Healing Through Creativity: How Art Therapy Eases Anxiety and Improves Physical Health

By Anne Denk, RN, BSN

The use of art therapy is on the rise. Between 2020 and 2025, the number of registered art therapists rose by 15%. Over 70 different countries use art therapy. This form of therapy provides physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Studies have shown that it has positive impacts on all demographic groups. Art therapy helps children, adults, cancer patients, dementia patients, and others. Art therapy is conducted in many different settings. One common result of art therapy is reduced anxiety.

How Anxiety Works

Anxiety is prevalent in the United States and globally. Approximately 19% of adults have been informed by a doctor that they have anxiety. About 13% of Americans receive therapy specifically for anxiety. The exact cause of anxiety is not fully known. Causes can include trauma, medical health issues, overall stress, and more. Triggers for anxiety can be different for each person.

Anxiety is linked to an imbalance in the serotonin and noradrenergic systems. These systems regulate your alertness, mood, digestion, and more. Anxiety can manifest itself in different ways. Some common physical symptoms include increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and GI distress. Other symptoms include difficulty concentrating and sleep disturbance.

Anxiety disorders are often treated with psychotherapy and medication. In addition to these standard methods of treatment, art therapy has proven to be helpful in symptom management. Art therapy provides physical and mental benefits, including reduced anxiety.

Impacts of Art Therapy

Art therapy leads to people slowing down and focusing on the present. These sessions are typically led by a registered art therapist or clinician. While painting, sculpting, or collaging, the brain shifts its focus to that current activity. Art therapy also offers the opportunity to express internal emotions externally.

The use of art therapy has physical and mental effects on adults. It has shown positive physical impacts, including:

·       decreased systolic blood pressure

·       decreased diastolic blood pressure

·       decreased body mass index (BMI)

One art therapy study involved children with asthma. Following eight weeks of art therapy, the children’s pulmonary function tests (PFTs) improved. Parkinson’s disease patients showed an improvement in drawing skills in a separate study. Although art therapy does not cure disease, it can improve symptoms. These positive changes offer an improvement in daily life.

Art therapy also has positive mental impacts, including:

·       improved behavioral and emotional regulation

·       Improved cognitive function

·       Increased quality of life

·       Decreased anxiety

One study worked with patients with dementia. They used calligraphy as a form of art therapy. The study revealed an improvement in cognitive function in these patients following the use of calligraphy. Additional studies have been conducted with different populations, ranging from dialysis patients to cancer patients. All of these studies demonstrated that art therapy decreased anxiety and increased the quality of life for people. Art therapy positively impacted people of all ages and stages of life.

Types of Art Therapy

The term “art therapy” was first used by British artist Adrian Hill in the 1940s while he was recovering from tuberculosis. During the same period, psychiatrists and other mental health providers utilized art to treat their patients. Today, art therapy is conducted in a variety of settings. Sessions are led in medical facilities, one-on-one, and via telemedicine. A few examples of art therapy forms include:

·       Painting

·       Drawing

·       Sculpting

·       Collaging

·       Carving

·       Mandala-making

·       Zentangle (repetitive patterns)

Continued Practice and Research

Physical illness is part of human life. Anxiety is often linked to medical conditions as well as external factors. Art therapy helps to address physical, mental, and emotional challenges. A common result in art therapy studies is reduced anxiety. Although art therapy is not a cure for physical and mental conditions, it does have significant benefits. Studies have shown that art therapy is a low-risk, high-reward activity. Studies are ongoing in this growing field of therapy. Art therapy has been identified as a useful supplemental treatment for a variety of conditions, including anxiety.

References

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