As the saying goes, “Art is you being free from all the world’s heaviness.” The education and awareness surrounding art therapy have grown exponentially over the past decade. More and more people are curiously researching the psychological aspects of music, dancing, drama, and other visual arts on the human brain. They have been proven to influence the brain positively, and a psychologist near you can provide insight into how effectively art therapy or using these creative arts to engage one’s body and mind helps treat many psychological issues.
Humans are naturally drawn to art. Historically, we have danced and sang way before modern civilization. Art is a primal yearning that could and should be used to heal our body and mind. According to numerous studies, creative arts can influence the reward circuitry in the human brain. To give the simplest example, listening to your favourite song releases dopamine in your brain, which induces joy and happiness.
Creating art is a healing experience. If you visit your psychologist in Calgary for art therapy, you will know how creative arts and simple self-expression activities can drastically improve one’s mood. You can achieve the same effects by watching a piece of art created by someone else. The noble human emotion of empathy comes to play there. You can look at a masterpiece of art and put yourself in the painter’s position. Simply observing and enjoying another’s creative work is also a part of art therapy in Calgary.
Social Brain
A study performed recently showed a surprising result regarding social isolation. Due to the popularity of social media, it seems as if no one is lonely anymore unless they actively seek to be. However, the results of the study are quite the contrary. It showed that there had been a drastic increase in loneliness among people during the past few years. This is called “Social Isolation,” or simply feeling isolated even while being a part of a community. This feeling of isolation can harmfully affect many aspects of life. Some of the most prominent negative behaviours associated with social isolation are obesity and excessive smoking, which can eventually lead to conditions such as lung cancer. This tendency is more common among the older population who have retired, lost loved ones, and are socially isolated. One of the most effective treatment methods for someone experiencing isolation is scheduling a session for art therapy near you.
Studies about social isolation have created the term “social brain.” Part of the human brain is responsible for social behaviour, communication, and interactions with other people. Expressive arts have been observed to stimulate this particular part of the brain, encouraging the person to have more positive social behaviours.
Arts for Better Social Interaction
There are many ways that expressive arts can help someone to feel less alone and have better and more successful social interactions. Music, in particular, offers the best results in social interaction. Art therapy sessions are often held as group therapy to encourage this further. This way, the person undergoing therapy has a trusted and safe group of people to try their newly found ability to engage with others positively. Art therapy connects people in ways other group therapy methods do not.