Feeling stuck with chronic illness and anxiety? An Art therapist shares a gentle creative process for Un-Sticking yourself with art

Anyone can feel stuck but some of us get extras

Most of us are familiar with that old stuck feeling aren't we?

But as an Art therapist who supports people living with chronic illness and anxiety, my clients get served all the usual stuck experiences, but can also tick off;

• stuck with a diagnosis,

• stuck with the symptoms and

• stuck with a life that is not quite what they had in mind.

  
  

Sometimes we need something creative to un-stick our thoughts. We need permission to shift out of a lingering low mood. Your art can help!

Sit back for a few minutes and watch my process video

In the video below, I share snippets of a creative process I use when I’m feeling stuck with chronic illness, anxiety or have low energy.

Structured creative exercises like this one can offer a loose map for anyone to follow. They are a nice starting point and a creative way to get you making and doing.

In case you need reminded there’s no pressure to make ‘good’ art — the goal is to just allow yourself to make some low level choices, commit to them and see how it turns out.

Also, absolutely no one is forcing you to make art when you feel extreme pain or crushing fatigue. Some days are meant for rest.

However, I find that gentle, low risk creativity can help shake off the echoes of a illness flare up and ease anxiety in a way that nothing else really can.

So if you are ready, check out my short video. I'll wait for you right here.

Creative Process to Ease Procrastination and Stuck Feelings

I know it may feel a bit cheesy to say that your creativity can help you, but it is so true.

Try this at home

Some time this week set aside 15 minutes for creativity.

• find yourself some blank paper

  
  

• grab some junk mail or old Christmas cards and cut them up into strips and shapes. You could store those pieces until you have time or energy to make something with them.

  
  

• When you are ready pick a few of your shapes (keep the rest for another day) and glue those down onto some paper.

  
  

• Just like in my video you could fill in the spaces between them with whatever comes to mind.

  
  

  Top tip #1: You could use circles, squares, scribbles or even words of affirmation.

  Lyrics from a song or things you need to hear right now could also be nice additions.

  
  

• Fill up your artworks in whatever way you want.

  
  

  You are the king of this creative thing!

  
  

• Sit back and admire your art.

  
  

  Top Tip #2: (If you struggle with this part don't worry. It is sometimes hard to like what we create). Try to find one section you like and focus on that. Maybe you could use your phone to photograph it and edit it to look even better.

  
  

• Give your art a name.

  
  

• Do whatever you want with your art! It has already served its purpose,

  but you could;

  give it away,

  use it as a bookmark,

  frame it or

  add it to a journal

  
  

  As its creator you have all the power.

Why not make it a group activity with some friends or loved ones. You can share your pics or tell me what you thought over on my Facebook art therapy page.  I'd appreciate the interaction and connection with you.

Final thoughts

Art therapy can only truly be done with an Art therapist present. We can't therapize ourselves no matter how hard we try. But creativity is something you have access to whenever you need it, all day, every day.

So procrastinate no more,

give it a go and see if you can use your own creativity to help unstick yourself when you are feeling a bit stuck.

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Shameless plug section and what to do next

If you have a chronic illness of any kind or you find yourself feeling more anxious then usual

then I could be the creative, empathetic and encouraging therapist you have been searching for.

Reach out anytime.

Until then,

stay creative,

Ellen