“In drawing, one must look for or suspect that there is more than is casually seen.” (George Bridgman). Art isn’t always just something pretty to look at; the process of drawing when done right can be beneficial to one’s mood and a useful resource to release your emotions. Drawing is a great coping mechanism, but first you need to understand what a coping mechanism is, it’s a way to manage one’s emotions. There are various ways to use drawing as a coping mechanism but one I find useful is scribbling, which I will explain at the end. There are a range of techniques that are used to cope with overwhelming emotions and an exceptional one to use is drawing.
Drawing is a very useful coping mechanism but you might be wondering what exactly a coping mechanism is. A coping mechanism is a technique or strategy used by individuals to cope with their emotions, especially negative or overwhelming ones. Coping mechanisms can be different for everybody but they all have one common factor throughout, or at least should have. They help an individual regulate and let out their emotions. Although coping mechanisms are useful, not all coping mechanisms are healthy. In order for a coping mechanism to be helpful it needs to be healthy, it can’t be something like self harm. A coping mechanism shouldn’t be causing more harm than good.
Now you’re probably thinking, okay, but how is drawing a good coping mechanism? “Drawing and Mindfulness”, a study by Bill Doan and Sarah Myruski, shows that drawing can be beneficial in many ways when it comes to mental health, one being emotional regulation. Drawing when used correctly helps lift one’s mood, but it can’t be done carelessly. In order to use drawing to regulate your emotions it needs to be done in certain manners. The process of drawing is what makes it beneficial, not the act in itself. The drawing process can look different for everyone but creating a calming one can make it a beneficial strategy.
Earlier in the blog I mentioned an exceptional drawing coping mechanism was scribbling, allow me to explain how. Whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed you can pick up any writing utensil and a piece of paper. Then proceed to scribble all over said piece of paper until you’re feeling better. Once you let out all your emotions, look back over the paper and attempt to see what image the scribbles create. Look at what you see in those scribbles and darken some lines to make the image of what you see in those scribbles more clear. Now you not only let out your emotions but you also made a piece of art. Once, I was crying and breaking down from having such a heavy workload because I had missed a day of school. My mom told me to take a step back, so I did. I went to my room and picked up a little notebook I had and I started scribbling all over it. My emotions took over and I pressed down hard to the point of my pencil lead breaking as I scribbled all over the paper. Once I finally felt a sense of relief I looked at my scribbles and saw the image of a bunny in it. I darkened some lines to make the bunny I saw more clear and realized I had made a piece of art from what had previously been evidence of my emotional distress.
All in all, drawing can be a greatly beneficial coping mechanism when done right. If you’ve never tried drawing to release your emotions this should be your sign to try it and see if it works for you. Whenever you’re feeling stressed pick up a paper and pencil and try drawing to cope. It doesn’t have to look like a famous artist made it, it just has to make you feel better. No matter if you enjoy art or not, try drawing to cope, you might surprise yourself with how well it works for you.
Angelina Espinoza – Carmel Catholic High School – DMSF Class of 2029
Photo Credit: Angelina Espinoza