What is Art Therapy for Pain Management?

Art Therapy For Pain Management is a health approach that assists patients with processing their feelings about pain through art.

Art therapy helps patients to cope with the enormity of what is happening to them, allows them to express their emotions or pain, and helps patients by distracting them from pain, which allows them to cope with their daily challenges with chronic illness.

There are days we might not be able to do much, but the satisfaction from creating something always creates joy and happiness.

I use art for mental health, distraction, and it is a great mind and body technique that helps immensely with chronic pain.

An additional benefit to doing art therapy is for its use in allowing chronic pain sufferers to show their pain through art, whether it’s drawing, painting, sculpting or stitching.

This Is What My Pain Looks Like

Pain can’t be seen and thus it is almost impossible to measure and assess. You can’t see pain, so there is no way to really speak about it.

Words can be empty, but artwork aptly illustrates the rage, sorrow, and grief that many patients go through daily. Art elicits an emotional response from viewers. No words are necessary.

Many people have experienced acute pain, but most people do not understand what it is like to live with chronic pain on a permanent basis or how it affects people mentally and physically.

Creating art can stave off feelings of worthlessness. It helps patients to fight against the loss of losing their quality of life.

We can learn more about the process of coming to terms with pain through art

Art can help us especially in terms of losing your identity to pain, redefining yourself, identifying with other people, and remaining hopeful on your journey through chronic illness.

Even the simple act of drawing pain in your body can be helpful by allowing other people to understand how you feel. Reds and oranges can illustrate heat or burning sensations, while blues and grays can recreate how your legs feel when they go numb or it can illustrate your mood that day.

I started off my rock paintings as a representation of my chronic pain. Then I moved to ikebana and flower arranging.

In some of my arrangements, I can add hot reds, yellows and oranges to illustrate my pain and inflammation burning through my body. Art can represent anger, grief, sorrow, and any other emotion you want to express.

Whenever I complete an art project, I usually experience a brief flash of sadness or joy, but then I feel strong and empowered. I can take any emotion and channel it into something that validates how I feel. It also gives me the power of turning a negative emotion into something beautiful.

Being able to illustrate my pain in a visual way makes me feel that my pain was more real and more visible. I can use my art projects as an advocacy tool or for teaching how to evoke emotions in something as simple as a flower arrangement.

Visit My Art Shop to see my art collections

Do I Need To Take An Art Class To Begin Art Therapy?

Here’s a secret. I’ve never taken an art class in my life outside of art class in elementary and high school!

I’m self-taught and have been one of those folks who likes to dabble in everything since I was a kid. There’s no harm in trying!

Art Therapy For Chronic Pain: “Art therapy offers distraction, relaxation, it helps us cope, and it helps us with self-management and self-care in chronic illness.”

Art Therapy For Chronic Pain: "Art therapy offers distraction, relaxation, it helps us cope, and it helps us with self-management and self-care in chronic illness." ~ Carrie, My Several Worlds Share on X

Art, as mentioned above, can also bring other emotions to the surface and these emotions can be noted and discussed with your therapist during your next session. It can also help you to feel ready and feel supported about your feelings and emotions.

You do not need to be an artist to do art therapy

Artistic ability has nothing to do with art therapy. This is a process you can do on your own and feel good about, as long as you stay open to trying to create expressive pieces of artwork.

It’s a powerful tool for communication and self expression and it ultimately helps with improving physical, emotional and mental states of people of all ages.

Creativity allows you to change what is in the picture. It is an empowering tool that helps us build on self-confidence, strength, and resilience while managing pain.

Art can be done at home or it can be done in class

The ultimate goal of your artwork should be to help you be more relaxed, calm, and creative.

Art projects, no matter what form of art you choose, whether it’s writing, sketching, knitting, pottery making or anything else, can help release stress.

I’ve found that when I am focused on my art, I’m less focused on my pain and more focused on the creative process.

Raising awareness by sharing the art of chronic pain is something we should all try, whether it’s good or not. I hope it brings you some joy and some inspiration to be creative and let your pain go for a while.

Art Therapy For Chronic Pain: “By exploring your pain visually through art, you might be able to see patterns in what is triggering your pain. ~ Carrie Kellenberger, My Several Worlds

Art Therapy For Chronic Pain: "By exploring your pain visually through art, you might be able to see patterns in what is triggering your pain. ~ Carrie Kellenberger, My Several Worlds Share on X