Art Journaling for Mental Health
Creating an art journal is such a great outlet for you to work through your thoughts and emotions; it is a space for questions that may not have answers, a place for thoughts that may otherwise not have a home, a safe place for emotions so that they are not loose in the world. Your journal is also a good place to play & experiment with different art supplies.
The simple act of creating can be very therapeutic and calming. You should take your time and enjoy the process. Let your brain wander and relax. Try to not think about the end result, you are not trying to create a masterpiece but to rejuvenate your spirit. This book is for you and you do not have to show it to anyone else. It is personal.
Benefits of Art Journaling:
It is fun
It is a form of self-care
It allows you to explore your feelings
It enables you to review life experiences
It helps you plan or envision goals
It further develops creativity
It provides you with some health/stress benefits [such as: reducing your heart rate, increasing serotonin flow, and decreasing stress responses
My Journey:
I believe my first dated art journal page was back in 2007 before I had any idea what an art journal was or how to use the process for healing. Fast forward to the end of 2014 my world fell apart when my husband told me he wanted a divorce. There were so many emotions, so many things I just didn't know what to do with them. I felt like I was falling down a well and might never recover from the loss of my mental idea of what a family should be. I was trying to be a mom, a small business owner, and figure out who the heck I was. I mean after 26 years of being married who was I without my spouse? I cried, I got mad, I struggled finally I figured out I just had to put all the stuff somewhere because it was exhausting me. I couldn't be the best me because I had so many things in my head and it was all overwhelming.
If you would like to know more about Art Journaling for Mental Health please check out my Art Journaling classes at CREATE 2.0. I am starting a NEW Art Journal Basics Workshop, an Art Journaling for Mental Healing Workshop, and coming soon an advanced Art Journaling Workshop with advanced techniques. Check out my Workshops here.