There’s something about art.Be it writing,singing,dancing, doodling,painting,crafting,sculpting sewing,making furniture or anything creating something always puts me in a place of calm happy.
Growing up I heard a lot about mental health and illnesses arising from it on both sides of the family. That was a driving force behind me studying to be a doctor.While eventually surgery being my favourite subject I did my post graduation as an ENT surgeon, taking care of my mental health has always played a very important path.
I never stopped reading and researching with my own head being a laboratory of sorts.I loved reading from a very young age.That has been a constant companion for me since forever.I don’t want to be without a book anywhere.It stops me from making foolhardy decisions,from being bored.
But writing and now painting has absolutely changed the course of my mind.I almost feel there’s been a chemical reaction inside the brain and I do my professional work better because of it.
Doctors need to be healthy. Just like everybody else.But taking care of illnesses can be physically and mentally taxing .That’s why it’s always better not to be too emotionally involved .Because then rational decisions become difficult.
But how much is caring and when does caring too much start?How will we build that border in the brain?How to switch off the doctor mode and get into the mommy mode?That was unchartered territory for me as a mom.
I felt emotionally raw ,uber sensitive and unable to cope. Didn’t feel I was doing what I studied so hard to become. Felt overwhelmed, underappreciated,overworked,sleep deprived and out of control.That was 2012,2013,2014.I was walking on my treadmill almost daily but no other fun exercise or play time.Story books were possible only when the little one slept and we did art stuff together.
In late 2014, something changed.I started balcony gardening.Life looked better.I had help and support,more than many people.I was working ,but not coping well with sleeplessness and night duties.In fact, I was heading for a collapse.In 2018 both of us resigned from our Government jobs at Malda Medical College. It was a clean cut.I realized dreams change and shift perspective as one grows a few wise brain cells.Its not easy making the sudden shifts which appear as crossroads in life,but nothing worthwhile ever is.
In COVID things took another turn. Homebound I started writing stories and doing more watercolour,mithila art,and while trying to cope decided to renovate the village home. Dilapidated and neglected that home and the garden has changed our lives forever.So the pandemic brought art closer to my life and I grew roots in a mango garden.
But what is Art therapy?When you use art(drawing/painting/crafting/sewing/sculpting/dance/music) in any form to calm the mind down and find your flow its art therapy.Kids respond very well to the calming effect of art .My daughter and I have drawn and painted together since she was two years old. I am so glad I did that because it has made her a much calmer and confident young girl than I ever was.
In 2021 with a few friends we invested in small plots of land to plant trees in.We roamed in mango garden, played in the village fields on weekends.Gift of Green is real.
Mango season means we pick carefully.A few unripe ones for the amer tok or aam dal.Perfect for hot summer days.This is fruit from the Garden we planted in 2022 .Imagine a tree only 2-year-old has started to bear fruits.
It looks difficult until you do it.The journey towards nature is a journey towards wellness.Fruits you grow yourself just taste better.Plus the kids have so much fun participating in this ,that I never have to tell them “don’t cut trees”.
We have come a long way.I started balcony gardening in 2014 and my Balcony Garden helps me during the week.I tried hydroponics too in 2020, but it’s not sustainable for me. During the weekend ,the village gardens are where we hang out.Walking,playing and dreaming
Nature Therapy is not new.It’s not rocket science either.But simple things and simple solutions means people don’t take it seriously enough. The biggest loser in the fast race to unplanned urbanization are the people.We need to focus on making our villages,small towns self sufficient, so that the green is maintained. Inspired by @blogchatter to share the story.
413 literature were identified. It was seen that a lower connection to nature had significant lower mental health benefits.
Mental health disorders which are affected mainly include
- depression disorders
- anxiety
- cognitive impairment
- dementias
- Alzheimer’s disease
- schizophrenia
- Autism
While pharmacological treatment is the first choice for mental disorders to alleviate the major symptoms, many antipsychotics contribute to poor quality of life and debilitating adverse effects. Therefore, clinicians have turned toward to complementary treatments, such as art therapy in addressing the health needs of patients more than half a century ago.More work is needed but the horizon shows hope.
I am the prettiest of them all
…said no flower ever.Lesson to learn -Humility.
Flowers are absolutely stunning and they have zero airs.Imagine humans being that grounded!
It’s difficult to balance self confidence and self-worth while staying humble.Another thing flowers do with grave.
God give me grace and humility.
Something to add to my bedtime prayer routine.Writing this with #BlogchatterHalfMarathan
#gardenwisdom #healthwealthbridge #gardeningmoments
Art therapy Nature Therapy living a Creative Life
Online Art classes you will love
Jenna Rainey art course
7 Ways an Art Therapy Helps me
References
A lower connection to nature is related to lower mental health benefits from nature contact
Chia-Chen Chang # 1 2, Brenda B Lin # 3, Xiaoqi Feng 4 5 6, Erik Andersson 7 8 9, John Gardner 10, Thomas Astell-Burt 5 11 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38509180/
Nature-Based Therapy in Individuals with Mental Health Disorders, with a Focus on Mental Well-Being and Connectedness to Nature—A Pilot Study
Lilly Joschko,1 Anna María Pálsdóttir,1 Patrik Grahn,1 and Maximilian Hinse2,* https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9914984/
The Effects of Nature Exposure Therapies on Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review
Diana Marcela Paredes-Céspedes,1,* Norida Vélez,1 Alejandra Parada-López,1 Yesith Guillermo Toloza-Pérez,1 Eliana M. Téllez,1 Claudia Portilla,1 Carolina González,2 Leany Blandón,2 Juan Carlos Santacruz,2 and Jeadran Malagón-Rojas1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10969128/
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Art is indeed therapeutic! Lovely blog!
Thank you
As they say, you cannot pour from an empty cup. So it’s very important to take the best care of yourself, only then you can care for your loved ones. Art, nature and exercise are truly the holy trinity for mental health.
True .Thank you