According to the World Health Organization, stress is currently the world’s most pronounced health risk. While stress has many protective purposes (to alert you to danger, energize, and motivate you) prolonged and heightened levels of stress can be detrimental to your health. 

Art Therapy (with a trained Art Therapist)  has been found to help people reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels in the body. This can result in better mood, increased relaxation, and reduced physical symptoms of stress in the body such as headaches, chest pain, and sleep problems. Various peer reviewed articles endorse that Creative Arts Therapies are effective interventions to address stress. Art therapy can reduce stress through various mechanisms and therapeutic techniques. 

Ways in which art therapy helps alleviate stress:

Neurotransmitter Release: Engaging in creative activities, such as drawing or painting, triggers the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and endorphins. These chemicals are associated with pleasure, reward, and positive emotions. Increased dopamine and endorphin levels contribute to feelings of happiness and well-being, counteracting stress responses.

Cortisol Regulation: Chronic stress is often linked to elevated cortisol levels, which can have negative health effects. Art therapy has been shown to reduce cortisol levels by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and countering the "fight or flight" response.

Hemispheric Balance: Art therapy can promote a balance between the brain's hemispheres. Creative activities engage the right hemisphere, associated with emotions, imagination, and intuition. This engagement can help mitigate the dominance of the left hemisphere, which is responsible for analytical and logical thinking and can contribute to stress when overactive.
Emotional Expression and Regulation: Art provides a non-verbal outlet for emotional expression. The act of creating art can help individuals process and externalize emotions, which can be cathartic and reduce stress. Furthermore, engaging in artistic expression can enhance emotional regulation skills, helping individuals manage stress more effectively.

Flow State: When deeply engaged in the creative process, individuals often experience a "flow state," characterized by complete absorption and focus. This state has been linked to reduced stress and increases internal connection.

Mindfulness and Focus: Engaging in art requires focused attention on the creative process, diverting your mind from stressors and promoting mindfulness. This mindful presence can have a calming effect on the nervous system.

Expression Beyond Words: Art therapy allows for expression beyond verbal communication, giving you a way to communicate and process stressors that might be challenging to put into words.

It's important to note that while art therapy can be a valuable tool for reducing stress and cortisol levels, individual responses may vary. Some people may find art therapy more effective than others, and its effects can also depend on the nature of the stressors and individual preferences.

If you're interested in using art therapy to reduce stress and cortisol levels, consider working with a trained art therapist who can guide you through the process and tailor activities to your needs and goals. Additionally, integrating creative activities into your daily routine as a form of self-care can provide ongoing benefits for your overall well-being.

Experience the Transformative Fusion of Art in Psychotherapy

Davenport Creative Arts Therapy is a collective of Art Therapists located in New York, NY (and online teletherapy). Our licensed Art Therapists blend Art Therapy with traditional psychotherapy. It’s our mission to help children, teens, and adults reconnect to a sense of confidence, connection and joy.