Creative Arts Therapy
Depression affects over 18 million adults in the US in any given year.
I’ll be curious to see what the 2020 numbers are around mental health, anxiety, and depression at the end of the year. This year has been a doozy, y’all. And we’re not even halfway through. Between a global pandemic, self-isolating and social distancing, and a social movement that has (rightfully) rocked our country to its very core… we are all feeling some type of way.
The news has always been a source of stress for me, but for the past few months it’s been particularly difficult to toe the line between informed and overloaded. As a long time proponent of taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally, I have always advocated for more awareness and time for mental health.
In this week’s episode of Do What You Can For The People, I chat with my dear friend Alex Kavanaugh on ways to deal with increased levels of stress and anxiety in the midst of everything that is happening in the world.
Alex is a permitted creative arts therapist, educator, and soon to be licensed drama therapist. She’s gathered experience working with schools and children living with learning differences or emotional difficulties, as well as with adults living with chronic and persistent mental illness, and addiction.
Check out the video below for more about coping with anxiety and depression.
DISCLAIMER: Please seek professional help if you have any these diagnoses and are interested in creative arts therapy. Do not try this at home.
THINGS MENTIONED
Grief in quarantine: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/special-matters/202004/quarantine-2020-its-ok-grieve
Creative Arts Therapy: https://nycreativetherapists.com/want-career
Role Theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_theory
Psychodrama: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychodrama
Serenity Prayer: https://www.celebraterecovery.com/resources/cr-tools/serenityprayer
Anxiety Disorder: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml
Guided imagery: https://www.headspace.com/meditation/guided-imagery
Mindfulness Meditation: https://www.mindful.org/mindfulness-how-to-do-it/
Body Scan Meditation: https://www.mindful.org/beginners-body-scan-meditation/
Progressive Muscle Relaxation: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/uz2225
Improv for Communication: https://medium.com/the-public-speaker/three-improvisation-games-you-can-use-to-get-better-at-public-speaking-6e72ab128190
Clinical Depression: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/clinical-depression/faq-20057770
Fight or Flight Response: https://www.psychologytools.com/resource/fight-or-flight-response/
Welcome to Marwen: http://marwencol.com/
Other creative tools: writing stories, adult coloring books, drawing, cross stitching, knitting, water coloring, learning a new instrument, learning a new language
GET IN TOUCH WITH ALEX
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-kavanaugh-ma-cat-lp-27b39877/
Email: akav82@gmail.com
BE MY GUEST!
If you or someone you know would like to be featured on the show, please get in touch!