Category: <span>Therapy</span>

Mental Health Stress Therapy By blsedits 0 Comments

Intro into Mental Health Awareness Month

Written by: Katie Heaberlin, Office Manager

When the world becomes too much and life seems to be spinning all around you, thoughts swarming in your head and you feel overwhelmed and worn down, it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It can be hard to decipher one thought from another and soon you’re drowning in infinite things where you just can’t see an end in sight…. this is part of mental health. Many of us will often push these feelings back and keep taking on more, using the excuse “if I keep my mind occupied and keep busy, I will be ok”. But in reality, this affects your mental health even more. Knowing yourself and recognizing the signs before these feelings come to light are just one of the many ways you can improve your mental health. Mental health affects more than just your mind; it affects your body, your mood, and sometimes interferes with your daily activities and routines. Life is hard and it’s rough at times; but the most important thing you can do is to prioritize your needs and talk about it. Being open about how you are feeling and acknowledging those feelings doesn’t mean you’re crazy; it means you’re human. We all have a purpose; it’s ok to seek help when that purpose is clouded, and you need a little support in navigating through this maze called life. There is always someone who is willing to listen, even if it is yourself. Our mind and body are always finding ways to let us know something isn’t quite right. Listen to those signs, know when it’s time to pause, don’t allow yourself to reach the point of breaking. There is light at the end of every tunnel, sometimes it just takes one thought, one day, one step at a time to help us get there.

Mental Health Therapy By blsedits 0 Comments

Improve Your Mental Health With Art Therapy

Written by: Amanda Parparian, Art Therapist

When I was in graduate school, a near constant companion of mine was my knitting.  I found that the rhythm of the needles and the feel of the yarn helped me to focus.  One of my professors called it cognitive anchoring, something to keep my hands busy, something that could become automatic, and allow my brain to better focus.

I have also found that knitting has a positive impact on my anxiety, it keeps me from unraveling.

Seeing these benefits of knitting myself, I’ve become interested in learning more about why knitting and other fiber arts (such as sewing, weaving, crocheting, embroidery, and quilting) are good for you and your wellbeing.

Fiber arts are tactile, they have a strong sense of touch, and often when creating with them the focus is on integration and coming together.  They can explore powerful metaphors and stories.  Fiber arts have been found to benefit self-esteem, provide social support, and self-efficacy.

Knit for Peace is an initiative of the Charities Advisory Trust in the United Kingdom, which did a literature review on the health benefits of knitting, and then surveyed 1,000 knitters.  They found that the positive physical and mental health benefits of knitting included:

  • lowering blood pressure,
  • reducing depression and anxiety,
  • slowing the onset of dementia,
  • is a form of meditation,
  • distracts from chronic pain,
  • provides an opportunity for creativity,
  • increases sense of wellbeing, reduces loneliness and isolation, and
  • increases sense of usefulness and inclusion in society.

Dr. Cassandra Dominick did her dissertation on “Knitting as a Therapeutic Group Technique with 4th Grade Elementary School Students” and she stated “[knitting] can untangle our stressed minds as we unravel balls of yarn and turn them into wearable objects.”  She also discussed how the process of knitting and motions required can help with focus and allow for holding attention longer.

The structure of knitting with the rhythmic and repetitive nature is similar to meditation.  While sitting comfortably, physically holding the textile yarn, counting, repetitive motions with a cadence, the same alpha-wave patterns can be found as when meditating.

Not convinced? Why not try it yourself? If you need help getting started, I’d love to teach you knitting as a therapeutic tool for stress relief and mindfulness.