""We lost a child today due to child abuse. The little one's body was so battered and broken that it broke our hearts. We did everything we could to save her. The surgeons, the other nurses, the staff, we all broke down in tears when it was all over," Lisa said. As we talked through the horrors of that day, I asked her what helped her make it through the day."
"I helped her with some illustrations for her project. Sitting with her, coloring, and drawing in trees and little animals felt so comforting," Lisa said. After the traumatic day in the emergency room, Lisa worried about whether she could continue as an ER nurse. I suggested that she consider drawing, coloring, painting, or exploring art as a way to cope with the stress of her essential job."
Art practices such as drawing, coloring, painting, music, writing, dance, and sculpting can induce a meditative-like state and promote mindfulness. Focused creative activity calms nervous-system arousal and allows the body to relax and unwind. Practical examples include an ER nurse finding comfort while coloring with her daughter after a traumatic shift and a psychotherapist who doodles to lower anxiety during conferences. Adopting an artistic hobby provides cognitive and physical benefits, offers nonjudgmental present-moment attention, and can serve as a coping strategy to manage stress and reduce symptoms of trauma for caregivers and professionals.
Read at Psychology Today
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