Art for Anxiety Relief
Class replay for our therapeutic art class is on Sunday, November 17th at 12pm EST
You know that incessant flutter you get in your body when you stand in front of a group of people, preparing to introduce yourself? Relaying your words over and over in your head, wondering, “what are they going to think of me?” What if I forget what to say or stumble my words?”
Or, you know, worried about the future of this country (I live in the US), fearing for your safety or for the safety of others?
You know that feeling. I know that feeling. I suffered from anxiety for many years. It still shows up every now and then in certain situations. (i.e. speaking in front of a new group of people 🫣)
I was constantly overthinking and trying to predict how any situation would turn out by using evidence from the past. This is how our mind/body works, by the way, and it's a beautiful thing! Until it becomes prolonged and begins to hold you back.
We live under some level of pressure every day where anxiety can sometimes help us to prepare for difficult or stressful times. We can often regulate the feeling of anxiety through relaxation techniques, hobbies, exercise, entertainment or talking with someone.
Getting into a daily flow of art making has helped me tremendously. It allows me to have a healthy release of that energy and put it into physical form. Therapeutic art helps move the attention away from constant rumination.
Once we give it a form, we can personify, befriend, and speak to our anxiety—asking, perhaps, what it needs to subside. This is not the end all be all solution for anxiety of course, just what has worked for me.
Anxiety is often described as an alarm in the body. Therefore, talking about our anxiety alone will not make it go away.
What does anxiety feel like in your body? If it had color, shape, texture, sound, and movement—how would that take form? What is your anxiety telling you?
We’ll go through this imaginative journey together and process through art! You do not need to have any experience with art to benefit from this class.
Theme: Art for Anxiety Relief
When: Sunday, November 17th at 12pm EST
Where: Zoom 👩🏽💻
What you’ll need:
1 piece of large paper (at least 8.5x11)
Color medium (colored pencils, crayons, markers, pastels, paint, watercolor)
Pen or pencil
Journal or paper
Personal comforts (i.e. water, tea, candle, incense, fuzzy blanket, kitten)
Join Heart-led Creator Club
Join Heart-led Creator Club to access this class and you’ll also receive:
Monthly live online therapeutic art classes, each with a unique theme—view our class calendar
On-going library of past class replays, guided meditations, practices & resources
Private group chat to share your creations, inspiration & curiosities