local art class or participating in an online creative community can provide not only structure but also a supportive environment where you can share your experiences and connect with others.
Create a Mood Board: Craft a collage or mood board to visually represent your goals, emotions, or anything else you’re processing in your diabetes journey.
Art Has a Place in Healthcare
Not only does art offer a powerful outlet for self-expression, but it also provides an opportunity to cultivate mindfulness and emotional balance. By embracing art as a tool for mental wellness, a person living with or without diabetes can find relief from the emotional challenges of their condition and improve their overall quality of life.
In each issue of our newsletter, our company will continue to celebrate the transformative power of art, showcasing an artist who reminds us just how vital creativity is to our mental and emotional well-being.
Submit Your Art Work Here
We recognize the importance of art along with science within healthcare. We would love to highlight the creative works from our community members in our monthly newsletter. If you have artwork, a photo, poem, collage, or other artforms you would like featured in our newsletter, CLICK HERE to send us a photo of your piece. Thank you for taking a risk, it is worth it!
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Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and our CPEU courses have received Prior Approval* from the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since our CPEU courses received Prior approval* from the CDR, these CPEU courses satisfy the CE requirements for the CDCES /BC-ADM regardless of your profession!
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