Table of Contents
Does art improve mental health statistics?
Studies have shown that expression through art can help people with depression, anxiety, and stress. Art has also been linked to improved memory, reasoning, and resilience in aging adults. It is often said that artists are more likely to suffer from depression than ordinary people. Some possible reasons include the creativity and self-expression that artists often need to use in their work, the emotional intensity of the artistic process, and the ever-changing and competitive nature of the art world. This is where art can make a difference. Art does not show people what to do, yet engaging with a good work of art can connect you to your senses, body, and mind. It can make the world felt. And this felt feeling may spur thinking, engagement, and even action. It’s important to note that not every artist will experience anxiety or depression, but it is quite common for an artist to experience this feeling at least once in their career. Creating art increases the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine has been called the “motivation molecule.” The effects of dopamine boost drive, focus, and concentration. They enable you to plan ahead and resist impulses so that you can achieve your goals. Rather, the high-pressure and hectic lifestyles of many artists may lead to depressive symptoms, as tight deadlines, high expectations, fierce criticism, and intense travel are common for such individuals.
Is art effective against depression?
In recent years, many studies have shown that art therapy plays a significant role in alleviating depression symptoms and anxiety. There is increasing evidence in rehabilitation medicine and the field of neuroscience that art enhances brain function by impacting brain wave patterns, emotions, and the nervous system. Art can also raise serotonin levels. These benefits don’t just come from making art, they also occur by experiencing art. By creating art and doing something as simple as coloring, stress levels are seen to drop exponentially in patients. Helping the patient finally relax allows them to focus their mind on other things such as processing emotions, focusing on themselves, and working on emotional release. The main reason for the connection between anxiety and creativity is imagination. The dichotomy lies in the fact that the same brain that conjures up inventive paintings, poetry, and music can also get trapped in repetitive thoughts and dreadful worries. New Study Finds 73% of Independent Musicians Suffer From Symptoms of Mental Illness. Seventy-three percent of independent musicians have experienced stress, anxiety and/or depression in relation to their work, a new study has found.
Is there a correlation between art and mental illness?
Parallels can be drawn to connect creativity to major mental disorders including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, OCD and ADHD. For example, studies have demonstrated correlations between creative occupations and people living with mental illness. Being creative takes us into the realm of imagination and exploration, and that means our minds aren’t always in balance. And that’s on purpose. During the creative process, our minds can become unstable or negative, which can be very difficult. Creative thinking is associated with mood swings and depression. Creative people have a heightened sensitivity to their surroundings. Their sensory experiences (i.e. the way they perceive sound, light, smell, etc.) are intensified. They may pick up on the little things in the environment that others miss or see patterns where others see randomness. According to personality trait theories, people who are considered artistic tend to be attracted to activities that involve creativity, originality, and independence, such as singing, dancing, writing, or just expressing their uniqueness. Artistic people also tend to be more impulsive than others. One per cent of the general population is bipolar but seven studies over the past 30 years have found rates of bipolar between 5% and 40% in populations of artists and writers reaching as high as 70% when cyclothymia, a milder syndrome of cycles of elation and gloom, is included. It is often said that artists are more likely to suffer from depression than ordinary people. Some possible reasons include the creativity and self-expression that artists often need to use in their work, the emotional intensity of the artistic process, and the ever-changing and competitive nature of the art world.
How does art affect psychology?
Many people benefit from Art, primarily because of its psychological link and also by using art therapy. It is known to help numerous older adults with memory diseases, as well as to help people with post-traumatic stress disorder. Art can also help with depression, anxiety, stress and trauma. Art gives us the ability to express ourselves. Through that expression, we communicate by drawing on our own unique emotions, thoughts and experiences. When you see and study another’s art, you’re seeing the world through their eyes. When you create, you’re letting the world see through yours. Art has the power to move individuals to social action, manipulate and influence, entertain, and educate. Many are afraid to approach art, viewing it from afar as an elite subject and esoteric. IT MAKES YOU HAPPY: When you draw, you release Serotonin, Endorphins, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine. You don’t have to be a famous artist to draw and doodle. Drawing also has calming effects, so if you’re stressed out, you may try to pick up a pencil. Read more about how drawing relieves stress.
Can art negatively affect our psychology?
Other studies have shown that people report being highly moved by art with negative content, and the experience of feeling moved combines negative affect with an equal level of positive affect. Artists on average are found to be considerably more satisfied with their work than non-artists, a finding that corroborates the conjectures in the literature. We found that male artists (painters and sculptors) were lower on Extraversion and higher on Neuroticism than male non-artists. Female artists were more extraverted than male arcists, but their means on Neuroticism were nearly identical. 1) They have a creative mind The fact is, artists don’t have the same deduction system or system of values as others, and that’s the reason why we find it hard to understand or follow their train of thought. Also, their minds tick a bit differently than the average person’s, because diverse details move it.
Why does art reduce anxiety?
Studies looking into the impact of art on the brain have shown that dopamine levels increase in people who have a new creative outlet. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter or chemical messenger that can decrease in individuals with anxiety and depression. Benefits of Art Therapy for Depression Numerous studies have shown that people find that their mood lifts when they are being creative. This can help the individual transform their negative feelings into ones that are more positive. Being stressed can have negative effects on both the mind and the body. A study published in Neurolmage compared the brain scans of 21 art students and 23 non-artists. The results revealed the artists had more neural matter in the cerebellum and the supplementary motor area — areas of the brain associated with fine motor movements and visual imagery. A study conducted by the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya found that anxious people tend to be more intelligent, with a direct link between anxiety and being more creative. It’s generally not uncommon that creative people such as artists, actors, singers, etc struggle with some form of anxiety.