Begin Where You Are: A way to approach Chronic Illness creatively using Art therapy

Oh chronic illness you complicated, greedy creature.

We could speak for hours about you and still not cover it all.

It is difficult to accurately describe what having a chronic illness feels like. Simply trying to explain such a changeable landscape is like holding sand in a storm or carrying water on a leaf. You get the idea...it's tricky, often confusing for others and exasperating for us.

Plus there are times when we are completely dried up on chat about our health.

We don't always want to talk about it.

On days like this Art therapy helps us to see and say it differently, without words and in a way that is fresh even for us.

Start where you are

We carry so much. The stories of our health or our diagnosis can be long and cover many years. We can certainly look at each of those stories in therapy. In fact we can go seven books back to the prequel and start there. But we don’t have to start in the past.

There are days when dredging up old shores feels too demanding and draining.

On days like that our session might begin with asking;

How do I feel today?

How does my body feel right now?

Sometimes we know all too well how we feel and it isn't good. Other days offer a more blurry picture with a distorting filter on it.

Let's enhance the image.

For those who would like to try I have included a short noticing practice below. I am no expert at mindfulness or meditation, but I am pretty good at breathing in and out. Life and my profession have honed my slowing down skills. Sometimes taking a moment during a session to notice can be a great way to start. If you'd like to give it a go I will accompany you.

A gentle noticing practice

1. Take a slow, cooling breath.

2. Let it go in a long sigh.

3. Soften your gaze and gently focus inward.

4. Just notice.

5. Don’t push—let the surface chatter drift.

6. Notice again.

7. Take your time and just be.

• Is there a word or phrase that forms in your mind?

• Is there a colour or a body sensation that needs your attention?

• Choose this as your starting point.

It doesn't have to be deeper than that.

What Noticing Revealed for Me

It'll be different every time. When I did this with you today, my word was 'shimmering'.

Shimmering - how lovely!

It definitely brings up some positive thoughts for me. But there is also some sadness under the surface. Like looking at light through tears.

I don't need to know exactly why shimmering came up for me today.

This is where the art comes in

• I might start by choosing shimmering colours or materials.

• I might use metallic shades, scattered dots, or delicate layers of sparkle.

• I could reach for the watercolours.

• I might trace the word shimmering down memory lane and see where it ends up.

  
  

Nothing I do with this shimmering word or sensation would be wrong.

Art has a way of showing us more than we thought we knew.

You see it doesn't have to be complicated. Your art doesn't have to say it all. Although I bet it would tell you quite a lot and in a way that is new and intriguing.

We can keep it simple and begin exactly where you are. Accepting you, being present and without pressure to make it pretty or make it complicated.

I hope someone out there found this helpful.

If you’re curious about how art therapy could support you as you navigate life with chronic illness just reach out via my contact page.

Until I hear from you,

stay creative,

Ellen