Trauma Survivors May Achieve Calmness Through Art Therapy

(Newswire.net — February 26, 2018) Wilmington, DELAWARE — There are many amazing things that the brain can do, and many are believed to still be left unexplored. However, the brain also needs a large amount of effort to deal with trauma.

Trauma survivors may achieve calmness through art therapy. Victims normally use their instincts when they are in threatening situations, and the traumatized brain is regularly on high-alert. This is especially true in the lower regions of the brain, which is where the survival instincts originate.

There are simple artistic activities, such as sculpting and drawing, which can soothe these lower regions. Art therapists suggest that they use methods that can aid in helping trauma victims calm down. These methods may also help sufferers release mental tension.

These are evidence-informed therapies utilizing creativity in raising awareness to the victims in terms of their physical and mental states. Through these therapies, they are also able to build resilience as well as a sense of safety.

Cathy Malchiodi, counselor and author, claims that utilizing art, music, and other creative activities provide victims the means of expressing the effects of trauma even after the end of the therapy. Malchiodi has pioneered the Trauma-Informed Art Therapy and Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy.

When the instinct of the lower brain is over-activated, it inhibits the ability of people to perform higher cognitive functions until healing from trauma starts.

Malchiodi further adds that a stressed teen may find it hard to answer questions about the use of drugs, goal-making, and planning for their future. Therapies are thought to reverse these effects and rebuild the brain.

Nancy Gerber, Director of the PhD Program in Creative Arts Therapies at Drexel University, suggests that expressive arts offer support to trauma recovery. This is especially true for individuals who seek treatment or were traumatized at a young age. This is due to the fact that expressive arts engage the brain regions that develop earlier in life.

Art therapy activities can range from doodling to using adult coloring books. Recently, many have been using adult coloring books to get relief from stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological problems.

One of the best things about resorting to art therapy is that it doesn’t require enthusiasts to have a certain level of skills and experience in art. They can just fill in the designs and make use of the colors they want.

The Ultimate Gel Pen Collection from Tadkin is one of the ideal tools to use for art therapy. This set offers 100 pens in 100 different colors.

(http://www.amazon.com/Gel-Pens-Set-Coloring/dp/B01HSGWY1Q)