By We Level Up FL Treatment Center | Editor Yamilla Francese | Clinically Reviewed By Lauren Barry, LMFT, MCAP, QS, Director of Quality Assurance | Editorial Policy | Research Policy | Last Updated: January 30, 2023

Depressed Art: Creativity and Mood Disorders – Depression Vent Art

According to Taylor, “a number of symptoms of (hypo)manic episodes are also typical of intensive creative activity, such as ideational fluency and reduced need for food and sleep, and may mimic characteristics of flow, such as intense and concentrated concentration, distorted perception of time, etc.

Studies that use diagnostic standards to identify mood disorders in creative people risk confusing the symptoms of those disorders with the act of being creative.

Taylor’s evaluation ultimately left readers with more questions than it did answers. She said that rather than being a conclusive study, her research should serve as a roadmap for future studies. Because of this, she said, asking “whether creativity is related to mood disorder is too vague to produce useful responses and may lead to erroneous or overgeneralized findings.”

Furthermore, earlier research did not ask more focused questions, which led to a “vague maybe” rather than an unequivocal “yes” to that issue. Nevertheless, a sizable study carried out prior to Taylor’s assessment also suggests a connection between psychiatric illnesses and creativity.

Depression Statistics

One of the most prevalent mental diseases in the US is major depression. Some people who have serious depression may experience substantial impairments that impede or restrict their capacity to engage in important life activities.

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Expressive Arts Therapy: The Benefits of Art on Mental Health (Art And Depression)

Drawings and other artistic works were frequently used by people with mental illness to express themselves, which encouraged many doctors to consider using art as a therapeutic technique. Since then, art has grown to be a significant component of the therapeutic community and is utilized in several evaluation and treatment methods.

Types of Art Therapy For Depression (Art Therapy Certification)

Art therapy is not the only type of creative art used in the treatment of mental illness. Other types of creative therapies include:

• Dance therapy
• Drama therapy
• Expressive therapy
• Music therapy
• Writing therapy

Art Therapy Activities For Anxiety: Art Therapy Ideas & Techniques

The purpose of art therapy is to use the creative process to support individuals as they explore their own self-expression and discover new avenues for self-understanding and coping mechanisms.

People can explore their emotions, grow in self-awareness, learn to manage stress, increase their self-esteem, and improve their social skills by making or appreciating art.

Among the methods applied in art therapy are:

• Collage
• Coloring
• Doodling and scribbling
• Drawing
• Finger painting
• Painting
• Photography
• Sculpting
• Working with clay

Clients may evaluate their work as they develop it and the emotions it evokes. People can look for themes and conflicts that may be influencing their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors by studying the themes and conflicts in their art.

What Art Therapy Can Help With

A variety of mental diseases and psychological suffering can be treated through art therapy. It may frequently be used with other psychotherapy methods like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or group therapy.

The following are a few conditions that art therapy may be used to treat:

• Aging-related issues
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Cancer
• Major Depression Disorder
• Eating disorders
• Emotional difficulties
• Family or relationship problems
• Medical conditions
• Psychological symptoms associated with other medical issues
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Psychosocial issues
• Stress
• Substance use disorder

Benefits of Art Therapy – Anxiety Depression Art

No of your level of artistic ability or experience, a 2016 study in the Journal of the American Art Therapy Association found that engaging in creative activities for less than an hour can lower stress and improve mental health.

With clients ranging from young children to elderly individuals, an art therapist may employ a number of artistic techniques, such as collage, painting, sculpting, and drawing.

The ability to express themselves creatively can be helpful for clients who have dealt with psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, domestic violence, and emotional trauma.

The following are some scenarios where art therapy might be used:

• Adults experiencing severe stress
• Children experiencing behavioral or social problems at school or at home
• Children or adults who have experienced a traumatic event
• Children with learning disabilities
• Individuals living with a brain injury
• People experiencing mental health problems

Effectiveness of Depression Mental Health Art

While research suggests that art therapy may be helpful, some results on its efficacy are contradictory. Further investigation is required to determine how and when art therapy may be most useful because studies are frequently limited in scope and inconclusive.

• Art therapy has been shown in trials of traumatized individuals to considerably lessen depressive symptoms and trauma symptoms.
• According to a review of the efficacy of art therapy, the practice improved the quality of life and reduced the number of psychological symptoms in cancer patients receiving medical treatment.
• According to one study, art therapy improved self-esteem and decreased depression in elderly residents in nursing homes.

