Overcoming negative events with art therapy methods

Surely many of us, due to various circumstances, experienced a state similar to emotional exhaustion. The period when, for no particular reason, you lose interest in what previously caused a storm of emotions, noticing apathy, indifference, irritability, fatigue, sudden mood swings, sleep/appetite disturbance, decreased self-esteem, etc. The combination of these symptoms can signal the presence of emotional burnout. In the clinical picture, this condition is classified as “burnout syndrome” (BSE), which manifests itself in the depletion of human resources (intellectual, emotional, physical).

The development of SEV may be due to prolonged emotional overload at work in training, when the content of your activity is associated with a high degree of responsibility, dedication, and remuneration does not correspond to your energy costs.

When the presence of CMEA is indeed the cause of this phenomenon, the following questions arise: what to do about it? how to restore the brightness of emotions and start to truly enjoy life? In search of an answer to these questions, I would like to focus on the effectiveness and value in overcoming emotional burnout, such a method as art therapy.

The name of the method speaks of a direct connection with creativity, self-expression and freedom. The main advantage of art therapy is that it gives an outlet to our “inner child”, thanks to which we can feel, feel and know the outside world, have fun, enjoy the little things and have fun from the heart. Remember how in childhood you loved to draw, decorate, sculpt a scoundrel from plasticine, it seemed that you could do this forever. Inspiration sometimes carried away so much that the limits of creativity crossed the formal framework in the form of a sheet of paper and moved to the walls of the room, cabinets and other objects, which caused indignation of the parents. There was no fear of spoiling something, getting dirty, there was no responsibility, only vivid emotions and impressions, freedom of expression.

At the same time, in fact, the essence of the art therapy method is to remember what caused a storm of emotions. Free yourself, for a while, from global responsibility, social restrictions (assessment of activity, fear of seeming ridiculous, incapable of creativity), give yourself the right to be imperfect (not a professional artist, sculptor, etc.), but allow yourself to simply be, feel and Express your feelings through colors.

Through spontaneous creative self-expression, art therapy actualizes personal resources to overcome emotional burnout, releases accumulated energy (aggression), thereby harmonizing the emotional sphere. By creating abstract images, with the support of an art therapist, a person finds answers to many pressing questions, explores fears and barriers in communication. These images arise unconsciously and spontaneously, and therefore anxiety and resistance to self-knowledge are reduced.

In art therapy, the process itself is important, from choosing a brush and color to creating a unique masterpiece. It is the integral involvement in the creative process that opens up unlimited opportunities for meeting one’s own feelings, experiences, hopes, fears, doubts, as well as stereotypes and beliefs. Self-knowledge is the best way to prevent burnout and reinforce interest in life and the people around you. In this sense, the value and effectiveness of the art therapy method has no limit.