The Artist Corner by Ralph Kahn
When you feel depressed or excessively anxious, you may be too overwhelmed to properly care for your arthritis or your emotional health. Because pain, mental health and disability are strongly linked, not recognizing or treating one can negatively impact the other.
In art therapy, participants focus on a single task such as painting, drawing, sculpting, dancing or other creative skills. Engaging in these light physical activities helps to improve coordination, increase motor skills and increase blood flow, which may improve dexterity in the hands, wrists, fingers, and other joint conditions as well as help manage inflammation and chronic pain.
When we were kids, art time was often the best part of grammar school. Who didn't enjoy art class? The type of art didn’t matter: coloring, drawing, painting, or cutting-and-pasting. It was fun, relaxing, and you got a wonderful feeling from creating something you made. We need to get back to that child activity! It turns out that making art can be a powerful therapeutic tool for adults, especially in the treatment and management of pain.
Art therapy does not replace the need for pain medication, but it can be used as an effective complement and reduce perceptions of pain experiences. Art can help people better manage the symptoms of stress and anxiety that accompany pain, assist with the recovery process, and improve quality of life.
Art therapy helps lower the perception of pain by moving your mental focus away from the painful stimulus. It is not simply a distraction, but rather a way to teach you how to relax and alter your mood, so the pain doesn't control your emotional state. When people are in pain, they often lose their sense of control since their pain dictates what they can and cannot do. It can also provide a powerful form of self-expression as well as a creative outlet.
You don't have to be an artist to benefit from the type of art you do. In fact, you should consider all kinds of artistic expression, including printmaking, mixed media, woodworking, ceramics, dance or music. You could revisit something you enjoyed in the past or take up a new art form to learn more about what you do like. For older adults, creating art and participating in art therapy can be particularly beneficial. Let’s take a look at some of the top benefits of art therapy for seniors.
1. Increased motor skills and coordination - Engaging in these light physical activities helps to improve coordination and increases blood flow, which may improve dexterity in the hands, wrists, and fingers.
2. Cognitive function and stimulation - The process of learning something new, such as a new art skill, helps to stimulate healthy brain activity and keep our minds sharp.
3. Improved mood and mental health – Creating art reduces feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress in people of all ages. Adults who participate in artistic activities also report lower levels of loneliness and depression, and better morale.
With so many positive benefits, it’s easy to see why many adults participate in the arts.
Thank you to Ralph Kahn for sharing this article with Florida Plus Realty. Ralph's art pieces are on display at our Leesburg office. If you live in the area, stop by to tour our Art Gallery with artwork by Ralph and many local artists. Office is open Monday - Friday from 9am - 5pm.
If you are retiring and trying to find a 55+ community that has opportunities to explore your creative side, contact us. While almost all active adult communities have some art clubs and activities, some have full studios and classes for residents. Our expert agents know just how to match your interests to the community that will be the best fit. We love it and live it too - which is why we are your Central Florida 55 Plus experts!
