People with depression fail to see the end of the disease:the days, meaningless and hopeless, follow one another and look the same. Only an appropriate treatment can possibly help to get your head above water, to which is now added an activity with benefits known to all:art. Researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy, a university located in Gothenburg, Sweden, have defined artistic exercise as a real therapy capable of encouraging the patient to return to work after a period of rest. The study involved 43 patients with "severe" to "moderately severe" depression who had to take 10 one-hour classes in which their creativity was challenged ("Draw something that illustrates your current state of mind was for example the subject of a class). Another group of 36 people also diagnosed with depression did not benefit from this art therapy. At the end of the experiment, the first group who was able to express their emotions through art showed real improvements compared to the 36 other patients:they climbed an average of 5 "steps" on the scale used to gauge the 'depressive state.
The courses, which were carried out by a team of specialized therapists, began with a short relaxation session and then continued with the development of works using pencils and water paint. “The tools were simple, allowing participants to express themselves however they wanted. Then they would talk about their drawing and what it meant “, explains Christina Blomdahl, art therapist who organized the workshops. This discovery could well revolutionize the daily life of sick people who could, through this therapy, see clear positive changes in the following areas:sleep, anxiety, the ability to take initiatives and emotional involvement, again according to the 'expert who spoke to Huffington Post UK . “It was concluded that the art therapy had facilitated their progress. Painting from specific themes and explaining the drawings with the therapist encourages personal reflection and brain stimulation that takes place outside of the conscious mind concludes Christina Blomdahl. Incredible ! It is hoped that similar initiatives will spread to the maximum. It gives hope, in any case... Courage to those who are going through a difficult period!