Art Therapy Prompts: Anxiety Art Therapy Worksheets

Art Therapy Activity

Art Trauma Therapy

In addition to Post Traumatic Stress, these therapies can also effectively treat a variety of other mental health issues when paired with ART’s eye movements and other advancements. OCD, eating disorders, generalized anxiety, and generalized depressive disorders are among the conditions that ART can treat. ART not only addresses the traumas frequently connected to dyslexia but also goes above and above to enhance reading! (A more detailed list of the problems that ART has handled is provided below.)

There is research to support the therapeutic and relaxing effects of eye movements. They have been demonstrated to cause theta waves in the brain. There has been research linking theta waves to creativity, intuition, and daydreaming. These brain waves are frequently seen while people are in deep meditation.

5 Benefits Of Art Therapy Depression (Art About Depression)

1. Art Therapy Can Aid with Emotional Expression (Anxiety Art Therapy)

Art therapy can be a terrific outlet if you’re struggling to communicate your emotions. It can be challenging to put your emotions into words, but you can express yourself via art in a way that feels natural to you. You could find it beneficial to discuss your art with your therapist, or you might choose to keep your work to yourself. Art therapy is a fantastic technique to express your emotions in either case.

2. Art Therapy Can Help With Self Discovery (Bipolar Depression Art)

Through art therapy, you might discover things about yourself that you never knew before. As you create artwork and reflect on your work, you might start to see patterns in your thoughts and emotions. This can be extremely helpful in understanding your depression and what triggers your symptoms.

3. Art Therapy Can Help Reduce Stress

Creating art can be a great way to relax and de-stress. When you’re focused on creating something, it can help take your mind off of your worries and concerns. Art therapy can also help you learn how to better manage your stress levels.

4. Art Therapy Can Lift Your Spirit

In fact, the process of making art can lift your spirits. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps control our mood and promote happiness, and studies have shown that art therapy can raise levels of this chemical. Additionally, anxiety and depression symptoms might be lessened with art therapy.

5. Art Therapy Can Help You Connect With Others

You might feel alone and lonely if you’re dealing with depression. You can connect with others going through similar problems through art therapy. This can be helpful in two ways: first, it can make you aware that you’re not struggling alone, and second, it can provide you access to a network of people who can support you and relate to what you’re going through.

Renowned Artists Who Struggled With Depression (Depression Dark Surreal Art)

Frida Kahlo: Depression Arts

The self-portraits created by this celebrated Mexican artist frequently showed the sorrow and suffering she had to undergo throughout her life. Polio, spinal damage, and persistent discomfort plagued Kahlo. She used her art as a means of coping with her emotional and physical suffering.

Depression Drawings With Deep Meaning

Here’s a list of different depressing drawings or drawings of depression that might be very graphic and disturbing for some people, please proceed with caution.

Dark Depressing Art (Dark Depression Art): Depression Drawing

Depressed Anime Drawings: Depression Anime Drawing – Depression Art Anime

Easy Depressed Drawings: Drawing Depression

Depression Creepy Stuff To Drawing: Depression Deep Emotional Drawings

Depressing Sad Drawings Easy (Depression Drawings Easy): Sad Depression Drawings

Easy Depressing Drawings: Easy Depression Drawings

Depressing Things To Draw (Depression Things To Draw): Depression Drawing Ideas – Drawings That Represent Depression

How To Draw Depression As A Drawing

We Level Up Dual Diagnosis Treatment – Drawings Depression

The definition of dual diagnosis (also referred to as co-occurring disorders) can differ between institutions. However, it is generally described as the specific treatment of someone who has been diagnosed with a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder at the same time. Treating dual-diagnosis clients is a critical aspect of our inpatient treatment experience because co-occurring disorders are strongly correlated with instances of substance abuse.

Creating a treatment plan that addresses the physical aspects of withdrawal, the psychological connection with drug use, and managing underlying mental health disorders is part of setting clients up for success.  A thorough mental health analysis identifies possibilities for treatment.  Meeting with mental health counselors and medical care providers means access to behavioral therapy and medication treatment. At our dual diagnosis treatment center, We Level Up can implement the highest quality of care. 

We recognize the fragile complexities of how mental and substance abuse disorders can influence others and sometimes result in a vicious cycle of addiction.  That’s why we offer specialized treatment in dual-diagnosis cases to provide the most excellent chance of true healing and long-lasting recovery.

It can be challenging to accept that you may be living with a mental illness, but once it is properly diagnosed and treated, treating the presenting case of substance abuse can be magnitudes easier. Only a properly trained medical professional can diagnose these underlying conditions.  If you believe you are suffering from a disorder alongside addiction, we urge you to seek a qualified treatment center to begin your journey to recovery. Call We Level Up today.